4 Ways Technology is Transforming the Construction Industry
Construction has always been reliant on technology. It has been this way since the Egyptians were building the pyramids with the very first crude type of elevator that transported heavy materials to higher levels with a platform, a rope, and a pulley system. Through the years, the invention of cranes, backhoes, jackhammers, and the like have helped in speeding up work and beating construction deadlines. In this modern times, more advancements have been made with technology through digitization and cloud systems. Here-under are 4 major ways wherein technology is transforming the construction industry:
Enhance Efficiency Through Automation
Computers and software packages allow automation, which at times can even replace human employees. When construction workers perform things manually, they are prone to errors; and the tasks they perform consume more time. When construction companies rely on technology to substitute for certain job orders, it enhances project efficiency because less time is wasted and less mistakes are committed.
Construction workers can now operate in dangerous areas through remote settings, use drones to survey locations, utilize robotics to mix concrete and lay it out, tap sensors to transfer signals to machines for specific job functions, and employ virtual reality devices for project planning.
Faster Processing of Important Data
Technology promotes the faster processing of construction data and speedier retrieval of important information. A few minutes wasted on approving proposals can lead to weeks of delays. Typically, in big projects, a segment must first be finished before a new phase begins. Waiting for this approval is easier with a construction execution software because it creates automated alerts, collects digital signatures, and keeps the site documentation up to date.
On top of that, the software can send notifications to all the team members, so if there are changes, everyone can be updated easily. Now, requisition orders, safety logs, change materials, etc can be digitized and kept in a single databank for easy access of these vital information, which improves efficiency.
Improve Product Quality and Longevity
Technology has paved the way for improving the quality and longevity of modern infrastructures. Aside from high tech devices that now make our homes and offices more efficient, construction companies now utilize modernized tools and equipment to build structures that can withstand even the strong forces of nature. As an example, skyscrapers can have floating foundations that sway with the movement of the earth, so earthquakes no longer topple down buildings. Nowadays, many buildings use super strength adhesives, along with mechanical fasteners that keep roofs anchored, so they don’t easily blow away due to strong winds. These modernized materials also improve safety for the humans who dwell in these buildings. In addition to that, there are heat reflective paints, stronger building materials, energy sustainable finishing products, and the like, which really improve not just the design of the structures but people’s quality of life.
Better Accuracy Yielding Better Results
All measurements used to be taken by hand, with construction blue prints drafted in the same way. Now, thanks to software, GPS, modern survey tools, and laser based excavation equipment, these tasks are not just made easier but more accurate. These ensure the building of better foundations, perimeters, and corners, which make for structurally sound buildings. Eliminating human error also saves the construction project a lot of time, materials, and money. Better accuracy translates to better quality.
Without a doubt, technology has changed the way we live life to the point that it has radically transformed the way our homes and places of business are constructed. Capitalizing on technological advancements in the construction industry has been a win-win situation for both builders and owners because they result in dramatically improved structures that withstand the test of time.