The world is constantly evolving. And to keep up with the ever-growing demands of consumers and businesses alike, one needs to be well aware of the trends and innovations in one's respective industry.
For this list, we're going to include some of the most popular engineering trends in the construction industry and whether it's steady for any working professional or company to jump on the wagon and create something that's both desirable, durable, and has room for more development in future.
Buildings that define a metropolis or even a nation. With the advancement of technology and subsequent decrease in both labor and construction costs, it appears that this drive can lead to a better consumer experience along with increased life expectancy of structures.
Here's the list of the most popular engineering trends in the Construction Industry:
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Similar to Computer-Aided Design (CAD), this software creates 3D models that help in visualizing concepts and designs with an emphasis on collaborative effort in advancing the workflow.
Unlike the traditional on-paper blueprint criterion, this software focuses on carrying out project delivery status, budget run-downs, virtual models, and material inventory stats.
BIM workflow includes creating a virtual model of the building. The model has built-in layers containing precise geometry of the entire structure along with the rest of the changes that need to be implemented in the final concept. Given that the model also denotes the life-expectancy of the building in the real world, BIM paves the way for a systematic approach when it comes to handling the entire project with hundreds of crew members working both online and on-site.
Virtual Augmented Reality
With the scope of technology on the rise, engineers and designers are turning to get aid from Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality to detect any errors in the BIM models. This approach lets the maintenance workers and service engineers see through crucial elements that might have been overlooked or need a redo to match the client's vision.
Also, this approach of opting for virtual reality creates a permanent record of the structure that's to be finalized. The clients also have access to the entire model to see if there's room for changes and improvements. The interfaces created in the design of the BIM can be improved or enhanced without the need to redo the entire model.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Drones
The application of drones in various industries has been witnessed both by the consumers and crew members working to build a product. The use of UAVs has led to a phenomenon where the inspection part of the whole construction process is well taken care of.
UAVs aid in surveying huge chunks of land in a shorter time window than traditional practices. Aerial imaging, a rather costly option to go with, can be eliminated if UAVs are to be involved. Also, drones eliminate the risk of several labor mishappenings by just flying off to construction spots where heavy machinery or human labor can't reach, thus ensuring the safety of the crew working on ground zero. High-Resolution cameras installed in UAVs aid in a more detailed and accurate mapping of the landscape.
3D Printing
3D Printing is another popular trend that has taken the construction industry by storm. This printing technique provides realistic models that can be used to take reference from. With effective cost-cutting and dynamic functionality, 3D printing has proved its worth in the long run, and more and more companies are opting for this instead of going for methods that require more time and money to carry out projects.
Also, 3D printing reduces a subsequent amount of waste by providing more room to let skilled laborers carry out the operations rather than accumulating a new set of workers to handle the construction waste management portion of the project.
Production of construction components has also been a key reason why companies are adapting to this printing mechanism. Countries like China, Russia, and UAE have successfully built bridges, houses, and offices with 3D printing. Designed by Xu Weigo, a pedestrian bridge has been built in China with the help of robotic arms and contains a total of 44 hollowed-out concrete blocks.
Exoskeletons
Designed and built to ensure the safety of workers, exoskeletons are slowly making their way into mainstream construction practices.
An exoskeleton is a machine that can be worn by skilled laborers to minimize muscle strain and injuries that might occur due to prolonged and repeated body gestures to either lift, drag or pull objects on a construction site.
The user's body movements primarily of the arms, back, and legs are controlled and aided by exosuits. (also known as exoskeletons) These machines can help prevent serious damages to one's body while carrying out daunting tasks on duty. With the use of mechanical and electrical exosuits that redistribute the weight of the object and enhance physical strength respectively, many workers themselves believe that they will switch to this mechanism sooner than ever. Lastly, the productivity boost that these suits provide makes them a serious contender to be on our list of most popular engineering trends in the construction industry.
Bottom Line
Workers and contractors constantly seek new improvements in the already close to perfect heavy machinery and AI-aided robotic structures. The construction industry has unfolded into a dynamic space where the risk is rewarding. Not to mention the wear and tear of both machine parts and human laborers alike, this can be said for the near future that we'll have to constantly keep ourselves updated with new and existing trends to ensure the development side of this sphere.
