New Technology Savings in the Construction Industry
Despite numerous rapid technological advancements in the world, the construction industry has been slow to respond to these changes.
And no, we’re not saying that machines that make it easier to build skyscrapers or carry around heavy objects aren’t used on construction sites, we’re simply pointing out that at its core, the process of construction is still what it was years ago.
Consider this: most construction managers spend less than 2% of their budget on information technology.
This has left room for innovation to sweep the industry and go beyond simple automation to help cut the costs of material, labour, and time on building projects – especially since these costs hit the $1.18 trillion mark in the US in January 2017 alone.
However, slowly but surely, the industry has started to catch up with technology and is now finding efficient ways of construction that cost less all around.
Here’s how:
AR is Boosting Safety and Efficiency
With the help of Augmented Reality (AR), construction businesses can now visualize and evaluate a project before it even begins.
This allows builders to use 3D models to spot and fix issues before they arise in the finished building, thereby improving health and safety standards and significantly cutting down long-term costs.
CAD is Replacing Paper
Technical drawings are at the centre of any construction project and before the process was automated, designers and architects had to invest hours in doing them manually.
Now, with Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, these difficult drawings can be finished in much less time and with a lot more precision.
Durable Material is Cutting Costs
New technology is helping builders save on not just raw material, but lifetime repair costs as well.
With material that is designed to last longer – comes with pre-application finish and low life-time maintenance – more durable homes and low-cost commercial buildings are the new trend.
Octaform has always been an industry leader in construction innovation and design. Its FormWork concrete masonry unit (CMU) blocks are internally coated with a PVC liner that does not require any reapplication. Additionally, these liners are painted with a waterproof sealer that only requires reapplication after every three years.
It is a complete stay-in-place forming system that both builds and protects structures from potential damages without requiring extra labour or costs.
The integration of technology into the construction industry has been beneficial in cutting costs for material, labour, and reducing build time. This has led to easy-to-install, corrosion-free and energy-efficient buildings constructed using the right materials – such as PVC FormWork by Octaform.