5 Ways Technology Has Changed How We Construct Buildings

Buildings are changing. The ongoing computer revolution has made deep impacts on the construction sector for decades. These changes, more subtle at first, are reaching a phase of dramatic new growth. New construction technologies emerge almost daily, and some of the biggest changes yet are now coming online. Here are just a few of the biggest ways that technology has changed how we construct buildings.

Modular, Offsite Assembly
A growing trend enabled by logistical and transportation technologies, offsite assembly offers reduced building costs and faster construction times. Since transportation of these materials is key, assets like an Advanced Heavy Vehicle Training Centre will continue to see significant and increasing utility. Prefabricated construction elements will continue to grow, moving ever larger parts of the building process away from site development and toward factory assembly.

Buildings as Batteries
Buildings that generate power are in development in Jakarta and Dubai. These green constructions will use solar panels and wind turbines to provide their own power and, in some cases, energy for local communities. The Tesla Powerwall will be an early entry in the home-battery market, but it also represents a powerful new trend: Buildings are heading for grid independence. In many new cases, buildings themselves are powering the grid, a reversal of historical norms.

Information Modeling
Building Information Modeling (BIM), the practice of using digital creative tools to aid design and construction, has revolutionized the architectural engineering sector from top to bottom. AutoCAD programs (Computer Aided Design) have made designs cheaper and faster to create, while internet and communication software have streamlined communications, making it easier for more people to collaborate quickly and efficiently.

Laser Scanning
Accuracy and efficiency have improved dramatically by replacing older methods based on chalk and string with direct measurements made by light.

Automation
The rise of construction assembly robots is now underway. In Amsterdam, two 3D printers are in the process of constructing a bridge across a narrow canal. In Zurich, another project uses small swarms of flying drones to assemble structures from rope. A Chinese company is printing small homes now for around five thousand dollars each at a rate of about ten per day. The future here is evident: Human workers have decreasing relevance to the applied construction process, even as roles in planning and machine management expand.

Construction techniques will continue to grow and evolve as their key technologies develop. Location management, energy generation, information systems, laser measurements and automated building will all continue to improve, creating new efficiencies and enabling new kinds of engineering.