Despite the construction industry’s traditional resistance to new technologies 2020 looks set to see some significant strides in this area.
So let’s take a look at some of the technology trends that are most exciting for the construction industry in 2020.
The rise of robotics
2020 looks to be the year where we will see robotics really begin to infiltrate the industry in a big way, so much so that the World Economic Forum have predicted that 2020 could be the year of the robot in the construction industry. The key impact is likely to be seen in advancements in automation where robots are used more and more in bricklaying and building roads. Robots are increasingly finding their place amongst the workforce in the construction industry and the development has seen improved construction times and quality of builds. Robots are also increasingly being used for demolition work and although currently slower than their human colleagues they are far safer and cheaper for bringing down redundant concrete structures.
Modular and prefabricated construction
Many advances in modular and prefabricated construction has made them the solution to the housing crisis in this country for many as they promise a faster on site build, higher quality and less waste. 2020 looks to be a year where house builders and developers invest in their own factories and designs.
3D printing
Another trend to watch out for in 2020 is the increasingly importance of 3D printing in the construction industry. Recent years have seen great advancements in this area and it is now possible to 3D print an entire house in less than 24 hours. The technology is still in its infancy and still has limitations, however the benefits of being able prefabricate both off and on-site is already offering labour and material cost savings and a reduction in waste over more traditional building methods.
Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR)
AR, VR, and MR are also being utilised in the construction industry more and more to aid architects and designers greatly through improving building design. As buildings become more complicated there is greater room for design errors. AR, VR, and MR technology provides a permanent record of the building and allows designers to explore designs thoroughly before construction even begins. By literally being able to see through walls architects and design teams can find missing elements that have been overlooked during the design phase and fix them quickly and cheaply.