Technology is constantly advancing and as changes continue rapidly it can be hard to keep up to date with the new innovations being introduced.
5 technology innovations in construction that may have an impact on your business:
1. Earthworks Estimating Software
Systems like Mudshark have been designed with the needs of the construction industry in mind. Mudshark allows you to:
- perform site takeoff with ease
- analyse data
- perform complex calculations, and
- accurately determine costs
Estimating software an essential tool for businesses serious about winning more jobs and increasing profits.
2. Drones
Surveying your site is an essential and often labor intensive process. With a drone in estimating, you can be generating hundreds of thousands of data points, compared to only tens of thousands when performed manually.
You can also scan your site in minutes, not days; saving you time and giving you unparalleled accuracy for calculating quantities. Drones also give you easy visual access to complex sites, and give you more opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of your site.
3. Green Building
The need to look towards green building has seen the creation of many new products and materials as well as industry certifications. Solar energy is still a popular environmental consideration for many companies, with new innovations like solar roof tiles being created. The use of recycled materials like plastic and reclaimed wood, as well as new products like water-based resin and alternatives to traditional concrete are now more readily available.
Environmental certifications like LEED and Green Star are being championed by many companies in the industry, like Adco and as a way to promote their sustainable projects. Having an environmental conscience and sharing it with your customers can go a long way in impressing both current and potential future customers. Jackson Civil Engineering for example proudly promote their focus on sustainability, and have worked towards using sustainable and local resources, reducing their carbon footprint and minimising landfill waste.
4. 3D Printing
The major benefit to the construction industry with 3D printing is speed. In 2016 the world’s first 3D printed house was unveiled in China; a two-storey building taking only 45 days to complete. San Francisco company Apis Cor were able to print a small house of 38m² in Moscow in only 24 hours, in December t2016.
Apis Cor promote the reduction of costs by up to 40% compared to traditional methods. Reducing costs through minimising resource use and improving production schedules is another major advantage of this type of construction.
As further advances in 3D printing occur, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on this technology and applications that you could implement.
5. Wearable Technology
Worksites can be large, dangerous and have hundreds of workers moving around them at any given time. They can also be small, isolated and at times uncontactable. The development of wearable technologies offers significant benefits to the construction industry. With wearable technology, you can:
- connect directly to supervisors,
- automatically collect data, and
- communicate on site in real-time
Wearable products have been introduced by many companies to help monitor, inform and protect their workers. Smart vests for example offers GPS locators, proximity warnings to avoid collisions, and sensors to regulate body temperature. Other products use brainwave technology to monitor alertness and fatigue, such as SmartCap.
To find out more about how MudShark Earthworks Estimating Software can help your business, start your 14 day free trial today.