The construction industry has long relied on proven and tested methods to maneuver large and heavy equipment, surveying terrain, training workers and employees, and performing other tasks, among others. But in this technologically advanced world, construction firms are now starting to adopt innovative tools. Companies searching and incorporating construction technology into their processes are reaping the rewards with better collaboration, increased Productivity And Efficiency, which results in higher profit margins.
Here are some ways how technology makes the construction industry more Productivity And Efficiency
- Productivity Tools And Collaboration- Productivity And Efficiency
Today, you’ll find numerous software solutions and mobile apps to help manage every aspect and process of a construction project. From pre-construction and scheduling to project management and field reporting to managing employees and workers, there’s a software solution that can help streamline your business processes and improve productivity.
Most of these software solutions are cloud-based, which require fast broadband connection or mobile network connection to allow changes and updates to schedules, documents, and other management tools to be made in real-time, enhancing better collaboration and communication.
Some construction software solutions also allow on-site employees to submit timecards, expense reports, information requests, work records, and other documentation. This should help save hundreds of hours every year in data entry while providing efficient and safe organizations of critical files.
Plus, most software providers even allow for seamless data integration with other software solutions you may use in your construction business, making it a lot easier to run your business.
- Viewing Progress Via Augmented Reality
Virtual technologies like augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality offers stakeholders a digital look at the project as it moves through the stages via mobile device or desktop. AR is a technology that combines the digital and physical worlds by overlaying digital objects in the user’s actual environment. With AR technology, all stakeholders in the construction process can now visualize what the project will look like in the real world using tools on their own devices.
With other technological integrations, people can view an overlaid model of the actual site, holding Q&As, raising concerns, spotting, and solving problems right away. In addition, because of the current pandemic crisis, the use of AR significantly helped construction operators deploying fewer people at construction sites and still ensuring that everyone’s on the same page with what’s currently happening.
- Streamlining Offsite Construction
Offsite construction is the process of planning, designing, manufacturing, and assembling building elements at a separate location from the final installed location. This is usually used on projects with repetitive layouts or floorplans in their design such as apartment buildings, hospitals, hotels, prisons, and schools. Offsite construction is often performed in a controlled environment using technologically advanced tools like building information modeling (BIM) systems for designing and manufacturing.
BIM plays an essential role in supporting offsite construction thanks to its powerful management of available digital and physical presentations, reducing lead time while deepening the integration of designs.
Also, other innovation such as the adoption of robotics and automation helps streamline the designing and manufacturing process, reducing waste due to human error, ensuring more efficient and productive operations.
- Safety Sensors And Monitoring
The construction industry is notorious for its cases of accidents and disastrous events. The good news is current technology can help in keeping constructions sites safer for everyone. (parentishealth.com) Wearables are now being used to monitor construction workers. Construction technologies are embedded into personal protective equipment (PPE) and apparel that are already common on construction sites such as gloves, safety vests, hard hats, and work boots.
Meanwhile, smart clothing or e-textiles can monitor the vital signs of workers such as skin temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate. These wearables will be able to observe a worker’s movement, posture, and environment.
There are also innovative site sensors that, when deployed across a construction site, can help monitor things such as noise levels, temperature, volatile organic compounds, and dust particulates, helping limit exposure to workers. Sensors can be placed throughout the construction site, alerting workers when there’s a risk from a permissible amount of exposure.
What’s more is that data from these sensors can be collected to be analyzed, allowing you to strategize in mitigating exposure levels, keeping your workers safe, and staying in compliance with OSHA regulations.
- Safe And Cost-Effective Simulation Training
When you have new workers to train, the intricacies of performing dangerous construction tasks can now be learned in a virtual environment. Virtual simulations allow a worker to experience and learn a task before doing it for real. It enables workers to experiment with construction project variables, training them to be optimized for a specific job while attaining a degree of confidence, safety, and assurance when training inexperienced or new workers.
It’s also a cost-effective way to learn. There’s no need to rope off an area, fuel up construction equipment, or hire an instructor with simulation training. It also allows for various work scenarios for greater training efficiency and mastering inventiveness in the workplace.
- Surveying With Drones- Productivity And Efficiency
Once upon a time, surveying construction sites require physical presence and walking around the area. Now, construction businesses are taking advantage of the advances in drone technology. Drones can be used to conduct site inspections and determine potential hazards every day, particularly if you’re surveying dangerous job sites such as old buildings or damaged bridges.
They can also be used to observe and monitor your workers, ensuring that workers are safe and working efficiently. Furthermore, drones are also used to take images of the site as work progresses, allowing you to create models and keep everyone informed of construction developments every day.
Conclusion
In this modern era, technology makes everything easier. And if you’re still not innovating and investing in today’s technology like the ones mentioned above, then you can’t simply stay efficient and productive. While these technologies may require a significant upfront investment, most of these can save money and time in the long run while increasing new opportunities for your construction business. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you improve your operations.
