Over the course of 2022, the global construction industry is likely to grow to about $10.5 trillion. If you're a contractor working in the construction and remodeling sector, it's critical that you keep up with recent technology trends. If you don't stay up-to-date, you may be overlooked in an increasingly competitive market.
But what construction technology trends do you need to understand and follow this year? Read on to learn about contractor estimating software, 3D printing, AI, and more.
If you're a construction worker or remodeling contractor, building and sending estimates to potential clients is a core part of your job. You'll need to look into precisely what those contracting you want, determine material and labor costs, and consider much of a profit you're looking to make on a project. You then will need to come up with an estimate as to how much you'll charge the client. This process can take a while, especially since accuracy is key. It also can be challenging to organize and send out estimates when you have multiple prospective projects. Luckily, one of the latest construction technology tools easily calculates the cost of digital construction proposals. Bolster's remodeling estimating software doesn't just build accurate quotes. It also allows people on your website to add and remove features and see the cost change in real-time. This means that people will have interactive real-time estimates with the maximum possible accuracy.
Virtual and augmented reality allow people to experience complex projects in three dimensions. Wearable VR headsets let construction professionals like you feel as though they are in a building or room that they have not yet built or renovated. You can therefore understand the way that it's put together and identify any alterations that you need to make before construction begins. This saves money because you're less likely to make errors during the construction process. You and your team will know exactly what finished product you're working towards. VR is beneficial for both understanding and accuracy. Augmented reality is also good for clients that your construction firm takes on. They can see the final project before you even begin to build it. This gives them the opportunity to tweak anything that they want to alter so that they can be more satisfied with the finished product.
3D printers make layer-by-layer surfaces that result in a three-dimensional structure. You can use 3D printing to make smaller, construction-related objects. Some examples of things to make include:
You can also print a small model of the room that you're about to construct. This provides you with an error-free, accurate, scaled model of the final goal. While virtual reality can show you what everything will look like, a model will help you to further ground it in the real world. 3D printing is also evolving to a point where we may soon be able to print entire rooms and buildings out of concrete. However, this isn't the case yet. It seems likely that we will get more information over the next year on how this might work.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making its way into pretty much every industry, and construction is no exception. These technologies can make their own decisions without manual human input. They do this by learning patterns and understanding how to avoid mistakes that they have made in the past.AI has many applications in the construction industry. One of the best things that it can do is manage fleets of construction vehicles and machinery. It can automate cranes and other equipment to ensure that it runs smoothly and efficiently. AI can also automate invoicing, billing, and customer service for your construction firm. It can track the progress of various projects and compare them with your schedule and your objectives. The automation stemming from AI is one of the best ways to streamline your operations. AI can also promote on-site job safety. It can assess photos of job sites and automatically find safety hazards and violations. Some technologies can remedy these issues on their own (such as robotic fleets) while others will simply clue you into what you need to do.
Construction robots are awesome because they can help to build in hazardous areas. If you need to get into a tight space or build high off the ground, a robot can go into this area for you. It can build based on your pre-set specifications or can be controlled by a human in a safer location. With machine learning, this doesn't just keep workers safe. It also makes construction projects go faster and more consistently. Robots can work tirelessly without needing to take breaks and they always make consistent, easy-to-predict movements. While bots are currently limited in what they can do, all industries- including construction- are continuing to refine and optimize these technologies.
While the construction industry's needs are always changing, so are the innovations used to get the job done. Now that you know some of the best construction technology that can propel your firm forward, it's time to get started. Bolster's professionals are committed to helping you easily send estimates for your future projects so that you can communicate with clients quickly and effectively. Book a demo of our services to see how we can streamline the estimate process and calculate your client's costs with no hassle.