How important is technology to developers and contractors?

If I asked you, what has defined and developed the most over the past 20 years, what would your answer be? 

I'm sure for a large part of you that answer would be the advancements in technology. Platforms that people use daily such as 3D printing and imaging to artificial intelligence and Google have morphed the 21st Century into something unseen before. The same goes for construction technology.

Can introducing technology save contractors time and money?

What do an excavator, a portable circular saw, a digger all have in common? The answer is that they are all tools and equipment commonly found on construction sites. However, another correct answer would be that they are all pieces of technology that didn't exist 50+ years ago.

Take a moment to think about sites without these technological advancements. Without power tools, we'd be cutting boards and drilling holes by hand. Without heavy equipment, construction engineers would be excavating sites and digging trenches with shovels and pickaxes. Without the elevator, buildings would only be a few stories tall. 

Construction technology has made worksites safer and workers more efficient. It has allowed companies and individuals to increase productivity, improve collaboration, and tackle more complex projects. 

Through the use of technology, project managers are now able to use software to overcome the problems previously faced like manually developing and sharing new concepts and designs to all members of the team. This can be an onerous process and extremely time-consuming. Team Managers are now easily able to share digital sketches with any relevant persons. All of these advancements have saved an immeasurable amount of time and money. 

Software advancements have also allowed for construction companies to streamline their daily operations by allowing users to coordinate information with project managers and clients. This technology has helped reduce the risk of miscommunication and reduces people's time spent checking operations.

Simulation software has revolutionised the way construction work is planned. This software allows for builders, engineers, and designers to generate their concepts through virtual 3D models that use simulation software to create scenarios to understand better what materials and structure would be best for the job. 

For example, in areas of the United States and The Caribbean, there is a high demand for hurricane-proof houses, therefore will need to use simulation software to aid in the design process. This is also vital as the software allows for the test of accuracy even before development begins; therefore, in the long run, saves time and resources.

Will technology improve the safety and training of employees? 

As new technology continues to transform the building and construction industry, one of the vital areas getting much attention is improving safety. In 2016 there were 4,963 worker deaths, of those 991 were in construction. 

Worker safety should be the number one priority of every company, and technology solutions are making it easier to properly train and monitor workers to prevent accidents and reduce the rate of severe injuries and worker deaths. 

Furthermore, the development of cloud-based services has ensured that workers have access to risk assessments, method statements, plans, and permissions to help ensure that there is no need to take unnecessary risks.

Another form of technology that helps improve the safety and training of employees is a platform that tracks and collates training certificates to ensure that all workers are qualified to be on the site. This helps reduce the risk of accidents by unqualified or under-qualified workers diminishing the risk of lawsuits on the company.

On this platform, you also can log when audits and inspections have taken place on each project. This is essential as it helps ensure that the correct works have taken place before pushing forward with potentially dangerous developments. 

For example, making sure that electricians have isolated the electrical supply and cables have been suspended.

Could technology be the key to fighting COVID-19?

We have already seen many ways in which technology has been vital to fighting the spread of COVID-19, and these ways will pave the way for the future and how we track and report future pandemics. 

Without technology such as Google and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help guide us on symptoms or to help researchers track and trace the spread of the virus, we would still be in the same situation we were a couple of months ago.

The point is, advancements in any form of new technology have always driven us forward, so it's clear that many companies need to adopt new technologies to continue advancing the industries.  

Technology has made worksites safer and workers more efficient. It has allowed companies and individuals to increase productivity, improve collaboration, and tackle more complex projects. All of these advancements have saved an immeasurable amount of time and money.