The construction industry has seen several interesting developments in technology recently that have transformed the way in which construction firms operate.
What are the technological solutions that have had the biggest impact on the construction sector in recent years and which technology should we keep an eye on over the next few years?
Carbon Tracking
One technology that is set to become commonplace is the tracking of C02 emissions and greenhouse gases.
As the world moves towards net zero targets and a carbon-neutral future, the construction industry will have a significant role to play. Reducing the carbon footprint of construction and creating more sustainable working practices will have a large impact on the overall global emissions of greenhouse gases.
Adopting carbon tracking technology will be a key component in the fight against climate change but it also represents several key benefits for construction firms that use carbon tracking in their projects.
By accurately tracking energy usage and the carbon footprint of all the materials, methods of construction, and transport they use, construction firms can gain valuable insights into their business, help to cut down on waste and reduce costs, whilst helping to maintain a healthy relationship with stakeholders and the public.
Download our free report on carbon tracking here.
LiDAR
LiDAR is basically like a radar using lasers that measure the distance to Earth and develop a clear picture of the terrain. The penetration and accuracy of the lasers are such that LiDAR can effectively see through foliage and tree cover and reveal the true nature of the terrain below.
For this reason, it can be used to find archaeological features that were not previously visible from ground level. Using sites such as lidarfinder.com users can access a patchwork of all the LiDAR data for the UK and compare this with a normal satellite view, ordnance survey map, or historical maps from different eras.
With most of the UK having been surveyed using LiDAR and with sites like this compiling all the data together, you can take a look around your home and see if there are any historical findings that have been left undiscovered in your local area.
Project Management Tools
With a range of project management tools available, some of the daily headaches of organising a busy construction firm can be removed. Construction project management tools can help to simplify the process, streamline procedures and give greater visibility and transparency over ongoing projects and progress towards completion or set objectives.
BIM Software
Using BIM software construction, firms can create detailed 3D models, streamline workflows and enhance the entire construction process.
BIM software allows construction firms to effectively plan, design and manage building and infrastructure projects.
Given the appropriate data, the BIM software can accurately model the building phase, leading towards the optimisation of the planning of the project.
Using BIM software can lead to a reduction in costs, improved planning, and better risk management as scenarios can be modelled in a virtual setting, rather than learning the hard way by making expensive mistakes that cost your business.
3D Printing
While it may have seemed like something of a sci-fi gimmick with few practical applications only a few years ago, we have now arrived at an era in construction where whole villages are being 3D printed, such as in the US and Mexico.
Europe’s largest 3D printed building in Germany recently opened its doors for use and there are a number of building projects worldwide that rely solely on 3D printing for their construction phases.
The process is quite astonishing to watch as only a handful of human operators oversee a more or less automated process as the structure is built up in layers, with a concrete-like substance squirted into a preconceived plan, with just the right qualities in the substance so that it does not dry too fast but can maintain its shape at the same time.
Apart from being much less hazardous for workers and increasingly more cost-effective to use 3D printing, it also provides architects with a kind of geometric freedom to build shapes of structures like never before imagined.
Drone Swarms
Less is known about this emerging technology as it is not quite as widespread as some of the more recent developments. However, the advances in drone swarms in terms of construction are quite mind-blowing and are perhaps the most futuristic development yet.
In some cases, thousands of these tiny robot drones can be deployed into an infrastructure project such as building a tunnel, and they all connect and operate as a semi-autonomous hive—passing information and instructions down the line from one drone to the next.
The remarkable thing is that these systems can even operate underground with limited connectivity to WiFi and the Internet, etc. The drones in the swarm can essentially relay the connection themselves and provide their own source of communication, like a miniature swarm Wifi.
Perhaps even more remarkable is that these swarms of drones are not limited to one small aspect of the project—we are talking about swarms of tiny robots that can complete the entire project, more or less from start to finish. So, this would mean marking out a tunnel underground, creating the walls of the tunnel before, then removing the earth inside, leaving a perfectly clean concrete structure underground.
To say that the use of swarm drones in construction is a futuristic-looking concept would certainly be an understatement. Whilst these have not seen widespread use, this type of technology could represent the future of all infrastructure projects.
Artificial Intelligence
The recent development in the capability of artificial intelligence-based tools has certainly served to enhance the construction sector.
There are a number of instances where AI-based tools can support those in construction-based roles. These include:
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AI floor planning applications that can optimise the available space for a build
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AI image generators for creating impressive design concepts
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AI-based risk analysis tools
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Assisting with plans and helping to reduce costs
Survey Drones
The use of drones has dramatically assisted the construction industry in a number of ways. In particular, geological surveys of areas of land designated for construction projects can be completed much easier with the use of drone technology.
Traditionally for surveys of land that is expected to be built on, you would need a team of qualified geophysicists or archaeologists to manually traverse every metre of the terrain like a police search team, carrying heavy electromagnetic surveying equipment.
The surveying equipment scans the ground, picking up any electromagnetic signals or anomalies. So if there is a Roman fort buried underneath the site you were due to build on, the outline will show up clear as day and efforts can be made to excavate or preserve the historical discovery if needed.
This is time-consuming and costly work and may take several weeks to complete a single construction site. Also, depending on the terrain it can be difficult to move the unwieldy equipment across fields that may be overgrown with vegetation or otherwise difficult to navigate through.
With the use of aerial surveying drones, the whole process can be made much simpler and easier. The electromagnetic survey equipment is simply mounted on an aerial drone and the data can be collected by passing the drone over the target area and measuring the electromagnetic signals below, detecting any structures or anomalies under the surface.
Robotics
Robotics have played a huge part in increasing productivity in the construction sector. Apart from 3D printing robots and tiny robots that operate together as a swarm, there are a number of other uses of robots that have helped the construction industry.
Bricklaying robots have led to faster masonry work, a reduction in costs and less wastage, leading to a more sustainable model.
The normal operation of human workers can be enhanced with robotics through the use of exoskeletons. These are metal frames that can be worn by a worker that will support them in lifting heavy loads and helping them to maintain their body shape.
With the additional strength from an exoskeleton a human can lift weights that would previously be unimaginable and the risk of injury is dramatically reduced.
Cloud Solutions
One area of technology that has increasingly helped construction firms is the adoption of cloud solutions.
Through a fully remote cloud environment, construction firms get all the computing power at their fingertips with unlimited data storage, all accessible from any location and from any device.
This means they can be in the office on a desktop PC, or working on-site through a tablet or mobile device and still be connected to the same business interface with all the computing power they need sent remotely through the cloud infrastructure.
There are several reasons that cloud solutions are becoming more and more popular with construction firms. Cloud-based services mean that construction firms can be more agile and flexible, with a more dynamic approach that is practical in terms of their daily operations and scalable, giving them the option to ramp up or down operations as and when needed.
Contact Lyon Tech
At Lyon Tech, we operate a range of state-of-the-art solutions for construction firms looking to stay ahead of the game, enhance their working processes and streamline their activities.
Construction firms who partner with Lyon Tech get the full benefits of
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Unlimited data storage
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Virtual Workstations
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Fully Remote Working
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Cloud Solutions
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VoIP telephony and data communications
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Virtual graphics processors for designs and 3D models
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Desktop as a Service
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Live infrastructure monitoring
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Cybersecurity services
If you are looking to improve the technology of your construction firm then get in touch with our expert advisors today.
We can take you through the range of options and advise which solutions would most match the needs of your construction business.
