Modular construction has until lately, been the stepchild of the construction industry. Today, that stepchild is standing head shoulders with its onsite construction siblings and in a lot of ways, it is rising taller in many developers’ and builders’ opinions.
But one area that has always seen modular construction lagging behind is in technology. One reason is the technology that has been developed until recently has been used primarily by the “Big Guns” in onsite construction.
That is changing with modular’s acceptance by many of those very same “Big Guns.”
From an article in Construction Executive:
Technology is clearly driving a paradigm shift in construction. But as the industry adapts to a new era of building, how will technology move construction forward? Over the years, there have been a lot—too many—breathless predictions of how technology will impact our industry. The technologies that stick must have a “no duh” practical value to the job, and a number are emerging as we enter 2022.
These four examples highlight how contech (construction technology) will impact the future of construction.
1. ADVANCED DATA ANALYTICS
Leading construction organizations are using data to inform nearly every decision, from which projects to bid on, to what key performance indicators to monitor. Through advanced data analytics, decision-makers can glean insights about how resources are allocated on the jobsite, providing valuable cost savings for projects with thin margins and tight timelines.
However, to make sense of these data insights and effectively harness them, the construction industry needs better data collection and organization practices.
2. DIGITAL TWINS AND VIRTUAL SITE REPLICAS
Bringing the jobsite offsite has become essential as builders and architects navigate through a new period of remote collaboration. Hybrid work is here to stay: 84% of construction professionals say that moving forward, they will use these technologies to reduce site visits in favor of a more flexible work environment. Put plainly, it was hard enough getting the right people to the site at the right time before the pandemic; new technology has finally made it feasible to get people to the site virtually, saving a lot of time and schedule implications.
Building information modeling (BIM) and BIM coordination provide additional digital planning tools. These 3D digital models are essential for formulating building design and structure, while virtual twins offer a live view of construction processes at work.
3. INTERNET OF THINGS
Data has enormous potential to solve challenges while opening new opportunities for project and resource management in construction. But to realize these possibilities, data must be accurate, timely and free of errors. “Internet of Things,” a network of digitally interconnected devices, enables reliable, remote data capture to automate and streamline vital construction processes, like utility mapping.
Internet of Things applications deliver automated data capture and storage while unlocking further capabilities with analytics and even AI/ML. In the past few years, many firms have begun using Internet of Things-enabled sensors to monitor people and equipment on location.
4. INDUSTRIALIZED CONSTRUCTION
Amid the labor shortage and rising demand for resources, the industry could greatly benefit from approaching construction with a manufacturing mindset. Industrialized construction (IC) relies on BIM and other virtual prototyping technologies to bring manufacturing-like standardization and economies of scale to projects. (IC is a sort of update to methodologies such as prefab and modular.)
To gain the full benefits of IC, companies need to reconsider core elements of their operations, from revenue planning to insurance.
THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION
With the need for construction rising amid supply chain challenges and a persistent labor squeeze, achieving a competitive edge increasingly comes down to embracing and deploying technology solutions. It’s not enough, though, to simply introduce new tools. Implementation is as much about cultural innovation in organizations as technical capacity.
CLICK HERE to read the entire Construction Executive article
Related Articles:
- ABC Report Highlights Construction’s New Technology
- Could Digital Twin Technology Become A New Tool In Offsite Construction?
- Ready To Make The Leap Into Robotics?
Gary Fleisher is the Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source. Email at [email protected]
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