Technology on the Building Site

Technology has changed all of our lives.

It has changed the way that we communicate, the way we learn and how we go about our day to day lives.

In fact, technology is literally everywhere.

The construction industry is reaping the benefits of the technology advancement, by embracing top quality tech into their work.

The rapid growth and improvement in technology has helped many companies in the construction industry to improve their work, increase efficiency and reduce overall costs.

Although people were sceptical at first, many workers have admitted that technology will become the future of their trade.

We have taken a closer look at some of the most used technology devices used in the construction industry and how they are benefiting traders. Part 1 of a two part series of features on Tech.

Drones for Construction

Drones have risen in popularity recently, and the construction industry is benefiting from them too. They are extremely versatile devices and can be used to help workers meet a variety of requirements, completely modernising how the industry has previously operated. Their most prolific use is to carry out a more accurate site inspection and land surveys – this helps to reduce the time it takes for this task and can be much more cost effective. Drones are used to capture all of the required information in a much quicker time than the traditional manual method.

These handy devices can also increase the accuracy of assessments as they can pinpoint specific information that humans may miss. This also eliminates the worry of human error, hence more reliable findings.

More popular uses of drones in the construction industry include taking footage of a site to then be transferred into 3D images, which can help with creating architectural plans.

Drones are a useful tool when it comes to carrying out maintenance inspections on high build structures such as bridges or tall towers. Traditionally, access permits to these sites could be quite costly, and involve staff working at height – however drones offer a much easier and safer way of working on these inspections. They are also able to send real time footage to people back on the ground, making the process much timelier and more accurate.

Another benefit of drones is the opportunity they offer to promote your business on another level. We all know that impressive photography can make or break the look of a company’s portfolio, and with drones offering the ability to capture 4K HD images and videos, it may be the way for you to stand out against your most fierce competition.

Although basic drones are sufficient enough to benefit companies in this industry, there are more advanced, high-quality drones that are more suitable for industrial purposes.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Building Information Modelling is probably the one of the best advancements in the construction industry in recent years. Replacing the need for a drawn-up plan to be produced before the start of a new project, this useful piece of technology allows workers to create an extremely detailed and interactive model to be produced. Bringing all of the necessary information together into one place, this technique helps multiple parties collaborate effectively and eliminates the problem of clients and contractor working in isolation.

BIM uses Virtual Design and Construction capabilities in 3D to aid the planning process and has started to be recognised by many major construction companies as a great asset to their trade.

Building Information Modelling has dramatically improved the process of building and developing infrastructure projects and gives industry professionals the tools to effectively plan, design, construct and manage their work.

It also makes it easier for plans to be shared and trades to visualise. And by adding virtual reality, you have the groundwork for accurate and efficient developments.

The key benefit of this new technology is definitely the collaboration element.  This benefits sub-contractors as they are the ones responsible for building the foundation of design and installation procedures. With BIM, they are also able to collaborate effectively with stakeholders, fabricators and manufacturers to ensure a smooth planning process.

BIM technology is also proving very beneficial throughout the construction phase, as 3D models offer an insight of information to all relevant teams and on-site engineers. Having access to this tool will help with task delegation and execution, and with the help of VR – workers are able to easily communicate back to those in the office.

Not only does technology massively improve the quality of construction projects, but it also has positive impacts on the health and safety of workers. Embracing the latest technology gadgets such as light up helmets and reflective clothing are great, cost effective ways to ensure the well-being of your staff.