Construction Technology Accelerating the Industry

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Changes in construction tech

As we embrace 2019 and anticipate what lies ahead in the new year, it’s a good time to look back and reflect on some of the changes that stemmed from technology in the construction industry over the last few years. These changes are guaranteed to continue – the industry will continue innovating and finding new ways to solve legacy issues in construction with new methods and accompanying technology.
 
Let’s take a look at and how they are impacting the industry:
 

Building Information Modeling

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Building Information Modeling (BIM) involves the generation and management of digital representations of physical characteristics of buildings. When asked to define BIM, Autodesk, a maker of popular BIM software, says:
 
“BIM is an intelligent model-based process that helps make design, engineering, project and operational information accurate, accessible and actionable for buildings and infrastructure.”
 
With BIM, users can work with stakeholders in a project to efficiently streamline the construction process and save time and money. BIM technology can be used before, during and after the process for use in steps like construction drawings and 3D modeling. Conflicts can be resolved before they occur when using BIM, which prevents installation errors and saves costs.

Virtual Reality

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When you think of virtual reality, you may picture using this technology with entertainment and gaming devices. However, virtual reality has a niche in the construction industry.
 
Virtual reality is creating visualization opportunities like property tours via a headset or using modeling technology to change designs without physically being at the site.

Virtual reality is slowly becoming more mainstream and will allow construction companies to carefully plan every aspect of a project with a new view.
 

Drones

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Drones can be used for surveying construction sites to obtain real-time data on progress and provide an overview of the worksite via visuals. They’re also used in mapping out these sites digitally to provide a high level of accuracy.
 
Drones can improve speed, accuracy and safety standards in the construction cycle. With improvements in machine intelligence, drones are becoming smarter and more capable. The data they collect can result in fewer errors and a shorter timeline.
 
Before investing in drones, make sure to carefully read drone rules in your state and policies from the Federal Aviation Administration.  
 

3D Printing

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3D printing is the process of making an item three-dimensional and tangible from a digital computer aided design file. The file is processed through a specific software that tells the computer how to print the layers until the design is created.
 
3D printing has the ability to reduce material waste and increase project speed. There are different uses within the construction industry – some companies may use 3D printing to create small and complex pieces of the design, and some companies are even beginning to experiment with 3D printing entire buildings.
 
Thanks to advancements in technology like the tools listed above, the construction industry is saving time, money, and preventing errors that can interrupt the building cycle. Further innovations will follow similar patterns and continue to find ways to build quicker and smarter, as well as ways to be more environmentally-friendly. While we’re not sure what the future holds, we look forward to seeing more innovations in action.  

 
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Meet the author

Brent Trenga, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, is Building Technology Director for Kingspan Insulated Panels North America. His background as an architect, construction manager, developer and project owner give him a unique perspective on all facets of the construction industry. Trenga leads Kingspan North America’s material health and transparency program and their NZE 2020 program, while collaborating with the company’s global healthy building team. Trenga can be contacted at brent.trenga@kingspan.com.

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