Some technologies are a thing of the past; even in the construction industry, where many companies and personnel have been slow to adapt, some technologies have come and gone in recent years.
Of course, the use of safety cones, proper equipment, movers, and other job site safety devices won’t ever go away. But, we’ll see some new technologies pop up in 2020, and we’re going to see some that are in the developmental stages moving ahead this year and beyond. What are these technologies?
3D Scan
The use of 3d scanning is a great tool for construction sites. It allows companies and crew members to take accurate measurements. They don’t have to rely on levelers or measuring sticks. Nor do you have to worry about the inconsistencies that are present with human error.
The 3d scans are large, and they can be stored in the cloud. It allows managers to make modifications to a project, and the crew can instantly see those changes. If there are suggestions to be made, the team can do this in real-time.
All of the information is shared immediately, and it is stored in the cloud. So, there are no inconsistencies, there are no questions about how a project should look, and there are fewer errors to be made by your employees. You can rely on the technology of scanners and high precision laser to do the job instead.
IoT
The internet of things, or IoT, will continue to introduce software to make worksites and crews safer. Trackers, wearable technology, machines and robotics, and analytical information, are just a few of the things IoT has recently introduced to construction sites.
In 2020 and beyond, this is going to continue to develop, and more crews are going to be accepting of using these technologies to help reduce costs and help prevent accidents on the job site.
Collaborating on the Cloud
The cloud is a different topic for many construction teams. But, with recent developments in technology and BIM software, more crews are now using this technology. What’s so great about cloud collab? It allows teams to
- Save and share information online
- All of the information is shared online so that anyone who has access to the cloud can see what changes have been made
- Managers can share notes and make changes, based on projections or needs of their crew
- It’s easy to modify and make changes based on information about costs, lack of equipment, or not having some of the supplies that a team thought they had to do the job
It is a way for teams to collaborate, talk, and discuss what the construction job needs in real-time. It is also a simple way to keep everyone in the loop and reduce redundancies and errors that were previously made on construction sites.
AR
Augmented reality. You’ve seen the commercials of video games and people moving at fast speeds wearing goggles. How does this work in the construction industry? It adds a digital layer to your employee’s field of view.
They will wear these goggles in different areas of a job site. They can take down measurements, store this information, and add notes to the plot they’re working on. The data is shared in real-time.
Managers know what’s going on, where they are in the job, and what changes have been made so that other crew members are not going to make mistakes on that site.
The use of Prefab
Prefabricated or modular construction is a trend that isn’t going anywhere. Why?
- It’s easy, and it is more affordable than having to do the work on a job site
- Crews can use prefabricated pieces in places where they were previously using multiple supplies/equipment
- It doesn’t take much time, if any, to put up
- It is cheaper for crews, as opposed to having to pay specialized personnel to do some jobs
The use of prefabricated and modular pieces, incorporating 3d pieces, and other advancements on job sites, is going to expand in 2020, and it is a trend that is going to continue past 2020.
No matter what your construction team has utilized in the past, or has been resistant to, 2020 might be the year for you to consider adopting these changes and technologies, to keep up with your competition.
