We can’t deny the fact that for the past few years, technology is redesigning and shaping the industry to open doors to new opportunities, ensure performances, and help companies keep up with their competitors. There are already smart waterfilled Jersey Barrier, 3D printers, drones, BIM, and many more.

Not only this but it is a much safer industry than it used to be. Still, areas like roofing provide some serious risks, but they are met with newly designed roof safety equipment to reduce the risk of injury and death. This is happening all over the industry too, not just in roofing. Anyway, for all these reasons, why not delve into the nitty-gritty of it all and explore some of these heroic creations? That said, here are the top 3 fantastic categories that are reshaping the industry.

1. Drones

Although drones have been there for quite some time now, it’s beginning to take off in the construction industry. To support that, recently, some of the world’s leading companies are testing out drone technology for aerial mapping, surveying, and inspection.

Results show that by using drone technology, one would be able to save a considerable amount because these machines could efficiently complete tasks that could either be too dangerous or time-consuming for a manual laborer. Aside from that, apparently, more and more professionals are starting to consider using drone technology as they begin to realize the number of benefits you can enjoy from one.

That’s why experts believe that drone technology can transform traditional business models and it could even take part in reshaping the construction industry. As for the early adopters, they are already enjoying the positive impact of drones regarding operational processes, and the way projects are executed and completed.

This is very important because the construction industry is continually facing competition, and the use of drones could give companies a significant advantage that wouldn’t only ensure safety but mitigates risks as well.

2. Material Innovations

Construction materials have always been innovated on. For example, nitinol cores in steel wires and ropes have properties similar to memory foam, allowing the wire to bend and then reform back into its original shape (go here to learn more). This gives the wire a number of uses in construction and even robotics. Similar to this are 4D printed structures wherein one could easily modify the shape of infrastructure under a specific condition. These technologies can be quite helpful in the construction industry because they could create interesting tools and perhaps avoid those costly mistakes in construction too.

Next we have self-healing concrete, which contains a kind of bacteria that are capable of self-germinating when water enters the cracks in decaying concrete. It basically fills in the gap which improves the longevity of the structure and delays erosion. Last, but not least would be kinetic paving that’s best known for collecting energy coming from pedestrian footfall. This is converted to electricity. It’s already being used in some places where there’s heavy foot traffic.

3. Robotics

Robotics is one of the few areas that the construction industry has been trying to work on for decades. Thankfully, the developments are something that we can already experience now. Back in 2017, the “in-situ fabricator robot” was developed and it’s capable of forming steel reinforcement framework. Furthermore, since it’s pre-programmed with a design model data, it allows project managers to build structures autonomously. Then, there are heavy duty caterpillar tracks perfect for construction site terrain.

Indeed, there’s a lot of things happening in the construction industry, and there’s more for us to expect in the upcoming years. All we must do is open our eyes to these possibilities and embrace what technology has to offer because chances are, we’ll benefit from these.