The construction industry is under a severe paradigm shift. Imagine this – You are on a construction site, equipped with a Terminator-like haptic suit that sends your vitals and atmospheric data to the cloud and gives you herculean strength to lift hundreds of pounds effortlessly.
Meanwhile, you leverage Augmented Reality glasses to realize 3D models over your construction space and GPS-enabled robots to eliminate all monotonous tasks of building and handling concrete.
It may sound like Sci-fi, but this scenario is not far off. Although the pandemic has slowed down the growth, some industries have already started using these incredible shifts.
Internet of things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and Wearable Tech has kickstarted a new generation of innovations and opened a room to surreal technology. These innovations have reshaped the construction business and responded to the ever-increasing skilled labor shortage and rapidly changing client expectations.
From robot workers to 3D printed houses, these cutting-edge innovations are happening so quickly that it sometimes becomes hard to keep track of them. NetSuite Solution Providers be will a vital part of the five technologies that will change the Construction technology in 2020 and beyond.
1) Full Body Exoskeleton suit
Due to the inherent danger in construction, the focus has always been implementing more reliable safety measures. There have been significant accidents in the past, including the Florida University Pedestrian bridge collapse and New Orleans under-construction Hard rock hotel collapse.
The fact that workers have to work with heavy machinery at dizzying heights and unpredictable weather conditions, the innovation of Exoskeleton suits was a must. These suits have penetrated the industry and redefined the ease and safety these workers can work with.
The Sarcos Robotics Guardian Alpha is the first full-body, Exoskeleton unit that leverages the power of AI and smart wearables to combine human instinct, intelligence, and judgment with the strength, precision, and endurance of the machines.
From lifting 200 pounds effortlessly to reducing occupational injuries, workers now experience less muscle fatigue and higher productivity.
Another exceptional innovation in the wearable tech was by a startup named SolePower and their Smart Workboots. With its embedded sensors, RFID tracking and communication technology, workers’ accountability, productivity, and work verification rate increased by multiple folds.
2) Construction Drones
Drones have become mainstream, and its utilization in the construction domain has skyrocketed by 239 percent in the last few years. Nowadays, the construction drones monitor worksites, security breaches, equipment malfunctions, and perform topographical surveying for roughly 1/20th the standard cost, with a 55 percent reduction in accidents as they carry out risky tasks like making hard-to-reach measurements and mapping.
SiteAware, a construction technology startup, has introduced a complete digitized solution to automate job sites’ 4D topographical mapping data acquisition, gain critical project insights, cut real-estate developer cost, enhance productivity, and increase safety.
3) Humanoid laborers and Tele-remote equipment
In 2020, Robots have started to make a massive impact on the construction industry. With the advancement in 3D printing, robotics is making a deep infiltration into the industry. Smart Robots are correctly aiding us against the skilled labor shortage by doing everything possible with manual labor.
From bricklayers to laying roads with a higher degree of automation, construction companies are experiencing improved construction times and more top build quality. A Japanese company has developed the HRP – 5P humanoid robot that can independently perform various physical and dangerous tasks like installing roofs and drywalls.
They sense the environment, map coordinates, and make split-second decisions that humans cannot, with a similar level of efficiency. Clubbed with the disrupting 5G networks by the end of 2020, the construction efficiency is bound to increase.
4) Carbon Footprint Reducing tools
Various tools are developed this year to monitor and measure carbon emission and find ways to reduce it. Sweden- based Skanska USA was able to examine carbon emission and reduce embodied emission by up to 30% using its open-source Embodied Cabon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool.
Utilizing this unique tool, designers now examine data for common building materials and generates an overall carbon footprint for a project even before it begins. It further also helps them with smart alternatives to reduce a project’s carbon footprints and increase data transparency.
5) Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR)
For almost a decade, military and civilian pilots have used simulators to create a life-like environment and train themselves without any risks. Similar technology has recently erupted in the construction industry. Using VR and AR, designers can have immaculate accuracy and preparation for carrying out a project.
Even in the learning sphere, VR allows the equipment operators to run life-like simulations and replicate real-world scenarios of equipment malfunction or natural disasters. With Augmented Reality’s help, workers can precisely inspect layers of plans and data and generate 3D models just by using their camera-quipped mobile phone.