Innovation in technology and construction are long-standing companions that go together. The attention of consumers may be on new technology for building and construction products, or high-tech devices when they think of technology for building however, these are only a handful of evident aspects that technological advancement plays within the field of construction. If you think about all the complex design, planning and engineering that have to be completed before the first shovel of dirt gets placed on the project site, you’ll start to realize the vital role that IT assistance plays in bringing anything from a simple single-family home to a campus for commercial use to life.
Furthermore, technology is a key element in the management of projects as well as data analysis and collection as well as communication with colleagues in the field, as well as technology at the office. While the majority of the world is embracing remote working during the outbreak however, the construction industry has been juggling remote employees, subcontractors and various sites, and the integration of third-party devices into the corporate workflow for a long time. Here are a few of the most up-to-date technologies that can help your Denver construction company on the construction site, some which can assist in building an office that is more efficient and solve some of the challenges that are unique to construction companies.
Drones in the Sky
The best construction planning starts at the beginning of the site. The industry has come far from the days of a construction worker taking a walk around the site and offering an educated opinion of what could be below the surface, and what kind of challenges the terrain can pose. This is where drones enter the scene. Utilizing traditional methods of hands-on, an experienced surveyor could assess five acres of land in just one hour. Drone surveys can evaluate 120 acres in just an hour.
Furthermore, they can eliminate dangers to safety that could arise from surveyors who have to navigate difficult terrain and they’re more precise than humans in complex measurements. Drone photogrammetry determines precise distances from photos that account for various angles and perspectives, resulting in the highest level of precision that humans cannot match.
Construction Information Modeling – The Next Evolution
Another innovation which IT help has been able to play an important part in is the way drawings of construction come to life. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a collaborative process which allows construction to come to life through three dimensions. It is required now on large-scale commercial projects and has the potential to play a game-changing part in smaller projects. In essence, it enables everyone who are involved with the process of design from engineers, architects, and developers, to manufacturers, contractors and other designers to participate in a sandbox that is shared by all.
The old-fashioned paper blueprints were difficult to share. As CAD drawings developed into three-dimensional models, they allowed professionals to visualize more extensive details of a design. BIM can be the following step that allows all parties involved to view the final product and all its components in three dimensions. It is easy to observe how all parts are coming together and also where they’re not in a collaborative online space that is accessible by all parties involved simultaneously.
Related: 8 Innovation Abilities That Will Get You Far
Printed 3D objects: Made to Order
The most revolutionary technology that will influence the work environment (and there are numerous!) can be 3D printing. Since the technology has improved and the types of materials printing can use have grown this has opened up new possibilities for construction. It has also the potential to reduce two of the major negatives in the construction industry: pollution and sustainability.
If you, as a contractor, can print a component of a construction according to the exact dimensions you need, you will practically eliminate any waste. If you can print the component using a sustainable, or locally-produced material instead of using a scarce natural resource You’ve increased efficiency of your project. In a variety of conditions, 3D printing can allow builders to make the most of the limited building envelopes. Because you can often print large pieces of material quicker than you put them together on the spot Pre-printed parts are a huge time saver.
Artificial Intelligence is Getting smarter
It’s said that contractors have a lot similar to jugglers since they have to manage numerous schedules of subcontractors deliveries, permits as well as safety concerns deadlines, safety concerns, and many more. This is the place where Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist. Certain larger companies have begun to implement AI in the early stages through the use of predictive analysis to speed up the bidding process, and then using it to improve existing winning bids.
When construction is beginning, AI can shift to analyze the procurement process, scheduling, and much more, thereby improving and analysing many previously tedious tasks. AI isn’t yet at being able to replace the direct experience of construction site construction workers or the practical experience of construction managers. However, it can simplify repetitive and tedious tasks that require data.
Integrated Business Communications
One of the major problems facing building is the fact that it depends heavily on trade partners and subcontractors and trade partners, who are familiar with their own technologies, a lot of which may not work effectively. Engaging an Denver managed IT service company that understands the complexities of the task (and the reality of adoption or lack of it) can assist you in getting all those connected to communicate better with devices and platforms that are compatible.
Cloud Transfer
One approach to bridge the gap in communication is to move the most important communications components in your Denver construction business onto the cloud. If all parties involved in the construction project, from builders to lenders to financial and legal experts, architects, designers contractors, and many more have access to the kind of information and the level they require, at the time they require it, your staff will be able to spend less time addressing questions and will be able to focus on what they excel at.
Online safety
One of the most important aspects in managed services IT that is essential for Denver construction companies is cybersecurity. As we mentioned that construction companies are in a unique situation because a large portion of the employees who they depend on don’t actually collaborate with them. This makes it difficult to enforce security measures and could make your personal data and networks more vulnerable to a cyberattack. In reality, the construction sector has been ranked third in terms of being targeted by cybercriminals according to an analysis and as high as one in six construction firms suffered a cyberattack of some kind between 2020 and 2021.
When you think about cybersecurity, it’s essential that you partner in conjunction with an IT managed service provider that will set up redundant layers of security – like solid firewalls as well as spam filters, email security and anti-ransomware programs. Furthermore, they should offer education for staff (and professional tradesmen) and monitoring of your network and recommend the best practices to protect your information.
Technology is constantly changing to aid the construction industry create an improved business model. You must ensure that your Denver construction company doesn’t get out of the loop.
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