Instead of technological progress, many construction businesses still use manual data entry such as balance sheets, spreadsheets, and other paperwork for accounting and operations records. They also do not take advantage of the latest job site and construction project innovations to enhance their business.
There are practical applications and advantages to modernizing your current processes. In construction, time is money, and using technology to help run the business will save a lot of time that can be used to serve clients and bring in more revenue.
There is also technology that is innovative for the construction side of the business. These technologies include drones, virtual reality, wearables, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and mobile technology. Here are six technologies used for construction and how they can change your construction business.
Mobile Technology
Mobile technology is not only for personal use and games anymore. Applications are emerging that can be used for construction work with positive results. The enhanced portability of smartphones and tablets permits greater communication and the ability to work remotely.
Applying this sort of technology into your current processes is low cost and will increase productivity in daily operations. Mobile technologies will save time and keep your project moving forward faster by giving real-time updates and making data and information available between the office and the job site. You can immediately access the updated revisions to reports or plans and get them to the project handler or manager off-site.
Drones
Drones have only been around for a short period and have proven their usefulness in so many ways. They are also proving their usefulness in the construction industry as there are many areas on a construction site that are difficult to get to and assess.
Drones are being used to conduct site research more accurately and quickly than a crew on the ground and are less expensive than aerial imaging. The data collected with high-resolution cameras can create engaging 3D or topographical models and maps and take volume measurements.
Another advantage to utilizing drones is that they can securely examine difficult-to-reach places like tall buildings, bridges, and other difficult-to-get places.
Drones can also be used to check work and see the progress made by crews all over a job site. The time and difficulty saved by using drones will offset any equipment costs.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Building Information Modeling is software used to create 3D models digitally of what will be constructed. However, its capabilities do not stop there. BIM also creates different layers of metadata and integrates them into a construction workflow.
Almost 33% of builders have used this type of software since its inception.
The utilization of BIM promotes collaboration because every person can add their input to the model. Adding to the 3D model will replace the need to consolidate different versions of 2D paper drawings.
Streamlining this process allows collaborators on a project to add to the model in real-time. It makes the process of bringing together all aspects of the planning process more efficient. BIM also helps to streamline problem-solving in the planning and design stages of the project by automating the process and giving a complete rendition of the finished project before construction begins.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality technology is frequently used in conjunction with BIM to assist in better understanding complicated projects. Once you create a building design through BIM, virtual reality can be used to bring it to life.
VR will provide your client or the team an even more accurate idea of what the project will look like when it is finished. Having a complete picture of the project before starting can identify potential issues that can be costly to discover later.
Wearables
Wearables are a construction innovation that will affect job site risk and safety management. One example of innovative construction wearables is smart glasses. These glasses have an Augmented Reality (AR) display, broad-angle camera, depth sensor, and other characteristics that permit the workers to gather and see information in the glasses while on the construction site.
The glasses provide workers with data and instructions required to finish a task, leaving less room for error and saving time. They can also help with safety concerns by delivering the wearer vital information on the area and other essential work information.
Conclusion
These are a few of the many technologies that can propel a construction business forward. There is another technology out there that could be useful to the construction industry. However, these six innovations would be the most beneficial, outside of accounting and bookkeeping software.
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