The advent of technology has completely changed the way we live our lives. Each passing day brings news of new advancements in the existing technologies besides the discovery of new ideas. The technological procession marched on in the year 2019 and is largely expected to continue its growth in the coming year.
If you’re someone who is into his 40s or 50s, you must have seen the paradigm shift in the way buildings are designed and constructed now as compared to the past.
This massive change started with the emergence of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology in the mid-1960s. The technology allowed the architects to build detail-oriented housing designs, which proved to be the game-changer. Now, there is a number of free CAD software that helps the construction industry in designing the building structures of the future.
In this article, we will take a look at five construction technologies that have reshaped the construction industry for good and the ones that are building our future commercial and residential structures.
- Computer-Aided Design
- Drones
- Mobile Technology
- Building Information Monitoring
- Artificial Intelligence
- CAD Technology to Draw Designs, Maps
Around 50 years ago, the construction industry was totally reliant on manual designs and maps to build structures. The process used to take months of hard work and tons of drawings and drafting before a final product could come to the fore. However, the IBM Drafting System came into the limelight in the mid-1960s that proved to be the first wave of change in the construction sector.
The CAD technology allowed the architects to design 2D and 3D models of the building structure ideas, which proved to be time and cost-efficient for the construction companies.
The change was widely accepted by the top contractors and in a short span of time, CAD software became a necessity.
With time, CAD software was further brushed up to include features like auto layout, automated bills generation, interference control, and much more. Since it allowed architects to carry out engineering calculations, it became a revolution. It brought engineers and designers communities on the same page. It created more jobs as against the fears of elimination of jobs.
The latest editions of CAD software are packed with the abilities to rotate in three dimensions, which allow for a 360-degree view. Moreover, they also offer advanced animation to architects and engineers for better visualization of their designs.
- Drone Technology for 360-Degree View
Drones are not an alien concept to modern society. We all have seen them flying in the air, carrying out different tasks including surveying and delivering packages. The construction industry has also started making full use of drone technology, which has shaped the future demands of the industry. Engineers use drones to conduct surveys of the sites in an efficient way. It takes less time and fewer resources to carry out the surveys. It is way cheaper than the cost incurred on aerial imaging. The use of the latest HD cameras allows the operators to collect vital data to create 3D and topographical maps of the sites. Another effective use of drones is to keep an eye on how labor is carrying out tasks on a project site.
- Smartphones for Better Communication
The emergence of smartphones has changed the way we do everything. Almost everything now can be done on your smartphones. Similarly, construction companies also use mobile apps to have better communication among different factions of a construction crew. Moreover, it allows you to work from your home or any other place.
On one hand, it allows you to use your human resources efficiently, while on the other, it saves your precious time. The provision of real-time updates allows construction managers to make timely decisions and help avoid disasters at construction sites.
- BIM to Design Future-Centric Structures
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the latest advancement in the original CAD technology. However, it is not exactly a replica of CAD. Apart from creating 3D designs of your building structures, BIM technology also generates multi-layered metadata. The construction managers use this metadata to ensure that workflow is in proper collaboration. The engineers and architects believe that BIM would allow them to design buildings that would shape the future of humanity. Almost 32.7 percent of builders used BIM in the year 2016 and the number is growing at a brisk pace. The BIM technology allows all the stakeholders of a project to contribute to the same original model in real-time. It lets the construction team to perfectly design the model, which streamlines the construction activity accordingly.
- Artificial Intelligence to Design Modern Structures
This is where the whole concept of construction has changed forever. The global construction industry has already started witnessing the impact of artificial intelligence on the project sites. The use of robotics for construction-related tasks, including designing, bricklaying, and operating equipment at the job sites has revamped the industry. In first-world countries, artificial intelligence-studded computers have replaced human labor and interaction. It has resulted in improved security, better workflows, and quick response time to the tasks. These machines automatically detect the shortcomings in designs and use data to plug the gaps, which is efficient by any stretch of the imagination.
The Final Word
The emerging technological wonders are further revolutionizing the construction industry. You will see some of the most complex building designs in the years to come, thanks to the latest technology. The modernization of construction methods and technologies will benefit the industry on one hand and will save time and money for the clients on the other.
If your construction company is yet to join the bandwagon, do it now because if you missed the train, you’re going to become history.
