Technological advances have changed just about every single aspect of our modern lives, so it should come as no surprise then, that even the construction and building industry is changing – and for the better.
As governments continue to place tighter and stricter controls on how much carbon we’re allowed to emit, construction companies have had to develop new ways to build that are cost-effective and attractive, while still maintaining green credentials. No easy task, but as you’re about to discover, smart thinking and intelligent design are not just desirable, but entirely possible too.
It used to be that oil was the most important resource on the planet, but today giants of the digital industry deal, in data. We currently produce 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day at our current pace, but that pace is only accelerating while construction technology advances. Data is gathered constantly and each of us generates data that is used to predict behaviour, trends, and forecasts. Data helps us predict the weather, which in turn can help us build better, build stronger and build smarter.
Historical data helps us analyse and pick out patterns and probabilities of construction risks and helps us steer new projects towards success and away from pitfalls.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING
Artificial intelligence or AI is a form of intelligence where machines mimic human behaviour and machine learning or ML is a field of AI where statistical techniques are used so that a computer can have the ability to learn from data, but without ever being programmed to do so. This means that a world where one could use a computer to program robots or machines that would automatically calculate and design houses – and then do the building of those houses. We are already using this technology in the UK today and as its use increases, it will continue to offer efficiencies in cost and speed while reducing the carbon footprints of building companies.
THE INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)
This is already having a massive impact on the building and construction industry. IoT is made of a network of smart devices as well as sensors and all of these share data with each other and can be controlled from a central platform.
Smart machinery will be used to perform repetitive tasks but can also be smart enough to maintain itself. A cement mixer running low on cement, could ‘order’ more for itself. Boosting efficiency and productivity.
THE SHAPE OF OUR BUILDINGS
Technology isn’t just changing the functions of construction and building, but also the actual shape of our buildings too. As buildings become smarter and our utilisation of space more efficient, we’re learning about how the shape of our buildings is changing too. Discover modular buildings and their benefits when you’re thinking about a new construction project and you’ll see what we mean.
There are so many exciting developments in construction, design and architecture and for those in the industry, the future has never looked brighter.
