R&D spending in the construction industry has been steadily rising from year to year.
Since 2016, the construction industry as a whole has been investing in new innovations, better technologies, and new ways of doing things, including building large structures and small properties.
The goal is to make building new structures a more efficient process.
These investments are paying off, and in recent years alone, new technologies have dramatically reduced construction costs by streamlining workflow across projects.
From planning to better finishing techniques, new technologies are boosting efficiency like never before.
Here are the top four technologies that can significantly reduce construction costs.
New building materials
There’s no shortage of new building materials and construction methods to choose from these days, perhaps the most notable being GFRG, or fiberglass reinforced gypsum.
Wall panels are now made from gypsum board reinforced with fiberglass for greater strength and better insulation. The material is not only more durable, but also more flexible.
GFRG reduces construction costs by 20% on average. In some cases, the reduction can be even greater.
Especially when the new material is combined with newer designs that take full advantage of GFRG.
It also reduces construction time, as the GFRG can be installed quickly with the help of cranes and skilled workers.
Beyond GFRG, we’re also seeing better prefabricated panels – lighter and more durable – and the notorious butherum bricks, which are durable bricks that interlock with each other without cement.
Protherm bricks in particular help make construction projects in developing countries more affordable, allowing more people to access housing in the process.
Better planning tools
Planning is a big part of any construction project, especially on large projects.
In fact, planning alone can help reduce the cost of building large structures by a whopping 10% .
By carefully scheduling materials, creating effective designs and drawings,
and providing more resources for project management,
A construction project can greatly benefit from careful planning.
Computer-aided design (CAD) tools have become more advanced, so planning projects using detailed technical drawings has become much easier.
To make things even better, some features that were not accessible before are now available.
Such as physically testing designs and materials directly on CAD software,
Available now, it helps construction projects be up to 40% more efficient.
Surveying and geolocation
Then, as we have technologies that make surveying sites easier and less expensive,
drones are becoming more common in construction projects.
It is useful for surveying the construction progress and details of difficult areas and the exterior of large structures as well.
What’s interesting is how drones are now able to do so much more.
For example, drones equipped with special sensors such as sonar can help meet new challenges
Such as surveying large construction sites and collecting details of land characteristics.
Drones capable of providing live streaming are also being used, along with computer vision,
to maintain site safety and reduce accidents.
Geolocation is often used in conjunction with drones and other technologies,
primarily for surveying and tracking purposes.
The latter is actually very important. Larger construction projects are now using IoT
devices to track deliveries of materials and a wide range of other resources,
Which leads to data-driven project management and a significant enhancement in cost efficiency.
3D printing
We can’t really talk about the technologies that have revolutionized the construction industry without talking about 3D printing.
In the past, 3D printing was only available on a small scale and with a limited range of materials;
Most 3D printers only support ABS and PVC.
However, today you can print entire wall panels, metal support structures,
and even entire buildings.
Larger 3D printers are more commonly found on construction sites.
Yes, they are used on site to support faster and more efficient construction,
certainly supporting new materials, such as wood and metal,
It makes 3D printing a more valuable technology for the industry.
Metal window frames, wood trim and large parts of support structures can now be 3D printed in a matter of hours.
The result is a significant cost reduction – while 3D printers are still relatively expensive,
the investments simply pay for themselves
When you consider the 40% to 50% cost reduction that comes from using 3D printed materials.
Add to this the high quality that modern 3D printers offer and the reduced time that technology also provides, and you have the perfect combination
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