How Technology Makes Building Projects Safer and More Efficient

Construction is often regarded as a very traditional industry. However, emerging technologies have promising applications, and their benefits include cost reduction and accident prevention. Technology can also be used to project construction workers from infectious diseases like COVID-19.

The first step in building projects is the design process, starting with a general concept, and delivering detailed construction documents for contractors. The construction process involves scheduling, material purchases, heavy equipment, and coordinating workers from many technical disciplines. Even after a building is completed, there is ongoing work for the operation and maintenance staff. In each stage of the building life cycle, there are technologies that can add value.

The coronavirus outbreak has revealed vulnerabilities in building design and construction procedures. More organizations are becoming aware that building performance is not only about cost reduction, but also creating a healthy indoor environment for occupants.

Design Technologies for Building Projects

Conventional building designs have a major limitation, which is using two-dimensional drawings to represent three-dimensional projects. While this is not an issue for simpler projects, representing a complex layout in 2D can be difficult. For example, if several components have a vertical arrangement, they will have overlapping positions in a 2D drawing. This limitation is evident in equipment rooms, and other areas with electrical or mechanical components in a close arrangement.

Building Information Modeling or BIM consists of representing buildings in three-dimensional models with highly detailed information. Compared with 2D drawings and long specifications, BIM is much more effective when describing the appearance and features of a building. Also, since BIM uses 3D modeling, it is useful when presenting projects to non-technical audiences. The BIM file can even be loaded into a virtual reality program, allowing a project walkthrough before laying a single brick.

Another advantage of BIM is detecting clashes between equipment and components before the construction stage. Clashes are not evident in 2D drawings, since overlapping elements may indicate a vertical arrangement. However, when components have overlapping locations in a 3D model, the error is evident because the layout is physically impossible. Clash detection during the design stage can save plenty of time, materials and labor during construction.

BIM can also speed up the design phase, since many equipment suppliers have digital catalogs of their products. Instead of drawing equipment and components from zero, architects and engineers can download component families from manufacturer websites. These digital models also provide an accurate representation of equipment and components, which provides a better idea of their space requirement and clearances.

With the combination of modern design software and remote collaboration, a building design can be completed even when the design team cannot meet in person. This is very useful during an emergency like the COVID-19 outbreak.

Improving Efficiency and Safety During the Construction Stage

The construction stage can normally start when a project design is approved by the local building department, and a construction permit is issued. The construction stage has many inherent risks, which include heavy equipment and working at height. In 2020, protecting workers from COVID-19 has been added to the management challenges in construction.

Wearable technology has promising applications, since it can detect when construction workers are not following safety guidelines. These devices can provide automatic warnings for technical personnel, or they can send notifications to project managers. Based on this principle, wearable technology can also be used to monitor social distancing measures in construction sites.

Project managers and supervisors can also use drones to work more efficiently and safely. A drone can move around a project site faster than a human, while having access to aerial viewpoints, and reducing exposure to physical hazards.

Building information modeling is also useful as a project management tool. It can be used to simulate the construction process, providing a better idea of when materials, equipment and crews must reach the project sites. This information is very useful for contractors when planning material purchases and subcontractor payments.

Building Operation and Maintenance

Once a building project is completed, organizations can use technology to manage operations and maintenance. BIM is also useful as a maintenance tool, since the building model can be updated with the actual condition of equipment. This information can be gathered by maintenance personnel, or it can be monitored continuously with well-placed sensors. Maintenance can become more proactive, preventing component failures and expensive repairs.

Technical personnel can also use augmented reality (AR) to provide maintenance more effectively. Important information about the building can be overlaid on the field of vision, allowing tasks to be completed more efficiently, while helping avoid hazards.

Emerging technologies can reduce the cost of designing, constructing, operating and servicing a building. Technology can also create safer working conditions, detecting risks and minimizing exposure to physical hazards.