In the context of climate change, the search for more efficient and environmentally friendly buildings continues to grow. In this sense, the construction of the future is focusing on new materials that reduce the use of non-renewable resources and generate less pollution. Materials such as green asphalt, recycled plastic, wood, aluminum, bamboo, rammed earth, and cork, among others, stand out in this regard.
The construction sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. The development of new technologies is enabling significant innovation in construction, changing the traditional way the industry was conceived.
This revolution not only reduces costs and time in the sector; it also generates sustainable and efficient constructions, appealing to greater productivity and safety.
We're sharing ten technologies that are changing industry models:
3D printing
3D printing in construction refers to the use of 3D printing technologies as a primary method in the fabrication of buildings or construction components. Currently, various methods of this technology are employed at a construction scale. These include methods such as extrusion, powder bonding, and additive manufacturing, among others. It has diverse applications in the private, industrial, commercial, and public sectors.
The benefits of this innovation in construction are numerous. Particularly noteworthy are faster construction, greater precision and complexity in designs, better functional integration, and a substantial reduction in waste.
Prefabrication
Throughout history, there have been attempts at prefabrication. If an element or process has the characteristics to be produced in a factory or on-site, and the former is chosen, it is a prefabricated product. This allows for maximizing the use of available resources and reducing the amount of work required on-site.
Prefabricated systems have evolved over time to adapt to changing needs. This trend has led to the development of semi-heavy and lightweight prefabricated systems that benefit the sector in terms of both transport and assembly. This has resulted in optimized processes where components are manufactured in workshops and offer greater flexibility for on-site installation.
Drones
Drones have been used for some time and are revolutionizing the construction industry, especially in large-scale projects, because they allow for rapid graphic images to be obtained, providing daily information on the progress of the works, enabling effective monitoring and carrying out all the necessary controls and inspections of the different stages of the process.
At the same time, drones have joined the construction industry as a safety tool for workers and a guarantee for operators and clients. Their contribution to construction ranges from logistics tasks, real-time inspection and control, generating Big Data on progress, and enhanced safety.
Robotics
Automation has long been integrated as an innovation in construction. Back in 2014, Motor Mason, a mechanical bricklayer that laid bricks at high speed, was unveiled. A year later, a new bricklaying robot called SAM100 was presented, promising to increase traditional productivity up to five times. Since then, other robotic alternatives have emerged aiming for the same goal: greater productivity and time optimization in the construction sector, with a special emphasis on precision, safety, and speed.
BIM Platforms
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a collaborative work platform that allows architects, engineers, regulatory teams, and other project stakeholders to participate. It focuses on the creation and management of construction projects and its main objective is to centralize all project information in a digital information model.
This model represents an unprecedented evolution in traditional blueprint-based design systems. This is because it incorporates geometric, time, cost, environmental, and maintenance information. Its use extends beyond design, encompassing the project execution phases and continuing throughout the entire building lifecycle. In this way, it enables building management and reduces operating costs.
IoT
The Internet of Things is also transforming the construction industry. It's not just changing how buildings are inhabited, but also how they are built. IoT is substantially changing the building ecosystem, from the very beginning of its lifecycle in the design phase. Building Information Modeling (BIM), green buildings, smart prefabrication, and smart construction management are just some of the ways the Internet of Things is transforming the sector.
Augmented reality
Augmented reality has been gradually introduced into various aspects and areas of social and productive life in communities. In the construction sector, it has evolved dramatically. One reason for this is that it allows architects, clients, and workers to see exactly how a project will look in the real world at an appropriate scale, and even interact with it.
It's a technology that offers the opportunity to explore and navigate a space, even before it exists. It helps to visualize structural details, accurately calculate materials, modify features, and assess the building's efficiency.
Sustainable materials
In the context of climate change, the search for more efficient and environmentally friendly buildings continues to grow. In this sense, the construction of the future is focusing on new materials that reduce the use of non-renewable resources and generate less pollution. Materials such as green asphalt, recycled plastic, wood, aluminum, bamboo, rammed earth, and cork, among others, stand out in this regard.
Self-healing concrete
Continuing with the development of new materials that are revolutionizing the construction industry, self-healing concrete stands out. This material contains microcapsules that break and repair the concrete as soon as an internal crack appears. It aims to eliminate planned obsolescence, characterized by its durability and reduced environmental impact.
Big Data
Big Data benefits the construction industry through predictive analytics. Its vast amounts of data help project managers make better decisions in advance. It facilitates the recording of large datasets, which also enhances the understanding of weather patterns, provides weather forecasts before starting a new project, identifies locations with adverse weather conditions, and more.
Today, predictive analytics is considered one of the most promising technologies for industry. Strong future growth is also expected.
Source: Alpha Hardin
