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for fast-track construction and reduced interference.
It improves procurement and performance
systems, allowing a host of possible
issues to be tackled before physical work begins,
significantly reducing the risk of errors
and thus reducing the risk of going off-budget
or off-schedule.
CAD has resulted in several major changes in
construction technology, such as the move
toward engineering workstations that are
dedicated to the CAD process. CAD systems
can store large numbers of civil, structural,
and electrical schematics. Furthermore,
compatible solutions to integrate into CAD
software have emerged and continue to be
updated.
4. Blueprint Apps
Gone are the days of offices on site overflowing
with documents – now, the main player
is the application-ridden tablet. A device as
useable in the field as in the office, these
planning apps have given us the ability to
oversee plans and make changes digitally.
Possible obstacles can be accounted for and
tweaked before beginning physical work
and then having to change them (usually at
great cost) due to an oversight. These apps
allow for direct communication, in real time,
between the owner, project managers, and
other staff, so everyone is kept in the loop, 24
hours a day.
5. Drones
The introduction of drones in the past decade
has changed the face of the construction industry,
and is likely to continue its trajectory
into the next one.
• In surveying and mapping out the specified
area, their value lies in being able
to go where humans and heavy machinery
can’t, monitoring progress in real
time and the ability to make changes to
the plan according to the drone footage.
This footage can then be compared to
blueprint plans and deviations noted
and dealt with accordingly, saving time,
money, and resources.
• Companies using them have reported
increased efficiency, helped in part by
more accurate maps and data, allowing
for a highly quantitative means of measuring
progress versus schedule. These
remotely controlled devices enable the
surveillance of large-scale projects from
remote locations – so project managers/
owners do not have to physically be on
site to control operations, thus making
them a valuable investment for largescale,
high dollar projects.
• Legal Issues: Although the legality of
larger drones is currently tricky, it’s likely
only a matter of time before the use of
drones on site is a common occurrence.
6. Health and Safety
The importance of the health and safety of
workers has grown exponentially and now
safety on site is of paramount importance,
helped in part by the legal regulations that
have sprouted up around every industry.
• Headsets, halo lights, safety glasses, and
responsive clothing are but a few of the
safety gadgets having undergone modernization,
turning outdated and often
un-adhered-to health and safety regulations
into routine, standard on-site precautions.
• Drones can also play a role in the monitoring
and promoting of safety practices,
as the surveillance shows whether best
practice regulations are being adhered
to, regardless of whether a health and
safety official is on site. And as drones
can reach places that may be unsuitable
for humans, they are soon to be the
project manager’s best friend. They also
help defer on-site theft – there’s nothing
like being on camera to deter robbery,
after all.
There is no doubt about it: the future is
bright, and the future is mobile. Technology
has brought the industry speeding into the
21st century.
Originally appeared on Capterra, www.capterra.com,
Article written by Steve Wright in
Construction Management
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