Emerging technologies allow construction companies to optimize their operations for increased productivity and efficiency. Construction has long since relied on tried-and-true methods to perform different sub-projects within a construction site.
However, recently, a spate of digital-based technologies have turned construction into a high-tech hotbed. Check out the three top ways that construction tech can transform performance and increase productivity.
Table of Contents
1. Construction Tech Helps Improve Safety
Safety is paramount in any construction project. As the adoption of construction tech rises significantly, one of the areas that is receiving much attention is safety. 20% of worker deaths in the US are in construction. Since construction workers make up 6% of the US labor force, there is a need to continue to elevate safety on the job for construction workers.
Minimal worker safety interferes with workers’ morale and productivity. However, new construction tech such as augmented and virtual reality play a significant role in guaranteeing worker safety. With virtual reality (VR), workers can get exposed to environments such as confined spaces. Workers can also work at height in a safe, controlled environment.
Moreover, construction companies are using wearables to monitor workers and their environment to ensure job site safety. Wearable tech in construction is embedded into apparel and personal protective equipment(PPE) such as hats, gloves, work boots, and safety vests.
These wearables are outfitted with biometrics and environmental sensors, voltage detectors, Wi-Fi, GPS, and location trackers, among other wearables. These sensors help monitor repetitive motions, posture, worker’s movements, and slips and falls.
Safety installations such as traffic cones and speed bumps also increase safety for pedestrians and vehicles within a construction site. Moreover, advances in material technology have introduced new ways to continue using speed bumps but modify their functionality to affect only vehicles needing to slow down.
With proper safety on a construction site, workers are generally motivated to work efficiently and increase productivity.
2. Construction Improves Collaboration and Integration that Increases Efficiency
One of the significant challenges in construction projects is a highly fragmented industry. It can be hard to get everyone on the same page when making a decision. From contractors, stakeholders, clients, to workers, everyone tends to have varying opinions and thoughts.
Fortunately, modern technologies in the construction industry connect all the parties to a unified system. Some of the construction industry technologies that enhance collaboration include mobile technology, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and IoT.
Integrated solutions that sync in real-time enable various stakeholders to add valuable notes, alter drawings, and instantly respond to RFIs, sharing this info with everyone involved in the construction project.
BIM incorporates digital representations of buildings in 3D models to allow increased collaboration among all project stakeholders. In turn, it leads to better building designs and constructions. Changes in the BIM model occur in real-time. Any updates or changes to the model are immediately communicated to all team members upon accessing the model.
Ultimately, collaboration and a unified system increase efficiency, reduce downtime and significantly increases profits.
3. Construction Tech Will Empower Laborers and Reduce Labor Shortage
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected an 11% construction employment growth from 2016-2022. Laborers who lack the skills and experience of their veteran peers benefit from the construction tech being deployed in construction sites nowadays.
Workers currently use drones to tackle more dangerous construction jobs such as bridge and building inspections.
However, contrary to popular opinion, this won’t eliminate the need for laborers. It simply means laborers will have to be trained on how to increase efficiency with drones. The same applies to technology such as robots and self-controlled/autonomous equipment.
The benefit of embracing and implementing technologies such as robots, drones, or autonomous equipment plays a major role in increasing performance and productivity.
Within the next decade or two, laborers entering the workforce-especially those who grew up using tablets and smartphones-will be better equipped to operate these technologies.
These technologies empower construction laborers to try and achieve maximum accuracy. Construction technologies perform their functions tirelessly, unless a human workforce. However, by fusing the human workforce and implementing the latest technologies, a construction company is setting itself up for maximum efficiency and productivity.
Bottom Line
Most construction firms have gracefully embraced and adopted modern technologies. Modern construction technology increases performance and productivity by reducing downtime, increasing accuracy, and empowering a workforce. Ultimately, firms investing in construction technologies have and continue to notice significant growth.
