5 Ways Technology is Changing the Construction Industry

It's hard to go anywhere these days without seeing some kind of construction happening. It
might be in your neighbourhood as your neighbors add on to their house or it could be the reason you're stuck in traffic every day as they continuously work on the interstate.

Construction is an industry that will always likely be there. Even though it is currently facing a worker's shortage, you're likely to still see plenty of places with an "under construction" sign pop up.

In addition to seeming like it's ubiquitous, the construction industry is also undergoing rapid changes thanks to technology. Technology is helping out in a number of ways, by combatting the shortage while improving worker safety. Hammer and nails are still in style but there are plenty of other ways this age-old industry is getting a facelift.

Drones

The first time you ever saw someone operating a drone was probably pretty interesting. Now, they may have become a nuisance in your neighborhood, flying over fences and causing a constant buzzing noise that just won't go away.

If you live close to a construction area, then you're probably used to all the constant noise so you won't notice any drones hovering over the top.

In the past, helicopters were needed in order to obtain a bird's eye view of a construction site. Construction managers or architects would need to hover over a property to ensure everything was going to plan.

In addition, drones are used to scope out property that is unaccessible. If someone is buying a huge plot of land, it's easier to fly a drone over than spend hours wandering through.

Robotics

The rise of robotics in construction is a combination between the worker shortage and and
advancing technology. Every year, robots become more intelligent, more precise, and safer
options for some construction jobs.

Robotics aren't in high demand or use quite yet, but they're the biggest trend to watch out for. You might be surprised to learn that the biggest robotic contributors at the moment are 3D- printing robots. These robots can print out certain materials or prefabricated parts.

This helps eliminate the need to transport some materials, turning the site into a more efficient workplace. You'll still need to transport large materials and of course, the robot itself.

Wearable Technology

Consumers nowadays have access to watches that can track their sleep patterns and heart
rate, in addition to other instruments that can easily monitor plenty of vital signs. Those
technologies are also making strides in construction.

It's no secret that construction is a physically demanding job and it's important to monitor signs in order to promote the utmost safety at a site. This technology can tell construction managers and workers alike when it's time to take a break or stop working for awhile.

Geotracking is also huge, as it can track exactly what a worker is doing. If a worker were to fall, the device would send alerts out and help could be better administered.

New and Better Materials

It might be surprising to learn that even though everything around us seems to be built with brick, mortar, wood, and concrete, construction experts are looking at improving those materials for the future.

This push for new and better materials comes from the green initiative, looking to reduce waste by repurposing materials into new ones. Waste plastic can be made into roadways or even used as material for our 3D printing robot friends.

Self-heating concrete is another material making strides. While it's not going to replace your seat warmer, it will help prevent concrete from cracking and breaking earlier.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual reality is becoming more and more popular across a number of different sectors and
construction is right up there. Augmented reality allows plans to be laid out in real time,
providing a digital overlay of what's in the real-world. It will make you feel just like The
Terminator in some cases.

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Virtual reality is being used for training and safety measures. Instead of doing training onsite, virtual reality can be used ahead of time to better prepare workers for the dangers of a certain area. This helps save time and money, letting people take care of this before arriving to work.