Construction industries have a reputation of slowly adapting to current and recent changes in the aforementioned sector.
Yet, in the many years that have passed, construction industries have been seeing improvements in integrating technology and greener trends in propelling the sector towards the brighter future it seeks to achieve.
As such, what doe the future holds for the construction industry? Is it something to look forward to for the entire world?
Impact of COVID-19 on the Construction Industry
It is no wonder that the COVID-19 has shifted the construction industry. To say the least, other fields of businesses and industries have been affected by the surge of the pandemic. Looking at the challenges brought by the pandemic has been a reevaluation of what the future truly holds for the construction sector.
Health protocols on onsite jobs have been implemented, supply chains have been managed, and standards and regulations in the constructions sites have been adapted to suit the new normal.
As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, the future of the construction industry is bleak. Yet, this doesn’t mean that the future seems too far-fetched. As the world hangs on every thread of hope it can muster, the construction industry continues to propel itself on the future it needs to see.
How Technology Shapes the Future of Construction
It is an outright fact the construction industry is lagging behind on integrating technological advancements on its tools and equipment needed to carry out construction projects and safety of workers on the job site.
But, this is starting to change for the better as construction industries begin to adapt and employ smart technologies, power-assisted tools, virtual reality, drones, and other technologies that propel the industry to greater heights. As they say, gone are the days of using traffic cones to send out a message the construction is ongoing.
Now more than ever, technology has helped the construction sector improve its quality, minimize workplace hazards and risks, and bring efficient work to the table. As such, it can be considered that technology is the defining feature that changes and shapes the future of the construction industry in a matter of time.
Offsite Construction Projects
Offsite construction has been gaining momentum as it allows industries to save money, time, and expenses for a construction project. Now that the pandemic has put everything on hold, offsite construction projects have been gaining popularity.
Various companies have been experimenting with offsite construction technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality in planning and coming up with construction projects where human interaction is limited as much as possible.
Digitization in Construction Industry
One of the key factors that will shape the future of the construction sector is the advent of technological advancements and digitization in the industry. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), AR/VR, BIM, and other digitized tools will help propel the sector in a much-improved quality.
Another example would be the integration of 3D printing. Companies are able to print and assess some parts of the entire building and identify issues that may arise in the construction of the building. Essentially, some construction companies have been using 3D printing in planning buildings and commercial establishments.
Also, it is worth mentioning that robotics and power-assisted tools have been improvising the construction sector. Robots are used to align bricks and carry out heavy objects which in turn, eases the workload. More than this, drones have been a game-changer in providing accurate and detailed information with their onsite presence.
Implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM)
With the aim to build and eliminate design issues at the initial stage of the construction project, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been considered as the “join-up” approach in the construction industry.
Both the public and private sectors have been on the lookout for the current trends in BIM as this means that improved quality and efficiency of the project are important to construction companies.
Sustainability and the Green Trend
As humans rapidly impact the planet, there has been a call for action among construction companies in building sustainable and greener construction projects and establishments.
As the future is impacted by the present conditions of the environment, the use of greener and recyclable materials in construction has been in demand. In the long run, the greener trend in the construction industry will likely stay and further improvements are geared towards its present and future use.
