16 Useful Technologies for Construction Industry

Thanks to new technology, construction tools, equipment, and methods are advancing. New construction tech is zeroed in on enhancing safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency. Many existing popular technologies in the construction industry support these priorities, assisting with all aspects of building, from pre-construction to presenting a finished project. 

Here are some common technologies that simplify and streamline challenging and complex parts of the construction process.

Project Data Retained in the Cloud

Access project data and collaborate from anywhere with project data retained in the cloud. Cloud-based project management optimizes communication among team members and is a hub for documents that can be easily shared, edited, and added to.

Advanced Construction Software

Construction software has come a long way in the past few decades, facilitating better scheduling, resource allocation, cost controls, and oversight. This type of software is very popular among industry stakeholders. Stay on budget and quickly adjust to the unexpected.

AI in Construction Software

AI in construction software offers new ways to engage in predictive modelling and risk analyses. From an automation perspective, AI can also assist with scheduling, material ordering, and project accounting, letting management focus on far more complex tasks.

Automated Data Collection and Reporting

When you automate data collection and reporting, you use apps and software to provide optimization guidance. This has the following benefits.

Save hours per week of work in the field. Reduce data entry errors. Enhance workflow and streamline tasks. You should have the documentation and records to support crucial safety and demonstrate compliance with safety expectations. Automate reports of all shapes and sizes, including job summaries, client deliverables, and more.

Automated Machinery

Automated vehicles and machinery can take over high-risk, repetitive tasks and make construction sites safer for workers. Automated robots are being used already for bricklaying, demolition projects, and other tasks, managed remotely by construction software and/or in part by AI.

Geospatial for Land Surveys and Risks

GPS and GIS systems create precise maps on which construction can be planned. Geospatial data is primarily used to identify flood zones, soil quality, and environmental risks or issues that could prevent the completion of a given project.

Prefabrication Is a Modular Approach

Prefabrication means buildings can be assembled quickly and more efficiently using components created off-site, transported to, and installed. This reduces construction time, especially for large-scale projects with identical units, such as apartment complexes or hotels.

IoT Sensors Monitor Everything

IoT sensors, cameras, and other connected devices provide an infrastructure for monitoring equipment, workers, and site safety. Continuous surveillance through IoT facilitates improved response times, mitigates safety hazards, and does not interfere with work.

Sustainable Green Building Technology

Eco-friendly materials, processes, and systems are key elements of construction. From recycled materials to smart building systems, construction contractors and subcontractors must learn how to handle green building technology systems and what’s required to install them properly.

3D Printing Reduces Waste and Costs

3D printing can create complex components and structures, delivering unique, custom creations with minimal waste. It can also print what is needed for a specific task directly on-site, reducing the potential for rework.

BIM Creates a Virtual Presentation

There are several ways to create virtual representations of a construction project, most prominently with Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM facilitates faster project completion, fewer errors, and often better resource utilization.

Drones Capture High-Resolution Images and Video

The aerial view provided by drones allows you to evaluate project progress, analyze safety hazards, and enhance existing security measures. It also enables more accurate, rapid data collection.

AR for Training and Worker Safety

Augmented reality allows workers to visualize potential hazards and practice their responses to site changes. AR can also be used in training to modify existing layouts and designs, identify design flaws, and more.

VR Training Simulations

VR simulators are used in construction to practice complex tasks safely while simulating real-world job site conditions. New workers can learn correct procedures without the risks of attempting the same work on-site.

Safety Wearable Technologies

Construction workers can wear many devices or set up on-site to monitor carbon monoxide levels, motion, and temperature. These include items such as smart helmets and vests. Such wearable devices work to prevent health-related incidents from occurring and detect proximity to heavy machinery or dangerous areas.

Blockchain in Construction Contracts

Blockchain offers transparent, secure transactions for construction companies, minimizing disputes and facilitating a safe way to automate payment terms. With blockchain, stakeholders benefit from improved material traceability, fraud reduction, and fewer delays.