New Trends In Construction And The Industry’s Answer To Existing Inefficiencies
Automation is an emerging engineering industry trend that is expected to boost efficiency on construction sites.
FREMONT, CA: Design-build, in which a single firm assumes the roles of architects, contractors, and construction workers, is becoming increasingly popular. The single point of contact allows for more efficient communication, more organized feedback, more organic teamwork, and faster product delivery.
Below are the top construction technology trends to overcome challenges and capitalize on ongoing opportunities for company growth.
Prefabricated and Modular Construction
Modular and prefabricated construction is becoming more popular, in which a structure is built offsite and then delivered to its final location. Offsite conditions allow for better and more consistent quality, and the building hours are shorter, saving labor costs and cutting construction time by up to 50 percent.
Modularized construction and offsite prefabrication are two new construction trends that are the industry's response to existing inefficiencies.
Persistent Labor Shortage
The pandemic has exacerbated the industry's chronic labor shortage, with 44 percent of companies that attempted to recall laid-off or furloughed employees reporting that some employees refused to return to work, citing a preference for unemployment benefits, virus concerns, or family responsibilities.
Better tools, such as new cutting-edge technologies that appeal to the new tech-savvy generation of workers, are required. Wage increases are also necessary to keep workers productive and satisfied.
Technology for Collaboration
Documented workflow management software is one tool that can assist businesses in dealing with field-to-office miscommunication issues. Teams can collaborate and manage control over field documents by replacing manual paper-based documents with digital construction forms and automated workflows, eliminating redundancies and streamlining inefficient processes.
Sustainability and Green Building Technology
There is a growing demand for sustainability to reduce carbon footprints throughout the construction process. Green construction success can be measured by lower operating costs, improved occupant health, and higher occupancy rates.
Enhanced Safety Measures
Better safety equipment, such as wearables and IoT devices, is a new trend in construction technology that helps reduce injuries onsite by measuring the users' biometric conditions and environment. For example, if a user falls, the devices can notify management of their location.
