Construction Technology to Watch in 2020

When you think of technological advancements, your mind might automatically gravitate toward industries like medicine or electronics. The construction sector doesn’t automatically seem like the kind of industry with innovative technological advances, but in reality, it’s one of the most innovative industries out there.

This is due to the fact that the construction industry has always responded with innovation when confronted with difficult circumstances that require the construction sector to change. This adaptability has helped propel the industry helped propel things like designing, developing, and building a skyscraper in the most effective manner.

Currently, the industry has been responding to things like the skilled labor shortage, new sustainability regulations, and advancements in information technology and software, and the resulting tech is just as futuristic. Things like robot workers to 3D printed houses have become a reality so quickly that we might not have realized it. In fact, there are so many advancements happening so quickly that it’s sometimes hard to keep track of it all.

Below we’ve broken down 17 of the most innovative advancements in the construction technology you’re likely to see in the coming years.

1. LiDAR

Thanks to LiDAR, or light detection and ranging, sensors mounted on construction equipment can scan the surrounding worksite and produce high-resolution 3D images in real-time. This makes it possible to perform site work from a distance, reducing or eliminating the likelihood of a worker getting hurt. This is especially critical in industries like logging, which is the second most dangerous industry in the United States.

Though LiDAR is incredibly useful, it’s also very fragile — the LiDAR sensor capacity is limited in conditions like heavy dust, rain, snow, or fog.

2. Humanoid Laborers

In response to the continuing labor shortage plaguing most labor industries, Japanese researchers have developed the HRP-5P, a humanoid robot capable of performing basic physical tasks like installing drywall independently. Other robot laborers include a semi-automated mason and the Tybot, which ties rebar on bridges in half the time it takes a human crew.

On one hand, automating dangerous tasks takes human workers out of the risk of harm; however, it also takes them out of the workforce, which is why industry leaders are recommending widespread retraining to help retain employees in fields that are already short on workers.

3. Robot Swarms

Unlike humanoid robots, which are built to vaguely resemble people, robot swarms consist of hundreds of tiny robots that are designed to work together like a collection of insects. Researchers at Harvard’s Self-organizing Systems Research Group have designed a swarm of tiny, four-wheeled robots that can operate as a cohesive unit to perform tasks like laying bricks.

Applications for robot swarms in construction are effectively limitless. They could safely repair infrastructure in flooded or hard-to-reach locations that are dangerous for a human worker, and could even build structures that are impossible for people to reach, like the deep sea or even the surface of Mars.

4. Drones

Of the tech advancements expected in the construction industry, drone technology is perhaps the most popular. In 2017, drone use on job sites skyrocketed 239 percent in a single year, and it’s not hard to see why.

Construction drones monitor worksites for equipment malfunctions and security breaches, can perform topographical mapping surveys for roughly 1/20th the standard cost, and have increased safety by 55 percent by performing dangerous tasks like making hard-to-reach measurements.

5. Connected Hardhats

Wearable tech has already infiltrated the personal gadget space, but applications in construction can do more than just monitor heart rate or capture photos on the sly. The Japanese company Shimabun recently released an upgrade kit that can be used to outfit standard hardhats with a range of advanced safety capabilities.

The Shimabun-equipped hardhat can monitor location, motion, and temperature, enabling it to warn that a worker might be lightheaded or overheated. It can also perceive if a worker has fallen and trigger an emergency call to first responders. The exactness of the data collected also makes it possible to perform better assessments of worksite mistakes to better prevent repeat occurrences.

6.SmartBoots

Another wearable tech advancement, SmartBoots are equipped with sensors that can measure worker fatigue, alert first responders in an emergency, and communicate with heavy equipment to prevent vehicle accidents. The boots are powered by the energy generated by the worker’s steps and are equipped with RFID devices that immediately identify workers when they enter the site and make it possible for site managers to automatically assign tasks over mobile devices.

SmartBoots are likely to make a wider appearance in coming years, not only on construction sites, but also in military defense and first responder environments.

7. Smart Infrastructure

Structural monitoring systems, like those developed by Hexagon Geosystems, use sensors to monitor the strengths and weaknesses of a given structure that are invisible to the human eye. These monitors can help predict structural problems before they happen, allowing the site owner to bring in a construction crew to perform necessary maintenance before the site becomes dangerous.

In natural settings like rock falls and mines, monitoring technology can be used to assess the structural integrity of a site to reduce workers’ risk exposure and alert crews to hazardous conditions.

8. Virtual and Augmented Reality

For many years, military and civilian pilots have used airplane simulators to train in a life-like environment without any of the risk of actually operating a plane. Now, the same technology has made its way into equipment operator training.

Virtual reality training is more engaging than video or lecture curricula, offers more accurate and lifelike preparation, and can also allow an individual to take more control of the rate at which they learn. But that’s not all — VR also allows equipment operators to run simulations that are too dangerous to replicate, like a natural disaster or major equipment malfunction.

Where VR is a strictly digital experience, augmented reality is the application of VR technology in real-world scenarios. With AR, workers can view layers of plans and data while on site by using wearable lenses or a camera-equipped mobile device.

That means a contractor could hold a tablet up inside a home and see the locations of every necessary drill hole without having to check the physical building plan, or a project manager could take a client through several proposed window designs and make plan modifications while standing in front of the window itself. AR technology also makes it possible to generate 3D models on top of a 2D plan, allowing for more accurate architectural planning.

9. Wearable AR

A combined application of IoT and AR, the Microsoft Hololens is a pair of glasses that gives workers hands-free access to building plans, generates structural models from surrounding site scans, makes distance measurements independently, and allows workers and designers to make modifications while on-site.

The hands-free integration also allows the wearer to teleconference with remote colleagues while in the field, and offers workers offsite a pair of “eyes” on the ground rather than relying on traditional communication methods.

10. Artificial Intelligence

Perhaps best known as the technology behind IBM’s Jeopardy-winning Watson or the unsettlingly humanoid robot Sophia, artificial intelligence has a multitude of applications in the construction space that can speed up planning and make entire operations faster and more efficient. The engineers behind ALICE, an AI assistant designed specifically for the construction industry, claims the bot can reduce project time and cost by as much as 15 percent.

Once given a project’s specs, ALICE can evaluate millions of pieces of data and generate scheduling options optimized for time and cost. As the project progresses, ALICE can continuously adapt to account for issues and capitalize on opportunities when they arise, ensuring the project plan stays up-to-date.

11. BIM Software

Building information modeling, or BIM, is a the application of IoT and AR technologies in order to generate “smart” management and workflow planning tools. BIM software allows the construction manager to create an intelligent 3D model of the project and generates smart workflows around it. This results in an elevated construction experience at all stages, from planning and design all the way to building maintenance.

BIM is already nearly universal, as many countries (including the United States) have adopted regulations that mandate the use of BIM software on any new building and infrastructure projects.

12. Predictive Analytics and Supply Replenishment

Whether it’s an online retailer guessing what you’re likely to buy or a credit card company deciding whether a recent charge is fraudulent, predictive analytics — or the process of using data to identify patterns and make predictions based on them — is everywhere.

In construction, predictive analytics can be used to make more accurate estimates on a range of data, which can save time and money. For instance, predictive software can analyze a company’s purchase history on project supplies and compare it against the actual amount that was used and generate more accurate orders for future projects, preventing expensive surpluses. Data from weather and traffic sensors can help determine optimal timing for construction phases.

By combining IoT with predictive analytics software, construction managers can establish more efficient supply chain processes and save money in the process. In retail, warehouse managers have begun equipping units with web-connected ID tags. This makes it possible for a system to quickly count, track, and map the number and location of each individual unit at any moment in time.

With access to accurate inventory numbers, project managers can provide their predictive analytics software with more accurate inventory data, resulting in better estimates on future projects.

13. Material Advancements

It’s not just equipment and software that are advancing construction technology — the actual building materials we use are innovating, too. Responding to efforts to increase sustainability, reduce pollution, and cut costs, scientists have developed a canon of high-tech building materials of the future.

For example, self-healing concrete repairs its own cracks and can last up to 200 years without replacement, while translucent wood offers an alternative to window glass that’s stronger and more biodegradable. A new type of brick made of wool and seaweed is 37 percent stronger than traditional earth brick and doesn’t need to be fired in a carbon-emitting kiln. Algae-infused building panels and invisible solar cells generate clean energy.

14. Eco-Friendly Construction Tech

Sustainable construction has largely to do with conserving natural resources, which includes water. Advancements in water collection and filtering technology have changed the way that new structures’ plumbing and wastewater systems are designed.

Rainwater harvesting, dual plumbing, and greywater reuse are all examples of updated water supply techniques that can lower water waste by as much as 15 percent.

As green buildings become more popular, it’s become essential for contractors to be able to deliver on energy efficiency specifications. Building management systems and energy monitors make it possible to accurately measure operational costs and adapt build specifications to meet required efficiency levels.

15. Electric Trucks and Delivery Vans

Due to government subsidies and a renewed and enthusiastic push for sustainable technology, the popularity of electric vehicles has practically exploded. The construction industry is also taking notice—electric trucks and vans are entering the scene.

Tesla first unveiled its semi-truck in 2017, which is slated to begin production in 2020. But Tesla isn’t the only company that’s getting into the electric construction transportation game: Chanje has recently announced its line of electric delivery vans. They provide a range of 150 miles on one charge, more than double the amount of miles a commercial delivery van drives a day.

Other companies are also developing, producing and selling their electric vehicles in 2020, showing that the future of construction transportation is now.

16. Modular and Prefabricated Construction

The construction industry is adapting to the need to produce things quickly and efficiently. Modular and prefabricated construction isn’t actually all that new. After World War II, there was a boom of prefab construction, although the quality was low.

In 2020, however, prefab homes are making a large wave comeback — they’re cheaper to both develop and purchase, more durable and quicker to construct than common houses. Because of this, they’re attractive to the average buyer.

In fact, San Jose, CA just made it easier to build accessory dwelling units (ADU), another form of prefab homes, on single-family homes. They also offer relief to places ravaged by extreme weather events and provide temporary living situations, such as those affected by the Malibu fires.

17. 3-D Printing Houses

3D printing has come a long way in such a short amount of time, to the point that construction companies can now able to print out an entire home faster and cheaper than the traditional method. In fact, the first 3D printed home went up in Austin, TX and was available for under $10,000.

A community of 50 3D printed homes is being developed in Mexico, and families will be able to move into them when they’re completed later in 2020. Nevertheless, the way houses are constructed is changing, making it much more affordable for anyone to purchase a home.

As technology continues to adapt, the construction industry will undoubtedly continue to make advancements in the tools, software, materials, and processes it relies on.

Even the way construction equipment is rented and sold is evolving to incorporate technological advancements like automated rentals, data analytics, real-time inventory access, and more. According to Scott Cannon, CEO of BigRentz, “Ten years from now, the [equipment] rental industry will be primarily driven by data analytics.”

Along with innovations in sales platforms and personal devices, we’ll begin to see futuristic elements in our buildings and infrastructure thanks to the engineers and scientists of the construction field. Though we can predict somewhat how these innovations might take shape, there’s really no telling how far construction technology might go.