Awesome Tech Innovations for Your Construction Business

Construction is one of the slowest industries when it comes to adopting the latest tech solutions. Innovations in this field are usually applied by big corps, rather than small business contractors, because in most cases, they can’t afford the latest gadgets, tools and materials. In spite of this, we’ve decided to present some advanced tech equipment, which will be easily available to small business contractors in the near future.

Software

Building Information Modeling

BIM concept has existed since the seventies, but software solutions that support it weren’t available until the beginning of the 21st century, when ArchiCAD was released. It was the first program which could create 2D and 3D geometry and the first commercial BIM software solution, made for private computers.

Building information modeling changed a lot since the first generation of ArchiCAD. Latest BIM software solutions come with:

Bidirectional associativity – updates the whole document by using only one change as a model;
Advanced collaboration – enables architects to collaborate by using cloud-based technology;
Conceptual design tools – allow users to sketch and create free form models;
Advanced rendering tools – create fast and accurate renders in cloud environment;

Virtualization

Recently we saw huge popularization of VR technologies, which will soon find their way to big AEC firms. Devices like Oculus Rift will enable architects, contractors and investors to see future buildings and take a walk around them. These devices use advanced software and dual displays in order to bring project plans to life.

Tango

Google’s Tango app, allows architects and interior designers to use indoor navigation, 3D mapping, physical space measurements and augmented reality, in order to test new building designs and indoor design features. Software provides combination of advanced functions that include:

Motion-tracking– with the use of visual features, accelerometers and gyroscope data;
Area learning– system saves and stores environmental features on the map and allow users to re-use them;
Depth perception– system detects distances, sizes, surfaces and environment in general.

Materials

Self-healing concrete

Concrete is one of the most durable construction materials, but it’s definitely not indestructible. Concrete surfaces often crack, especially when they are exposed to water and chemicals. In order to prevent this from happening Bath University researchers developed a special type of cement that contains bacteria within its microcapsules. These bacteria germinate when they come in touch with water and produce limestone, which plugs the crack, before steel reinforcements come in contact with oxygen and corrode.

Aerogel and Thermoblok

Good insulation is very important for construction of green buildings. Recently, NASA’s labs released Aerogel, one of the most effective thermal insulation materials. Aerogel, which is also called ‘frozen smoke’, is not easily adaptable to regular construction techniques, due to its fragility. Then NASA spin-off company used this technology to create its own version of highly effective insulating material called thermoblok. It uses unique fiber to suspend aerogel’s proprietary formula, which allows it to bend and compress, while keeping all of its insulating power. This material is able to increases wall’s R-value for more than 40%.

Tools

New elevated platform designs

Working on high-rise projects has never been easier, due to invention of elevated light-weight work platforms, which can be set up and disassembled by only one person. These platforms help contractors to finish different types of high-rise projects, but they can also be used for maintenance of power lines and various other tall structures.

Light towers

Although light towers are not new to construction companies, number of recent models come with heavy-duty polyethylene canopy. Since these towers are mainly used in critical weather conditions, new material gives them incredible rugged durability and makes them unflappable for any type of weather. New light towers are also very compact and they can be easily transported to the desired place.

Drone surveying

Drones can fly high and overlook wide stretches of land. These flying devices can easily be equipped with hi-tech cameras, laser scanners and even accelerometers and gyroscopes. Adequate software can use information these devices collect and turn it into a 3D land scans, which can be very useful for architects and landscape designers.

Although innovation processes have been very slow in the construction industry, throughout the years, advanced technology has gradually upgraded every aspect of architectural and construction growth. We hope that contractors and smaller AEC firms will quickly implement the latest tech used by big construction companies. This way, all of us will be able to enjoy the benefits of green buildings and beautiful architectural designs.