When industry professionals discuss technology, the first thing that comes to mind would be smart wearables, smart traffic cones, BIM, IoT, virtual reality, driverless vehicles, and other technological innovations that have made the construction industry safer and more productive. These technologies are known for their positive impact, and how they have helped the industry solve the most common problems it had to tolerate before.
That said, allow us to discuss the top 4 construction technology innovations that have improved productivity on the job site.
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1. Robotic Total Stations
Robotic total stations are one of the technological innovations that utilize CAD files and 3D models to indicate layout areas in the field for items, such as wall penetrations and floor. This information can be loaded on a smart device, which would provide directions to the field worker.
That means if the construction workers would want to get more up-to-date, the system can easily be modified to make that happen.
It follows a straightforward interface that allows the workers in the field to develop that information and start working. Likewise, most of the time, a 2-day training session is enough to familiarize your workers how it works, as the technical stuff has already been taken out and the software is capable of doing calculations.
2. PPE Making The Job Site Safer
Just like what they always say, the construction industry is probably the most dangerous job out there. In fact, the physical wear and tear on a construction worker might not be noticeable at first, but it would eventually take a toll. To support that, according to OSHA, one of the most common problems a lot of construction workers face is copious strain and sprains after performing laborious tasks in the job site.
This could contribute to musculoskeletal disorders of the extremities, neck, hips and even the back. If not taken care of, it could lead to permanent damage. As for the construction site, when a worker suffers from physical wear, this would have an impact on the production process, and might even leave them behind the estimated date of completion.
Fortunately, the advancements in technology made it possible to produce materials and designs that are not only lighter, but less stressful as well. That means workers would be able to take all the beating during the work day without suffering any consequences after.
3. Project Organization Software
Aside from those who are in the office, even those who have to carry out fieldwork could take advantage of technological tools. In fact, more and more field workers are starting to use the software in their day-to-day work, as the products made in the construction industry were explicitly developed for that kind of people. Like basic field management that involves organizing and requesting of information through their mobile devices.
With the use of project organization software, users were able to save as much as 10 hours per week and having a single platform made it convenient for everyone to collaborate. Familiarizing oneself with smart devices also allowed field workers to adapt to new technologies quickly.
There’s also a software made that allows the user to see all the plans laid out through a sheet-based approached instead of a “file structure.” That means everyone who has access can quickly open it up, and the speed at which users can view and flip through materials is crucial to ensure user satisfaction. However, if needed, users can also print out the plans, just like with any other blueprints. The most significant advantage is that it ensures everyone is working on the same set of the diagram at the same time, eliminating mistakes.
4. Wearable Technology
Last, but not least, would be wearable technology. According to experts, wearable technology could probably be the next big thing on the project site. These smart wearables could be customized to monitor workers to place them in ideal positions throughout the job site, which would ensure worker productivity.
Furthermore, experts also noted that smart clothing should be one of the primary interests in the construction industry as we talk about construction safety. Unlike traditional dress that only protects the workers physically, smart clothing ensures that their health will also be protected because most of these intelligent clothing is capable of getting the body temperature of the wearer.