In every industry, different times lead to different trends. Techniques and methods that were once popular would fall out of style when innovative, new technologies emerge. And the construction industry is no exception.
The coming years and beyond might witness many potential challenges and long-awaited improvements. So, if you are planning any construction projects soon, let’s take a look at these 4 significant changes that would change the whole industry.
1. Green Technology
Eco-conscious construction firms and environmentally-friendly practices are on the rise. These days, more and more clients are looking for new ways and methods to incorporate sustainability and green components into their building designs.
These efforts suggest two things: increasing attention to the planet and a raising concern to long-term expenses as green buildings are typically less expensive to maintain and heat over time. In the next coming years, you might see many more changes in the construction industry to go with this trend, such as low-emission designs, waste reduction techniques, and renewable or green materials.
Keep in mind the basic techniques and processes in green construction aren’t so different from the traditional building methods as the durability, utility, and economy are all essential factors. However, this new trend makes use of green and eco-friendly materials or designs to reduce carbon footprints, pollution, or the number of wastes.
Along with green methods in construction, there is also a surge in research in eco-friendly materials and tools. These include bricks crafted from recycled butts, carbon scrubbing facades, self-healing asphalt, road barricade from recycled materials, or thermally driven AC systems. With this trend, air conditioners and asphalt that will heal itself.
2. Prefabricated and Modular Construction
Another significant change in the construction industry is the rise of modular and prefabricated designs. By applying pre-made sets and pieces to establish repeated structures, these construction projects would save both money and time. Prefabrication can be particularly helpful in some forms of buildings such as apartments, office complexes, and hotels.
As the global population keeps proliferating and outpace the available housing, adopting this cost-effective and efficient building method would be more and more critical. In the future, prefabrication techniques might be the answer to increasing demands for affordable and rapid construction.
3. Technology Integration
The construction industry has long been known for its slow moves to technology. Nevertheless, many companies are increasingly making use of new devices and techniques to improve their performance. The market is now full of versatile construction project management applications with user-friendly yet powerful features.
Also, many project management packages are introduced to help construction firms schedule and plan their projects better.
In addition to software, drones are also becoming a popular option for the construction industry. Along with aerial photography, these devices can help get videos and photos of the whole landscape. As such, managers would utilize the data to do better planning and ensure safety in the job site.
Some other significant technologies in the construction industry over the last decade include augmented reality, exoskeleton, GPS tracking, wearable technology, and more.
4. Building Information Modeling
BIM, also known as Building Information Modeling, is another major trend that will change the whole construction industry in the foreseeable future. Indeed, up to 80 percent of construction stakeholders believe that this technology would allow for better design insights.
BIM is simply a method of representing utilities, roads, buildings, and other structures in a construction project. It utilizes advanced technologies to generate and manage representations of a project before it is started.
Engineers and architects would use these models to demonstrate how the materials of the building would hold up over time. In addition, owners could also use BIM models to plan maintenance schedules.
Overall, BIM can be a handy and powerful tool for construction projects. It does not only help predict your project budget better, but firms can also use it to figure out if the project is feasible. In some cases, there might be not sufficient space for an HVAC system, or a predetermined piece cannot fit and requires to be reordered. And BIM could help minimize these hassles.
The bottom line
Undoubtedly, the construction industry still plays an indispensable role in the development of many areas. Though many challenges and significant changes are on the horizon, technological advancements and innovations would keep pushing full steam ahead. With a constant drive for higher efficiency and ingenuity, the future outlook for this industry seems to be promising.
Author Bio
Chris is a freelance copywriter who enjoys writing about emerging technologies, public safety, and politics.