Innovative technology in construction allows for huge improvements in safety, efficiency, and productivity in large-scale construction projects.
The history of construction has seen remarkable innovations that have led to impressive improvements in the type of buildings we can produce. The development of cofferdams, caissons, and other technologies opened the possibility for magnificent underwater structures. Technology advancements have pushed construction up, opening the door to massive skyscrapers.
The year after a long boom in construction was hard for the industry. It struggled to protect workers and reopen job websites. This difficult time saw the industry refocus on innovation, and the next year will likely see more automation and technologies that will revolutionize construction.
Below are 5 technologies we believe will be the most important in 2022.
Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) is a layer of digital information that enhances the view of the real world. Construction professionals can view a job site using a mobile device that has AR capabilities. Additional information is added directly to the image.
A construction worker might point a tablet at a wall, and it could display building plans as if they were part of the physical environment. Augmented reality is a powerful tool for construction, as it gives additional information precisely where it’s needed.
These are some other uses of augmented reality:
- Automatic measurements: AR technology allows construction workers to follow building plans by measuring physical spaces in real-time accurately.
- Visualize Modifications: Contractors can visualize potential modifications to the job site by layering them directly on it.
- Safety information: Augmented reality devices can provide real-time safety information for workers by recognizing hazards in their environment.
Although augmented reality can be used on a tablet or any other portable computer, the future will depend on AR glasses. These glasses would allow hands-free access to crucial information and enable users to view it anywhere. These augmented reality glasses will be one of many construction wearables that will gain popularity over the next year.
Construction Wearables
Construction wearables have many benefits for productivity. However, they could be adopted quickly due to their safety features.
Construction is the most dangerous industry to be in. Hundreds of workers are killed yearly by accidents such as falls or collisions with machinery. Wearable technology can offer workers additional safety, potentially preventing injuries or deaths.
These are some construction wearables that are currently available:
- Smart boots: Powered solely by walking, stylish boots detect nearby construction vehicles with sensors and warn workers if they are at risk of being struck by them.
- Smart, hard helmet: By sensing brainwaves smart hard hats are able to detect “microsleeps”, which can put workers at risk.
- Power gloves These gloves are worn by workers to increase strength and dexterity, and reduce the risk of overuse injuries.
Smartwatches, monitors, and goggles are also useful wearables that can be used to check for fatigue, increase safety, and allow contact tracing. Construction is undergoing a revolution that will improve safety and efficiency for every worker.
However, workers have many technological advantages beyond small and portable wearables. They also benefit from larger devices such as construction exoskeletons.
Construction Exoskeletons
Construction exoskeletons or exosuits are wearable machines that have motorized joints. They provide additional support and power for repetitive movements such as bending, lifting, and grabbing.
Although exoskeletons were originally developed for rehabilitation programs, they are now being used to improve the efficiency and reduce injuries of construction workers. While some exoskeletons can be powered by electricity, others just redistribute body weight. However, all have benefits for workers who are performing difficult jobs.
These are just a few examples of exoskeletons used on construction sites:
- Back support exosuits This suit is designed to fit around the shoulders, back, and waist. It reduces strain when lifting.
- Crouch support exosuits A crouch support exoskeleton is attached to the legs. It acts as a chair even if no chair exists, making it easier for you to crouch for extended periods.
- Shoulder Support Exosuits: Redistributing weight from the shoulders can help prevent fatigue while overhead lifting.
You can also get full-body exoskeletons that increase strength and decrease fatigue for heavy lifting jobs.
Exoskeletons make it easier to do difficult jobs in construction, but the industry is looking to construction robots to help ease the burden by delegating certain dangerous and difficult tasks to machines.
Construction robots
Construction robots still have a long way to go before they can take over the industry. However, there are many designs and proposals on the table as the industry looks at ways to address a labor shortage and social distancing.
The three main types of robots that are able to transform labor in the construction industry seem to be:
- Factory Robots: Factory robotics can perform one job perfectly and repeatedly, such as simple manufacturing tasks.
- Collaborative robotics: Robots that can carry tools and equipment on job sites can help to reduce the burden on human companions.
- Fully autonomous robots These robots, which are similar to those in science fiction, can scan the environment and carry out complex tasks using tools on their own.
Although robots such as this are not yet widely used in construction, there are other futuristic technologies that are being adopted. Drones, for example, are common in construction, doing work that was prohibitively expensive just a few decades ago.
Drones
Drones already make a significant contribution to construction and are expected to continue to grow in the next year. The cost of previously expensive processes can be reduced by small, camera-mounted drones.
These are just a few ways that drones make a difference at job sites:
- Topographic maps Mapping during the preconstruction phase is essential. Drones can quickly survey large areas of land, which reduces mapping costs up to 95%.
- Equipment tracking. Purchased and rented gear can easily get lost on large job sites. But drones can track all equipment.
- Security surveillance: Job websites are susceptible to theft of equipment and materials when nobody is there. However, drones can be used to monitor a site even if no human beings are present.
Drones can also impact progress reports, personnel safety, and building inspections. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be used more frequently to enhance drones and other construction technologies.