Innovations in the construction industry are advancing rapidly by harnessing the latest digital technologies, as well as using big data, new materials, and new design approaches.
Over in the United States, the US Chamber of Commerce found that 80% of contractors plan to use advanced technology by 2022, and that the top benefits to investing in advanced technologies included improved jobsite safety, increased labour productivity, and better management of project schedules.
As changes in the industry continue at an accelerated rate, exciting new technologies will foster more advancements, so here are some of the best building innovations in construction that civil engineers can get excited about.
Cloud and Mobile Technologies
Integrating cloud and mobile technologies into your current processes is simpler than you think and can provide major benefits for a considerably small investment cost.
The portability of smartphones and tablets will keep your projects moving forward faster by allowing for real-time monitoring and updates, ensuring consistent communication between the job site and the office. Mobile devices paired with cloud-based systems is a powerful combo for boosting the productivity of your workforce.
Cloud-based systems are the future - they allow your team to work from anywhere, anytime, and offer enhanced accessibility, consistency, and reliability. This is a big win for project managers, where the seamless connectivity of mobile devices accessing consolidated information from the cloud means nobody is left out of the loop, and everyone stays on the same page.
Self Healing Concrete
While it sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, self healing or self repairing concrete is an amazing innovation coming up in the construction industry. Even though concrete is the world’s most commonly used construction material, concrete is prone to cracking, usually from exposure to water and chemicals.
Researchers at Bath University are developing a self repairing concrete that uses a mix containing bacteria within microcapsules, so that when water enters a crack these ingredients will germinate and create limestone, filling in the crack before water and oxygen can corrode the steel reinforcements. And it’s not just bacteria they’re looking at - scientists at Rutgers University are testing out adding a limestone-producing fungus to the concrete mix that will fix fine cracks as they form.
Modular Construction
Modular construction involves constructing components of a building off-site and transporting them to the building site when they’re needed. This innovative building technique comes with plenty of benefits, such as limiting environmental disruption by reducing vehicle movements and waste.
It also allows for construction projects to move towards a more streamlined just-in-time approach to manufacturing and delivery, which optimises onsite schedules and improves efficiency. It does require more logistics than conventional onsite construction, but more time spent planning out a modular construction will save plenty of time and money across the whole project.
Machine Controlled Equipment
Machine control can be applied to all sorts of equipment and machinery, and accurate machine control comes with a huge range of benefits to your business, such as reducing the amount of rework, reducing operating costs, and improving overall efficiency.
From paving, to excavating, to surface grading - machine control can be applied to equipment and machinery for all sorts of site work. Topcon machine control systems use GPS receivers and additional sensors mounted on the outside of machines to get accurate positioning, suitable for most earthworks, but higher levels of accuracy can be achieved with Topcon mmGPS of LPS (local positioning system) solutions.
The Next Wave of 3D Printing
3D Printing is making its mark across many different industries, and in the construction industry it is quickly moving from a novelty to an emerging industry standard. As a construction technology, 3D printed materials can be transported to job sites ready for use immediately, enabling companies to get materials faster and streamlining their processes. It might even be possible for some projects to print materials onsite, further reducing waste, saving on transportation, and saving storage costs.
In 2017, two bridges were constructed onsite using commercial 3D printers - one was a Gaudi-inspired pedestrian bridge in Madrid, and the other a cyclist bridge in the Netherlands. The companies who built, or should we say, printed these bridges, found that the process was more cost-effective, sustainable and flexible over traditional methods. As 3D printing technologies continue to develop, expect to see more innovative and impressive ways it will be used in construction.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a versatile process that allows architects, engineers, contractions and sub-contractors to more efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings by using the same database and computer model.
BIM is a collaborative process, and involves all stakeholders working together on a detailed 3D model that includes all the functional systems of a building like heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical installations, as well as the walls, windows and roofs. When people from each expertise area add their piece to the same model, BIM lets everyone involved visualise and analyse design decisions, as well as identifying clashes and errors, giving a much more complete picture of the project before work begins onsite.
VR + AR = Immersive Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is not just for video games and training simulations - it can be used in conjunction with BIM to give a better understanding of complex projects. Picture this - you create a building design with BIM and then you can walk around it using VR. Welcome to the future! This technology gives your team or your client a more realistic idea of what the completed project will look like, giving you the opportunity to avoid big or expensive changes part-way through the project. VR is one of the most exciting emerging trends in construction and civil engineering.
Augmented reality (AR) is another upcoming trend in the construction industry - giving you the ability to visualise augmented reality through a camera lens. Instead of starting with safety goggles, we might start planning and plotting sites with AR glasses before breaking ground. For example, there’s an iOS app called AirMeasure which offers 15 modes to capture accurate onsite measurements using just your smartphone.
VR immerses us completely in the digital world, while AR brings digital elements to our surroundings in real time. Expect to see these technologies making waves in the construction world in the near future.
The Connected Jobsite
Connected jobsites are becoming more and more common as companies harness new and intuitive technologies to improve their building projects in every way. Using cloud technology, information about almost every aspect of an operation can be available to all stakeholders, no matter where they are based. From geolocation and remote site monitoring, to personnel location tracking and live mark-ups, the seamless transfer of information across connect jobsites improve communication, productivity and safety.
Embracing the latest technologies on your construction projects will give you the greatest opportunity to get ahead of your competitors. As the sector moves into the future, we can look forward to data-driven improvements that promote collaboration and productivity. Over the next few years, expect to see plenty of exciting innovations that will transform the construction industry significantly.
If you want to take the first step towards bringing your construction projects into the future, download our guide to the Connected Construction Site by clicking the button below.
