Companies that stay ahead of technology trends usually attract the best talent and win the most jobs. People look for companies at the top of their game, companies that use the right tools to win the most jobs, and companies that manage their work in a proactive way.
I Build America wants to help you grow your company from being competent to an industry leader. Here are five trends we’ve noticed that may help your company do just that.
Drones/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drones outfitted with mapping or scanning systems produce data that can be used to create a 3D model of the construction site. Having a 3D model can help the crew better understand the dangers of the site or better visualize work progression. Utilizing drones is significantly cheaper compared to hiring a helicopter to capture aerial footage. There are hundreds of commercial drone services companies out there such as CloudBaseHeli, Xizmomedia, SoaringSky, SouthEast Drone, to name a few. Drone usage is expected to grow despite FAA regulations put in place earlier this year.
Robotics in Construction
Worker safety and efficiency are two leading reasons companies consider using robots. Brokk Inc. has sold remote-controlled demolition machines since 1983. As one would expect, the design and technology has evolved over the years. Brokk has state-of-the-art demolition equipment that is custom fitted for each job. Another pioneer in this area is Construction Robotics’ robotic bricklayer, Semi-Automated Mason (SAM100).
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
BIM tools give you the ability to create a virtual 3D representation of the construction site. Imagine being able to see a roadway, bridge, or building even before the construction begins to quickly identify issues. BIMs will provide your crew with deeper understanding, and also allow owners to visualize the project. Leaders in this area include Autodesk, Graphisoft, Bentley Systems, and Vectorworks.
Mobile Technology and Jobsite Data Collection
Smartphones and tablets have a big presence at job sites due to the benefits they bring: instant document update at the job site, file sharing and collaboration, collecting worker attendance and related data, and the ability to cross reference with budgeting at the office.
Project Management – Mobile Apps
Plan management apps offer real time collaboration, blueprint annotation and updates, document expiration, work order integration, punch list management, and much more. These apps help reduce rework and cost of printing blueprints and minimize stress from storing and accessing blueprints remotely. Check out Bluebeam, PlanGrid, Procore, FieldWire, BlueVue Plans, and FieldLens.
Let us know what we’ve missed by emailing us at info@ibuildamerica.com
About the author
Femi Ariyo is the IT Manager for HCSS, a company that provides industry-leading software solutions for the construction industry. Femi has worked in the IT industry for over 17 years and focuses on IT security, innovative solutions for construction industry and of course, cool gadgets.
