Constructive Communication: How Technology Is Revolutionising The Construction Sector

Construction is one of the most dangerous occupations and accidents on construction sites can and do happen. But luckily recent technological advancements can lower the risk that construction workers face and improve efficacy at the same time.

Drone Technology

Drones have been used in the construction industry for around a decade at this point, they allow individuals involved with the planning and construction of buildings easy access to high-up vantage points. Drones can live to stream both visual images and audio to different stakeholders involved in the construction process, allowing a greater level of collaboration between different companies involved in the planning and construction process. Just like many other technologies, drone technology continues to improve over time. Recent advancements now allow drones to be fitted with Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) technology. Which allows for precise measurements and 3D imaging. Scans from LiDAR can also be used to make enhancements to work safety and site analysis.

Smart Hardhats

Hardhats have been encouraged since the 1930s, today they are mandatory to wear on construction sites. In recent years the hardhat has seen an evolution towards smart hardhats. This technological advancement can help improve safety on construction sites, they can notify other people working on the site that somebody has bumped their head.

This ensures that emergency services can be called as soon as possible if someone sustains a serious head wound. Smart hardhats can also detect and notify people about gas leaks so that appropriate safety action can be taken. Smart hardhats can also detect and warn users about excessive noise levels or temperature changes that could put the user at risk. For example, a construction worker may be using an electric chainsaw and the smart helmet provides a reminder to the worker and their supervisor to ensure that appropriate ear protection is used when using a chainsaw.

Blockchain Technology

Blockchain technology has a great deal of potential within the construction industry, one of the most prominent use cases is what is known as a smart contract. This is a self-executing contract that can be programmed to automatically execute once all the conditions of the contract have been met. Smart contracts can be used to automate several processes involved in a construction project such as payment processing, quality control and project milestones.

An example of this happening in practice is a smart contract that is programmed to release funds automatically once certain milestones have been met from outside contractors such as electricians or plumbers. This means they can streamline their accounting process, which may lead to businesses being able to spend less money on managing their accountancy. Additionally, smart contracts store data on the blockchain which can be used to help settle disputes between different stakeholders, as once a smart contract has been set up it cannot be changed. This can reduce the possibility of fraudulent activity from different parties that conduct business together.

Virtual And Augmented Reality

Virtual and augmented reality can offer significant cost savings throughout the construction process, when the building is first being planned augmented reality can allow firms to overlay a concept image over the plot of land that you are planning to build on. This can help building firms assess if the building they are planning to build is a good fit for other buildings in the local area. Drones will be a great assessment tool for this purpose due to the size and scale of some building projects.

Virtual reality also has promising use cases within the construction industry as site surveyors and individuals concerned with the safety of building sites will be able to assess areas of building sites remotely. Cameras can be attached to the helmets of individuals at the location of the building site, and the individuals responsible for surveying or safety of the site can relay directions and commands to the individual who is wearing the camera. This can allow construction projects to save a significant amount of time and money instead of shelling out more for inspectors to visit the site in person, which could mean that projects may be delayed until their arrival.

3D Printing

3D printing allows for a physical 3D design to be generated from a computer model. Allowing hobbyists all over the world to create unique objects. 3D printing has always had applications within the construction industry to create designs that feature complex designs or shapes that previously would not have been possible. In recent years 3D printing has become more sophisticated due to the introduction of new computer software which helps to maximise the utility of 3D printing.

Due to the increased functionality of the software used architects can easily make changes to designs and start offering customized designs. Another prominent use case of 3D printing involves a robotic arm that extrudes concrete while moving back and forth allowing for parts of buildings to be built more rapidly than the speed humans can build at.

Exoskeletons In Construction

Exoskeletons are hard mechanical frames that can be worn by human operators, the exoskeleton helps protect sensitive parts of the body such as the neck and back from injury.

There are currently two different types of exoskeletons used in construction, mechanical exoskeletons and electronic exoskeletons. Mechanical exoskeletons help redistribute weight throughout the body which can reduce the chances of injury.

Electonic exoskeletons on the other hand can provide human operators wearing the exoskeleton with increased strength. Both types of exoskeletons can help construction projects complete tasks faster; due to the fact that fewer people may be off work due to injury and people may be able to accomplish more during the workday due to the exoskeleton providing additional strength.

Conclusion

As technology advances construction projects can be completed faster and in a safer manner, making an effort to embrace technology provides many benefits to construction companies that do so.