The effect of digital transformation has spread like wildfire to any and every sector in the world, and even if the construction industry has been slow towards an embrace, recent development proves that it has now evolved with global technological advancements, causing a significant shift in its operations.
The processes involved in construction, from the conceptualization of designs to the completion of construction, have met drastic modifications by technology, giving room for creativity to fly. Digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other smart technologies have contributed to the transformation faced in the industry.
These technologies have increased efficiency levels and encouraged key fundamentals like innovation, collaboration, and transparency to thrive. Modern architecture has therefore moved with the pace of smart cities, where, through the use of technology, buildings reflect a secure future for the industry in the spirit of precision, resilience, and creativity.
Digital Tools for Design and Visualization
The architectural landscape in Nigeria has taken a giant leap from traditional pen-to-paper designs to using advanced digital tools for seamless design. Technology has made the process of design interactive and comprehensive using tools like AutoCAD, Rhino, and SketchUp. These tools allow architects to design models with a high sense of precision and accuracy, such that when the design is used as a guide at construction sites, features remain clear and exact.
The integration of technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into the construction industry has been pace-setting and exceptional in service delivery. These technologies offer an immersive experience that allows clients, stakeholders, and investors to experience buildings in a 3D format before they are built. This helps in reducing ambiguity in a construction process and aids better communication between the parties involved, as feedback would be expressed clearly in both areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction from clients to architects. This was exemplified in Marina, Dubai, where a luxurious residential tower used VR for thorough exploration before it was built. This process saved over 15% cost because the identified adjustments could have amounted to extra cost if the construction was already in process.
Furthermore, 3D printing has allowed architects the fortune to quickly produce prototypes for the satisfaction of clients. As compared to the tedious process involved in traditional design methods, 3D printing reduces construction delay, and this is in correlation with McKinsey’s report where they discovered design time in the industry with advanced technological tools has been shortened to 45%, which only attests to the value of these tools, especially in an industry that once struggled with systemic delays.
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the construction industry has been one of the most transformative technologies in decades, reshaping operational horizons in the industry. BIM transcends beyond designing for architects. It acts as a central knowledge resource point, where it sends and receives information about connected facilities, giving architects and builders accurate information for informed decisions thereafter. BIM is all-encompassing; it seamlessly allows a multidimensional integration of structural, mechanical, and architectural elements into a cohesive 3D model, encouraging collaboration across the roles for a more efficient outcome.
In the Sydney Opera House, the construction team was saddled with the responsibility of preserving efforts and maintaining the iconic structure, and the one way to guarantee a rescue was with BIM, which helped the team to have digital documentation of every aspect of the building, giving insights to how the structure can be maintained and renovated. BIM also proved proficiency in the case of the $6 billion National Museum in Qatar, where it helped in the coordination of its structural development, ensuring that there’s a smooth collaboration between engineers and designers globally.
It all makes sense why the study of Dodge Data & Analytics revealed that the utilization of BIM across firms has resulted in a 25% reduction in the execution process of projects and a 50% reduction in the repetition of jobs, which also reduced the possibilities of on-site errors. This only boasts of the vibrant features of BIM, which possesses an integrated structure involving aspects like plumbing, architecture, and electrical systems; hence, it offers a way to connect each aspect to a central objective. Not only has this improved construction quality, but it has also reduced material waste, indirectly encouraging environmentally sustainable practices.
Smart Technologies in Construction
Smart technologies are highly sophisticated tools gaining momentum in the world today. These technologies are advanced to execute complex tasks simply. Technologies under this category are the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, and robotics, which have all contributed to high levels of efficiency and sustainability in construction processes. The use of IoT-inclined devices helps in monitoring and transmitting data on the usage of building materials and evaluating the performance of equipment, which ultimately reduces construction error and delay. A typical case in this regard is the IoT sensors, popularly used to monitor the health of structures by predicting their rate of longevity and also providing feedback on structural integrity for accidents to be prevented and maintenance costs to be reduced.
Automation is fast becoming a game changer in handling labor-intensive tasks. Drones, which are automated devices, are widely deployed in construction sites, providing a clear and detailed aerial view of sites. It makes survey procedures easy and faster and also allows engineers to have a bird’s eye view by easily spotting mistakes. Robotics, on the other hand, is on a transformative wave in the construction industry, where tools such as 3D printing robots and bricklaying machines help minimize human error and ease human labor. The 3D-printed office building in Dubai, which was completed in 17 days, is a powerful reference to the tremendous effect of robotic tools: easing labor, saving time, and improving quality.
The integrated energy management systems in the form of intelligent HVAC systems and IoT-enabled devices, through their functions, give room for smart buildings to stand a chance at fostering sustainable living. These systems are equipped to adjust temperature, light, and ventilation in houses, pointing to a reduced consumption of energy. The Edge Building in Amsterdam, regarded as the smartest building in the world, is said to use less than 70% electricity as compared to the typical traditional building, demonstrating how technology can drive sustainability in architecture and construction.
Sustainable and Green Building Practices
In construction, the concern of sustainability is more of a necessity, and with the help of technology, building sustainable-driven buildings has been made feasible. BIM is designed so incredibly, that its multifaceted approach allows for the simulation of a building’s energy performance even without being constructed. This simulation gives insights to architects and engineers to either top up the energy efficiency or reduce it. ArchiCAD and Autodesk Revit are advanced software that rates the performance of buildings’ natural elements like lighting, temperature, and ventilation, making it easy for buildings with less energy consumption to be designed and built.
Fortunately, technologies no longer appear in object or software form, as they also take in form of building materials. The innovation of self-healing concrete used for buildings helps seal wall cracks or streaks if exposed to water. Also in this regard is adaptive glass, which has the power to readjust its lenses to fit sunsets or sunlight. These are energy-efficiency tools, that promote the essence of sustainable buildings, and according to the World Green Building Council, about 39% of buildings are built in alignment with energy-related emissions, but smart technologies and building materials are predicted to reduce these emissions by 20% in 2030.
The future of the construction industry holds a very bright prospect, especially through the evolutionary growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, whose impact in the industry would help in the prediction of futuristic projects and also help in the curation of advanced designs. Through AI, optimization of building materials would be easily procured. In the same vein, the construction industry is given applying robotics to its daily affairs, where they’ll be used to handle labor-intensive tasks onsite, particularly tasks that require strength, endurance, and precision.
Additionally, modular construction is predicted to take due dominance, where parts of the building are prefabricated off-site and later assembled on-site to fit into the building. This method has proven to minimize time wastage and offer higher quality control. A reference attesting to this potential is in 2022, when Google’s $600 million data center in Nevada was constructed, having most of the construction techniques as modular techniques, reducing the delay of the project’s completion and saving extra costs.
Technology has become the centerpiece of modern architecture and construction, creating a significant change in designs and construction. Digital tools like BIM, smart technology, and smart building materials are now changing the narratives by causing a tremendous transformation in the industry. If technological advancements like AI, automation, and modular construction continue, the future of construction is set to remain more innovative, efficient, and sustainable than ever before, constantly setting new standards for how we build our world.
Oluwabusuyi Adonis Fakanlu is an accomplished author, entrepreneur, and architectural technologist with extensive experience as a civil and building contractor and real estate developer.
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