Build Solutions: How Technology is Solving Problems in Construction and an Innovative Outlook
We break down some of the technology that is already being adopted in build systems, which technology we may see in the near future, and why your company should be taking advantage of these advances.
You might not think of construction when you hear innovation and cutting-edge technology. However, so many industries today are advancing and influenced by constriction technologies—and not just tangible hardware but systems. With a broad range of tasks and individuals involved, it’s tough to keep track of what construction advances your project can take advantage of.
Current Technology Being Adopted by the Construction Industry
1. Collaborative/ Cloud Technology and Software
One of the biggest contributors to the construction industry has been collaborative technology to allow for new ideas and contributions. Here are a few softwares to get you going.
BIM = Building Information Modeling. This platform is used to optimize collaboration across developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, and all other stakeholders involved. The platform captures actual progress in 3D for complete visibility and alignment. Gone are the days of guesswork and not knowing if you’re putting a wall where an HVAC air handler lives.
At coDesign, we use RedTeam for collaboration with our clients as well as internal communication on our projects—an indispensable tool for our clients with multiple locations and delivering projects nationwide This software encapsulates project budgets, schedules, documentation, and overall quality control for a project from start to finish. It gets the whole team involved in project management. With it, you can seamlessly manage your projects on and off the field.
2. Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality
With companies like Matterport, virtual reality is being used for extended field visibility. But where VR is limited to a digital experience, augmented reality can add real-world flavor to your concepts. Are wearable AR lenses which allow you to view layers of plans and data on-site the future of construction? We think so. We see a world where clients can tour buildings in California from Hong Kong while capturing the essence of a physical space. Moreover, stay tuned for an interview coDesign recently had with Matterport regarding the future of workplace.
Proof this Technology Works and In Demand
It's no secret that big analytics offers big insights and better decision making. In a Sage survey of construction companies, 57% wanted more up-to-date project financials and project information and 48% wanted to know when specific instances occurred. With collaborative cloud softwares, builders who capture data can communicate risk, cost, and streamline approvals to get ahead of surprises. The beneficiaries are not just builders, a recent ROI Study, Procore, another cloud-based project management tool, cited 83% of owners were able to standardize processes across multiple projects.
Upcoming Technology to Look Out For
Smart boots, connected hard hats, and drones; these are just a few of the innovative solutions which have begun to surface in the construction industry. Sooner or later, this technology will be an everyday part of the job. Take a look at some of the other construction technology of the future here.
How to Implement these Advanced Solutions Into Your Projects
Although many of these advances are still being prototyped, there are many solutions builders & owners can take advantage of right away. CoDesign has already successfully managed projects nationwide using the very technology referenced in this article.
Reach out to CoDesign to learn more about how our systems can help your upcoming project needs.