Technology is spreading its wings like wildfire.  It has left no stone unturned.  Every inch of our personal, institutional and civil lives is dominated by technology.  From giant industries to the smallest businesses, every single enterprise is becoming increasingly automated.  And, clearly for good reasons.  The construction industry has also received a fair share of such innovations.  Recent innovative developments in construction management have been designed with an “eco-friendly” purpose in mind.  But perhaps the greatest thing about these innovative techniques in commercial construction is that they’re making resources low-cost without compromising on their quality.

Let’s have a look at the following innovations in construction management that are paving the way for a highly technological world.

Construction Site Robots

Construction Management can be incredibly difficult if managed manually.  We all know the importance of automation and hi-tech machinery for loading, off-loading, and carrying out hefty tasks at the construction site.  In fact, the current machinery and technology that is being used in projects today is precisely what will pave the way for extremely advanced and innovative construction.

Perhaps the time is already here. The idea behind construction-site robots is that the more automated and robot-oriented the site becomes, the more efficient  the results will be.  The idea came into fruition in 2017, and is now slowly building its way up.

There are many applications to control site robots like SAM (Semi-Automated Mason), Build Robotics for autonomous track loading, and the famous Bricklaying Robot that works with humans.  Most of these robots are mega-ton, self-driving machines that are used as dump trucks, loaders, backhoes, and graders.  Project management quickly becomes easy when you have robots doing the remote work.

The robot applications use GPS systems and a host of digital files to drive themselves around the construction site and perform functions as needed.  The Australian company, Rio Tinto, currently has an entire fleet of robots cutting and filling at its mining site.  An excellent, futuristic alternative for commercial construction— the robots— is finally coming!

Greener Asphalt

The idea of using recycled construction materials first came in the 1960s.  Rubber, the first material to be recycled and re-used for car tires, also lead the way for more recycle-based construction.  Rubber was essentially used as a high-quality yet low-cost asphalt admixtures.

It greatly helped cut down environment pollution and landfill waste.  This process wasn’t only limited to rubber.  In recent years, we’ve seen plastic bottles, cigarette butts, and even heavy metals being recycled into asphalt.  Using greener solutions can lower down the cost of construction administration and provide a competitive edge to the business.

Instead of using fossils and materials that lead to environmental degradation, the asphalt for roads is now being made with recycled products.  A green, cheap, and renewable solution, i.e., using recycled bits to make roads and bike paths, is finally grabbing attention.  In fact, many researchers at the esteemed University of Melbourne have claimed that using cigarette butts in the asphalt mixture can greatly improve the road quality.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Models

For people who know even a little about technological innovations would be fond of Virtual and Augmented Reality.  VR-inspired immersive designs have finally stepped into the world of construction.  Virtual models are basically used in the pre-construction phases to eliminate risks and revisions once the builders have initiated the project.

Lay Construction, for example, made a total of 20 virtual models to test user experience in critical medical facilities and operating theaters.  The company ended up saving $250,000 because it didn’t use physical mockups.  Virtual reality leads to tactile feedback and effective sound cues to help the builders visualize the best construction model for their project.

Augmented reality (AR) is more theoretical in nature.  It can help you capture life-size measurement at the construction site with simple apps.  Augmented Reality is finding its voice in the construction world now that it is becoming a key part of the manufacturing stages.

Translucent Wood

In commercial construction, wood may not be as versatile as cement, but it is definitely the most innovative.  Mostly used in residential projects for walls, floors, doors, and ceiling, it is slowly making its way in large commercial projects.

We now have something known as translucent wood.  Researchers have found a way to make wood transparent and look like glass.  Who knew that the first opaque object we all learned in science could become transparent one day?

It is created by scraping out the lining in the wood veneer and then nanoscale reshaping it to its final, translucent stage.  Now that it is emerging in the construction business, translucent wood is being used to build solar panels and walls.  You can hire a Construction VA who is well versed with wood applications to help you incorporate it in your project.

Considering the building material of the future, it was first developed by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology.  The best thing about it is that it’s renewable, cheap, and easily available.  Even when a lot of work needs to be done for its large-scale commercial use, it is definitely a cheap resource with huge potential.

3-D Printed Concrete Bridges

Although the idea of concrete printers isn’t exactly new, it made a milestone back in 2017 when two bridges— one in Catalonia and the other in Madrid— were simultaneously built using them.  There are many advantages of using a 3-D printer.  First, there will be no wastage of material because printers only require the amount of cement that needs to be used.  This way, the project will naturally start off with low carbon emissions.

Secondly, designing construction projects using 3D printers doesn’t require a form-work.  Normally, builders need strips or planks as a makeshift structure before they fill in the concrete.  With a printer that straight out churns the concrete itself, there will be zero wastage.

3D printers also allow builders and remodelers to create innovative shapes that were once only possible in CGI-based movies.  

With all the latest innovations in construction, your business has endless avenues. Whether you’re developing an agricultural project, a large-scale civil project, or simply looking for expert management services, innovative techniques in commercial construction will always benefit you. 

If you’re looking for top-quality virtual assistance for your construction project, contact us today.