The Way Projects are Designed, Managed, and Executed Has Reached a Tipping Point
An age of disruption has only just begun. And everything we know and do is subject to change.
We invite you to sit back, relax, and imagine the 2030 Savvy Idea Home. We’ve implemented construction technology through every step in the process to increase productivity, precision, and safety, and reduce labor costs.
Design Decisions Begin with Drones, BIM Data, AR & VR
A drone equipped with high-resolution cameras and GPS technology captures aerial imagery and topographical data. It is used to create a detailed map of our construction site. These maps help the team of architects, engineers, and contractors understand the site’s terrain, identify potential challenges, and plan accordingly.
The data collected by the drone is imported into Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. The project team overlays the site data with proposed building designs to ensure that the plans are optimized for the specific site conditions. Microsoft HoloLens, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, overlays digital models directly onto the physical construction site to help in visualizing structural elements like walls, plumbing, and electrical systems in their real-world context.
Detailed 3D models created by the BIM software provide a visual representation of the entire project before construction begins. This helps all stakeholders better understand the design and make informed decisions. Using Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, all stakeholders explore the future home’s design in a realistic, 3D environment. VR allows them to experiment with different design options, colors, types of flooring, cabinetry, etc.
Manual Calculations Are a Thing of the Past!
With automated financial software like Adaptive, creating, maintaining, and monitoring a construction budget does not need to be an exhaustive task. Through its intuitive interface, Adaptive software users can easily input estimates, automatically track costs against budget and billings against contract, view job profitability in real-time, and identify potential cost overruns, ensuring proactive decision-making and preventing budgetary surprises. Construction budgeting evolves from a static document into a dynamic, automated, and adaptable tool that gives you real-time insights into project profitability, cost overruns, and estimated vs. actuals. Adaptive combines expert customer support with automated bills, receipt capture, budgets, draws, reporting, and more – all fully integrated with QuickBooks.
Learn how in the midst of loud, busy construction sites, builders are using ChatGPT to get complex answers within seconds.
Reduced Human Intervention for Jobsite Prep, Foundation Pouring
The project planning is complete. Now it’s time to call in the first member of our robot team. Since ours is an infill project, located inside the Dallas city limits, we’ll need the Brokk robot first. Brokk acts as a remote-controlled demolition machine to tear-down an existing property on our site, breaking down the walls and removing concrete.
The trucks, bulldozers and excavators needed for haul-off services, grading and trenching arrive at the site. The retrofitted equipment uses autonomous driving technology by Built Robotics. Then, as we ready for the foundation pour, TyBot and Screedbot by Advanced Construction Robotics are next up.
Tybot automates the process of tying rebar intersections. A modern concrete pump pours the concrete using advanced automation and remote-control features. And finally, ScreedBot moves across the slab, leveling the concrete to precise specifications. IoT sensors embedded in concrete monitor the curing process by tracking temperature, humidity, and strength development.
Constructing with Unmatched Precision
Our plan will use concrete construction for the lower part of the home. So, we’re ready for the Vulcan 3D printer by ICON. It extrudes layers of concrete to form walls and other structural components.
The upper part of the home uses traditional stick frame construction. The CAD and BIM software used in the design process specified every stud, joist, and rafter. CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines construct all components to exact dimensions and assembles them into prefabricated wall panels, roof trusses and other components. All this happens in a controlled factory environment. Then, on the site, workers use modern nail guns to assemble and fasten everything. The nail guns equipped with smart technology adjust the force and depth of each nail,
Remotely Managing Inventory, Preventing Theft, Ensuring Efficiencies and Monitoring Safety
As our construction process proceeds, the drones will regularly fly over the construction site to monitor progress, perform inspections, and assist with managing and monitoring materials on site. GPS trackers and RFID tags attached to construction tools and machinery monitor their location and usage.
Machine learning algorithms process data from IoT sensors, cameras, and wearables. They detect unsafe practices or conditions, such as workers not wearing safety gear or machinery being operated unsafely.
Moving On To the Finishing Process, Another Fleet of Robots Stands Ready
The robots follow a pre-programmed layout plan. They have sensors to ensure accuracy. Outside, Hadrian X lays bricks with high precision at a rate significantly faster than human workers. It uses a 3D CAD model of the building and automatically lays bricks in the correct order, applying mortar as it goes.
Inside, The Canvas robot automates the drywall finishing process by applying joint compound and smoothing it out evenly across large surfaces. Then, MYRO painting robots can paint interior and exterior surfaces with consistent quality. And Tile Robotics’ Floor Tiler robots lay tiles in precise patterns and apply adhesive uniformly.
What’s Next in Construction Tech?
Keep in mind that all the construction technology we envisioned putting to use on our future project already exists. But the coming years are sure to continue to expand the limits of what is possible. Each year in our recent history is marked by the widespread adoption of new technologies alongside the introduction of even more innovations.
Construction industry businesses created and led by the next generation will require skilled workers who can operate advanced machinery, manage digital tools, and interpret complex data. Read the Building Savvy feature with a list of university level programs focused on digital literacy, equipment operation, and data analysis.
