How does construction technology impact the industry?

There are practical applications and benefits to modernizing your current processes. However, you’ll need to integrate new approaches into your strategy and workflows to maintain a competitive edge. Below are some significant areas where technology is improving the construction industry.

1. Productivity

1.1 Software & Mobile Apps

Mobile technology helps to collect and transmit actual-time data anywhere. In addition, cloud-based solutions enable on-site employees to submit timecards, expense reports, RFIs, work records, and other verified documentation.

More software providers allow you to seamlessly integrate your data with your other software solutions, making it easier than ever to run your business. AECIS is one such solution.

1.2 AI & Machine Learning

Construction firms are now using data to make better decisions, increase productivity, improve job site safety, and reduce risks. With AI and machine learning systems, firms can predict future project outcomes and gain a competitive advantage when bidding on construction projects.

2. Safety & Training

Safety training helps establish a safety culture where employees help promote proper safety procedures while on the job. New employees must be adequately trained and embrace the importance of workplace safety.

Technological solutions are making it easier to properly train and monitor workers to prevent accidents and reduce the rate of severe injuries and worker deaths.

2.1 Wearables

Wearables will be able to monitor a worker’s posture, track movements, and determine if they are suffering from fatigue and whether they are intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics. Observing workers can help predict an accident before that.

2.2 Site sensors

Site sensors can be established across a construction site to track things. They are temperature, noise levels, dust particulates, and volatile organic compounds to help limit exposure to workers.

3. Labor Shortages

While job growth in the construction industry has been strong over the past few years, there is still a skilled labor shortage. Workforce shortages make projects take longer, cost more, and worsen in 2023. This year, 69% of contractors expect to hire, and only 11% expect to reduce their headcount, according to the Associated General Contractors of America’s 2023 Construction Outlook National Survey.

3.1 Drones

Drones can be used to conduct job site inspections quickly and identify potential hazards each day or take photos of work progresses. Drones also help to tackle more dangerous jobs, like bridge and building inspections.

3.2 Autonomous heavy equipment

Autonomous heavy equipment is used on job sites to perform excavation, grading, and site work. This type of technology allows operators to be removed entirely from the machine.

4. Collaboration

4.1 Mobile technology

Mobile apps have made communication and collaboration on projects more manageable. In addition, communicating in real-time ensures that any issues on the job site get resolved effectively. 

Integrated solutions that sync in real-time allow stakeholders to add notes, change drawings, respond to RFIs, and share that information with stakeholders.

4.2 BIM

The BIM process incorporates digital representations of buildings in 3D models to facilitate better collaboration among all project stakeholders. Besides, changes to the BIM occur in real-time. Therefore, all team members can get any updates to the model when they access it.

5. Wrapping Up: Technology in Construction

After researching and implementing construction technology, companies are reaping the rewards with high productivity, better collaboration, and completing projects on time and under budget. That could result in higher profit margins. 

Project management software through AECIS not only collaborative planning, constraint mapping, and visualizing milestones. It also allows for better collaboration, frequent interactions, and daily progress reports from the construction sites ensuring that scope creep does not happen or can control it to an extent. To know more, contact us for a trial.