The Toolbox
This is a brief look at some of the basic tools in the The Builder’s 21st Century Toolbox. It is an excerpt from a ‘talk’ I prepared and presented at a Construction Conference (Construct Show) for a segment on Technology in Building Construction.
BIM
Building Information Modeling, (BIM) can be an unbelievably valuable tool in the hands of anyone who works in construction.
It is essentially a collaborative method of working which is based on the generation and exchange of data and information between the various project parties.
BIM bridges the digital gap between the construction site and the office.
By linking compliance and quality processes to the BIM model, it becomes easier to improve the projects’ as-built documentation and define onsite quality processes across teams.
Effective BIM management also decreases the time required for incorporating and editing new information. This increased productivity also promotes lower cost and higher efficiency in terms of project planning.
Many tech savvy general contractors are already implementing sophisticated BIM strategies to manage large amounts of data with higher precision which can lead to an improvement of the quality of buildings.
AR & VR
Augmented Reality (AR) is innovative technological which incorporates virtual elements into real surroundings.
In the construction industry, Augmented reality makes it possible to combine virtual designs with the physical reality of a job site.
AR technology can be used to illustrate installations in existing buildings, such as how a pipe runs through a roof or a wall.
AR gives construction professionals the ability to evaluate planned processes or project changes prior to installation, as well as to showcase the end-product on a detailed level.
Virtual Reality (VR) places the user directly inside the virtual environment.
In construction, virtual reality is the next level in 3D modeling. The user experiences a full immersion into the virtual space.
VR gives teams the ability to “see” a project site without traveling to it. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate in real time, within a shared environment
Sometimes Virtual and augmented reality are combined to help streamline collaboration.
This improves timelines by facilitating feedback and reduces rework, by improving accuracy.
It can also act as a means transparency for building owners and other stakeholders during the construction process.
DRONES
Drones provide a bird’s eye view of expansive project sites that is not ascertainable from the ground.
Drone photos, videos, and imagery are manipulated to scope out projects, track building progress, and provide real-time updates.
Drones can also produce impressive aerial views and give clients a grasp of the project’s progression.
Drones can assist with pre-construction site review. aerial surveying and mapping.
As well as measurement of excavation depths and material stockpiles.
In the built environment, drone technology can be used to enhance the complete lifecycle of a project.
ROBOTICS
Construction robots are automated machines that assist in construction.
From driverless vehicles to actual enhanced human laborers, there are an assortment of machines that assist in construction.
There are wearables, which include Exoskeletons. These are machines that aim to reduce accumulated strain gained from repetitive and prolonged tasks.
They may provide support for a worker’s back, legs and hands, or supporting the user’s entire body.
We also have articulated robots such as mechanical arms that can be combined with 3D printing technology to construct entire buildings or components.
Some believe that the quick, efficient and affordable way of 3-D printing a home may very well make traditional home building a thing of the past.
The first fully 3d printed home to be permitted in the US was completed in Texas in 2018.
As construction technology continues to advance, the industry will continue to see an increase in the use of robotics.
