Well, I think a lot of you can relate to this topic even if you are not working in the construction industry. We live in an era of technological innovations and are witnessing the most exciting changes ever. 

And of course, the construction industry— where the majority of the work process is still manual — is slowly transforming to get ready for the future.

“Construction is still in the dark ages of automation. Each building is essentially unique: hand-crafted from the ground up, using skilled artisan labor. Increased technology and automation in the construction industry will improve quality, decrease time to completion, and keep costs low. Robots in particular will automate and streamline many of the physical tasks performed in construction today.” Tessa Lau, Chief Robot Whisperer & CTO, Savioke

In the coming years we will see lots of new ideas and tools to automate the work process; new applications and robotic machines will change the way we design and build. Eventually, construction companies will have to adapt to technologically advanced tools and options to modernize their old work style.

It’s also inevitable that if companies want to succeed, machines and applications are not enough. They will need technologically competent employees to be able to keep up with the innovations. So expect a growing demand for skilled personnel.

Let’s look at some exciting new robotic technologies already implemented in the construction industry:

The idea behind robotic technologies is to make construction safer, faster and more cost effective. Bricklaying robots or ceiling drilling machines mean faster production, cheaper installation, and less harm to worker health and safety. The use of robotic excavators is reshaping construction sites to detailed specification.

As soon as drones are implemented for your construction projects you will instantly see increased productivity. Drones are great for mapping job sites, reporting project changes and updating clients with the latest details. And drones are capable of reaching areas and locations that are very difficult for humans to reach.

VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) technologies allow us to visualize space before it’s built. Virtual walk-throughs, accurate measurements and material details are highly beneficial features for construction companies. VR and AR technologies help reduce safety risks, lower labor cost, meet deadlines and timely resolve issues. 

There are many applications for a much more optimized work process, allowing better, real-time project management solutions. If companies are managing multiple projects at the same time, dedicated and tested applications can be very helpful as we no longer need to rely only on human memory to keep everything organized. These applications help to deal with common problems such as meeting deadlines, generating reports, and time tracking, reducing mistakes and possible delays.

Requests for green homes are expected to increase considerably, which means healthier, more efficient and cost-saving green buildings. Green buildings change the contractor’s way of working as they must acquire necessary certification. For example, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is now a global symbol of sustainability.

Technological improvements are visible everywhere — in offices, on job sites, in the design process and in communication methods. Technology is transforming even the simplest hard hats, now called smart hats, to provide safer and more productive construction processes.

The future of construction is upon us!