What are the top 10 trends of the Construction Industry?
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the game of construction industry
and how things operate. There has been a lot of light shed on
technology adoption. To be precise, innovations that enhance
efficiency are being concentrated on. The traditional
Brick-and-Mortar Industry, is being revamped and emerging
technologies such as Construction Robotics, 3D Printing and the
Conventional Pen and Paper planning is taken over by advanced
processes like Digital Project Management and Building Information
Modelling (BIM).
Before getting a deep dive into these trends lets understand what
has made the construction industry hop on these trends.
What is BIM?
Building Information Modeling famously known as BIM has
already revolutionized the Construction Industry. BIM presents
Architecture, Engineering and Construction ( AEC ) into
Digitalization. It cohesively clusters multi-factored data to
generate a digitalized representation for the built asset. BIM
has a well structured process that enables design and construction
teams to increase their productivity and be time efficient. It
allows them to have a note of the data that is created during the
process, analyze them and to better their operations and maintenance
activities.
It allows us to handle and overcome issues like over costs,
redundancy, QC Issues and project delays and makes the entire
process much easier. The most recent version of BIM is known as
the 5D BIM, it enables the construction team to have shorter project
cycles, increase in productivity and a better project scope
understanding. Now that we know that BIM is extremely
supporting factor to productivity of the project, let’s understand
it’s advantages.
What are the advantages of BIM?
A few advantages of BIM over conventional construction methods can
be listed as follows:
Increased control over the project.
Reduces tedious work of information production and redundancy.
Automates construction production management.
Higher build quality.
Increases cost efficiency by decreasing planning issues.
Easier to overview and maintain.
Increased collaboration across build teams through all phases of
the project.
Reduces time delays.
2. Construction Robotics
What is Construction Robotics?
Construction is known to be one of the most labor-intensive industry
in the world. It also calls for repetitive and time-consuming
procedures.
Construction Robotics are used to automate workflow that was
previously done manually. Robots and automated machinery do
not have the problems of fatigue, burnout or lack of interest in a
repeated and redundant process.
Since it’s evident that Construction Robots make the project
building process easier, let’s get to know it’s advantages.
What are the advantages of Construction Robots?
Construction Robots performs as an allrounder and helps reduce the
manual interference and hard work involved. But if we want to
understand its advantages, the significant advantages of
construction robotics can be listed down as follows:
Process simplification.
Data digitalization to improve decision making.
Automation to facilitate management tasks.
Delivering more efficiency and accuracy.
Shrinking operating costs and wastage.
Can be programmed to meet specific needs.
Creates safer work environments.
Meeting industry demands and labor shortages.
Producing high levels of productivity.
3. Construction Monitoring
What is Construction Monitoring and why is it important?
Construction monitoring can be explained as a collection of
independent inspections tracking the overall quality of the build
asset and the progress of construction. Areas to monitor mostly include:
The construction environment
Quality control
Timeliness and meeting targets
Negotiations, suppliers and supplier performance
Health and safety
Costings
Materials
Conformance with plans and specifications
What are the levels of Construction Monitoring? The level of Construction Monitoring chosen will determine the
value added to the project.
The CM level varies from project to project, and factors such as
project size, importance, complexity and the skill or experience of
the constructor will play a part in which level is chosen. However,
to have the confidence that as-built construction meets all it’s
contractual requirements may require more in depth Construction
Monitoring.
What are the advantages of Construction Monitoring?
Apart from the fact that it improves the overall process of building
an asset, few more advantages of construction monitoring are:
Maximizes communication and minimizes conflict.
There exists a central point of communication, control and
responsibility.
Saves considerable amount of time and money.
Real time tracking.
Stakeholder collaboration.
Improvement of productivity.
Real time suggestions and recommendations.
4. Advanced Building Materials
What are advanced building materials?
Advanced Building Materials are making new Construction More
Sustainable.
Construction Materials that are most commonly known are wood,
concrete, bricks etc. These materials have competition from new and
innovative materials in recent times. These new materials
present us with different advantages from eco-friendly manufacturing
to sleek contemporary designs.
Why should we use Advanced Building Materials?
According to
Let’s Build, the much awaited and anticipated revolution in construction is
gaining momentum. We now have drones, virtual reality, augmented
reality, BIM, project management and more. But it doesn’t stop here!
Researchers and various institutes are taking technology to the next
level. Development in concrete and various other construction
materials has been aggressive and intense. As a result, the
construction industry has managed to offer a very convincing answer
to the burning question of how modern construction materials could
look like in the near future.
What Advanced Building Materials are currently used in the
market?
Emerging technologies made possible a change in the field of
construction. Here are the
11 advanced construction materials
used currently in the market.
3-D printed graphene
Light-generating concrete
Liquid granite
Translucent wood
Cross laminated Timber
Self-healing concrete
Transparent aluminum
Flexible Concrete
These sound tech-y and extremely ground breaking when used but let’s
understand their advantages in real time.
What are the advantages of the Advanced Building Materials?
Few of the significant advantages of advanced building materials
that can be listed down are as follows:
Faster construction
Fewer housing defects
Reduces energy and time wastages
Sustainable
Safe and secure
5. Green Building
What is a Green Building?
According to
US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), a Green building is the practice of creating structures and using
processes that are environmentally responsible and
resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to
design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and
deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical
building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and
comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high
performance building.
What are the features of Green Building?
There are
a number of features
which can make a building ‘green’. These include:
Efficient use of energy, water and other resources
Use of renewable energy, such as solar energy
Pollution and waste reduction measures, and the enabling of re-use
and recycling
Good indoor environmental air quality
Use of materials that are non-toxic, ethical and sustainable
Consideration of the environment in design, construction and
operation
Consideration of the quality of life of occupants in design,
construction and operation
A design that enables adaptation to a changing environment
Why should we consider Green Buildings? According to USI, in recent years, more and more professionals have been focusing
on energy efficiency in a variety of industries. Studies show that
the development and long-term growth of larger communities has had a
major impact on the surrounding natural environment. As such,
experts are beginning to focus on the design, construction and
large-scale manufacturing of green buildings that could provide
individuals with a more responsible way to consume natural
resources. Not only does the widespread functionality of green
buildings improve the local environment, but those working and
living inside the buildings can enjoy healthier atmospheres, free of
unnecessary pollution and waste.
These facts makes it evident that we should consider Green Buildings
more often. Now let’s understand it’s major advantages that makes it
eco-friendly and sustainable.
What are the advantages of Green Buildings?
The advantages of Green Buildings can be broadly classified into
3 categories. Environmental, Economical and Social benefits.
They can listed down as follows:
Environmental benefits of green building:
Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
Improve air and water quality
Reduce waste streams
Conserve and restore natural resources
Economic benefits of green building:
Reduce operating costs
Improve occupant productivity
Enhance asset value and profits
Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Social benefits of green building:
Enhance occupant health and comfort
Improve indoor air quality
Minimize strain on local utility infrastructure
Improve overall quality of life
6. 3D Printing
What is 3D Printing and how is it used in construction? Construction 3D printing
is a method for manufacturing construction elements or entire
buildings by means of a 3D printer printing concrete, polymer,
metal, or other materials, layer-by-layer. The most common type of
printer is based on a robotic arm that moves back and forth while
extruding concrete. Other methods for 3D printing include powder
binding and additive welding. Powder binding is 3D printing within a
basin of powder, solidifying powder layer-by-layer to create the
desired object. Additive welding has been demonstrated by printing a
full-scale, functioning metal bridge in Amsterdam.
What are the real time examples of 3D Construction? All3DP says, Over the last five years, 3D printing technology has produced
numerous incredible structures all over the world, including 3D
printed houses, cabins, offices, bridges, pavilions, large-scale
structures, shelters, and more! As 3D construction grows, it has the
potential to disrupt the traditional construction process. With many
structures printed in a matter of days, 3D printing shelters, for
example, can be beneficial for victims of natural disasters.
Here are a few real time examples of projects that are planned
using using 3D Construction and a parameter:
Icon takes its first (of a few) spot on our list with its
ambitious announcement to 3D print
100 homes in Austin, Texas. Working with leading homebuilding company Lennar, Icon plans to
break ground on the housing development in 2022. Icon’s
innovative
Vulcan construction system, which will be used for this project, can rapidly create
buildings of up to 3,000 square feet. The manufacturing method
produces homes that are resilient, energy-efficient, and built to
the International Building Code (IBC) structural code standard.
Habitat for Humanity delivered an amazing Christmas present in
2021 by opening their
first 3D printed home to occupants
in December. The charitable organization partnered with Alquist to
print the concrete single-level home. Offering the home to
low-income families who volunteer with the organization is further
proof of the technology’s massive cost savings, while this project
also serves as Alquist’s proof of concept to move forward with
their large-scale
Project Virginia
plans.
SQ4D generated their own flurry of headlines when they listed this
Riverhead New York home on the market. That’s because it’s the
first 3D printed house
authorized to be sold commercially
in the United States. While many builders are bragging about
the potential of 3D printed homes, SQ4D put their money where
their mouth is by listing it on Zillow for 50% below the price of
comparable homes in the area, proving the much-talked-about
benefits of 3D printing construction.
Now that we know there are actually many projects that are being
executed with 3d printing technology involved, let us now see what
the advantages of it.
What are the advantages of 3D printing in construction?
One of the great things about 3D printing is the design freedom that
it offers.
Other than that, here are a
few more advantages:
Shorter supply chain and quicker design process
Fewer logistical processes and less waste
Making customized houses available to the wider market
Simpler and more efficient installation of pipes and electrics
7. Connected Construction Site
What are connected construction sites? Connected construction refers
to a network of construction equipment, vehicles, devices, people,
and locations that are all communicating with each other via
wireless or digital technology under a single firm or organization.
Another way to think about connected construction is through
the lens of information technology. Imagine all of the computers and
technological devices in a traditional office, and how they
communicate with each other and are monitored by a centralized IT
team. Now, add construction vehicles into that mix, and you should
have a better idea of how connected construction works.
Why is Connected Construction the future of construction
industry? With connected construction, components work together as a body, ensuring collaboration among
stakeholders to improve productivity and efficiency.
It automates processes
, keeps all stakeholders up to date, and aids in all phases of
development, including design, planning, construction, handover, and
commissioning. You can also use it while out in the field or the
office. As
Hewlett Packard
writes, “Sensors and tags are used to connect job sites, machines,
and workers, allowing for real-time visibility and analytical
capabilities for managers… The connected network never sleeps,
providing a constant stream of information and analytics to help
guide project management.” Now we have an overview of how
Connected Construction has a lot of pros to look forward to. let’s
list them out clearly.
What are the advantages of Connected Construction?
Connected Construction enables all the components to work together
as a single unit collaboratively. Other than this fact, there are a
few other advantages:
Improved communication and transparency.
Real time updates to Minimize risk.
More accurate timelines.
Interoperability between tools eliminating redundancy.
Better and more informed decision making.
Seamless communication and collaboration across all stakeholders.
Reduced construction conflicts and project costs.
8. Construction Project Management
What is construction project management?
In brief,
construction management
is the process of managing construction projects. When comparing
construction project management to other types of projects, the main
distinction is that construction is mission-based. That means that
the project’s organization ends with the completion of the project
build.
Why is construction project management important? Effective construction project management
benefits owners by increasing the potential for successful project
completion—on time, within budget, and free of financial or legal
complications. Construction management is a professional service
that uses specialized project management techniques to oversee the
planning, design and construction of a project. While project
oversight services evolve over the course of the project,
construction management is intended to optimize best industry
practices, prudent management decision-making, and effective and
transparent project controls and reporting methods.
Construction management is particularly vital to large-scale
projects that have more potential for problems that could
significantly delay the project and cost money. A construction
manager measures each design decision with careful analysis that
calculates the impact that decision will make on the budget and
schedule. Without a professional construction management team, an
unforeseen problem risks derailing the entire project.
Now let’s understand the advantages of the same.
What are the advantages of construction project management?
Optimize and accelerate the project schedule
Ensure compliance with the latest regulations and industry
standards
Leadership and centralized communication
Budget Management and accounting
Document sharing and control
9. Construction Worker Safety
What is Construction Worker Safety? According to United States Department of Labor, Construction is a high hazard industry that comprises a wide
range of activities involving construction, alteration, and/or
repair. Construction workers engage in many activities that may
expose them to serious hazards, such as falling from rooftops,
unguarded machinery, being struck by heavy construction equipment,
electrocutions, silica dust, and asbestos. The information,
tools, and resources provided in these Construction Industry web
pages are designed to assist those in the industry - whether worker
or employer - to identify, reduce, and eliminate
construction-related hazards.
What are the common causes the reduction of worker’s safety at a
construction site?
Tool misuse
Trenches
Electrical sources
Poorly structured construction site rules and regulations
Powerful industry vehicles
Excavations and hazardous gases
Confined spaces
Fire and emergencies
1. 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers is in the construction
industry
2. Of the 42 annual crane-related deaths, around 60% involve a
falling object
3. A total of 1,008 construction workers died on the job in 2020
4. Each year, 10.2 of every 100,000 construction workers suffer
a fatal injury, which is the third highest rate of any industry
5. Falls account for 34% of all construction deaths —
eliminating falls in construction would save more than 300 lives
every year
Why is Construction Worker Safety important? Clock Shark
says that, if your worksites are not safe, neither are your workers,
and neither is your company. Construction has a notoriously high
level of difficulty finding skilled workers, and it’s crucial to
protect the ones you have. Having safety regulations also
protects the public, since many construction projects are in
populated areas. But physical safety is not the only reason
it’s important on your worksites. You need a high level of
safety standards for jobs that require bonding. And you’re much more
likely to get such contracts if you have a positive and credible
reputation in the industry. Plus, you’ll save money. Your
Experience Modification Rate (EMR) establishes the costs of your
annual construction insurance. Insurance companies use your EMR to
determine how much risk your company is.
What can we do to protect workers at construction sites?
All employers have a responsibility in
protecting the health and safety
of their staff, regardless of their occupation or industry. For
construction workers, who are exposed to high risk environments,
there are additional dangers which must be considered. Ways we
can keep our Construction site safe are:
Start with safety training
Minimize and manage risk
Site security
Safe work method assessment
Use clear signage throughout the site
Entry and exit points
Compliant chemical storage
Environmental conditions
First aid
Providing personal protective (PPS) equipment
Dropped objects
10. Offsite Construction
What is Offsite Construction and what are its types? Offsite construction
is a process that involves the planning, designing, fabricating, and
transportation of fabricated building components and their
subsequential installation on site. Offsite construction increases
construction productivity, reduces jobsite congestion and the
associated safety risks, increases quality, and reduces construction
schedules.
When can Offsite Construction be used?
Offsite construction is excellent for projects that meet the
following criteria:
Working under pressure
The Jobsite is plagued by inclement weather
The construction of the building necessitates repeating internal
structures
Limited space on the Jobsite
Theft and vandalism-related risks and issues
Building height, intense heat, and cold pose safety hazards
What are the advantages of Offsite Construction? Offsite construction is a growing trend, with many companies growing wise to the advantages of moving the
building process away from the physical site and into a controlled
factory environment. Here, we take a look at some of the reasons why
offsite is the next big thing. Here are a few advantages of
Offsite Construction: