We've come a long way since the days when we lived in caves built for us by nature. We're the ones who build now, and in the last 40 years alone, our technological innovations have revolutionized construction in spectacular fashion.
1. Mechanization
Of course, we've been building for just over 40 years now, but the radical impact of mechanization on construction cannot be underestimated. The arrival of hydraulic and pneumatic devices in the mid-to-late 19th century led to the earthmoving and other machinery now commonplace in industry, massively reducing the time and manpower required on major projects.
In the early 20th century, the impact of mechanization increased with the development of equipment capable of performing more complex functions, such as aerial work platforms, concrete mixers, cranes and power tools. This period also saw the emergence of the internal combustion engine, and with it the replacement of shovels, wheelbarrows and draught animals by devices heralding forklifts, tractors and bulldozers.
2. CAD
In the European Middle Ages, architects, draughtsmen, stonemasons and builders created some of the most magnificent buildings using design and construction methods that were truly astonishing for their time.
These methods remained unchanged for centuries. Towards the end of the 20th century, however, came the advent of Computer-Aided Design (CAD), which irreversibly changed construction: for the first time, incompatibilities became visible as early as the design phase.
Previously, separate systems, electrical conduits and high-voltage AC cable ducts, for example, competed for the same physical space, leaving architects and builders at a loss with their two-dimensional plans and sectional views.
3. BIM
While CAD has helped designers enormously, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has proved surprisingly versatile: it has enabled architects, engineers, contractors and subcontractors to collaborate on the finer details of design and construction using the same database and computer model.
As professional mechanics, electricians and plumbers (MEP) know, BIM involves all stakeholders collaborating on a detailed 3D model including all the functional systems of a building including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and electrical installations, as well as the aesthetics of walls, windows and roofs.
Given its collaborative nature from start to finish, BIM enables all parties working on a project to visualize and analyze design decisions and pinpoint various interferences and errors before starting work on site.
Collaboration saves MEP stakeholders a huge amount of resources, as construction doesn't start until each party has submitted its design work; this ensures that conflicts can be detected and rectified quickly and easily before the first shovel is turned.
4. Off-site manufacturing
Large, complex components exposed to the elements can be difficult to assemble on site, piece by piece. The rise of off-site manufacturing has dramatically increased the efficiency of the process.
So, for example, a massive heat exchanger manufactured in one of the supplier's factories will not only arrive on site ready for connection, but will also benefit from improved parts management and materials inventories, as well as enhanced efficiency and productivity. Return on investment increases, waste and inefficiency decrease.
Huge time savings are achieved on the schedule when components such as heat exchangers, pump units, compressors and instrument panels are manufactured in the factory rather than on site, and arrive there ready for connection.
5. Modular construction
The above-mentioned components are not the only ones that can be manufactured off-site: this is also possible with buildings, thanks to the development of modular construction.
The modules are manufactured from the same materials and to the same standards as the buildings constructed on site, but they cause far less disturbance to their surroundings. Components arrive on site exactly when they are needed.
Given that 70% of buildings today are manufactured in component form, this introduces us to the world of "just-in-time" manufacturing and delivery, which considerably shortens on-site schedules while reducing movement and waste.
6. Mobile devices
Mobile technology has transformed the construction industry in many ways. For MEP stakeholders, one of the biggest improvements is in project management. With smartphones and tablets, all parties involved can collaborate on the basis of the same consolidated information sources, ensuring that everyone stays in the loop regardless of their geographical location.
Mobile devices have also made real-time analysis possible. Using reporting tools, foremen can now monitor performance, conditions and costs closely throughout the day, no longer having to create reports at the end of the day. Project managers can use business intelligence to predict required corrective actions, enabling them to react immediately to stay on schedule and on budget. And reporting apps mean that all parties can access analytical assessments, whether on site or in the office.
7. The RTS
The traditional configuration of piping and lines on a construction site involves a team using construction plans, tape measures, spirit levels and a theodolite (an instrument for measuring angles precisely) to determine the points at which to attach cable trays, piping and the like.
However, this method doesn't work well with more sophisticated buildings; it's time-consuming and arduous; its margin for error is enormous, and the consequences can be serious, such as conflicts with other piping and lines in the building, and prefabricated systems that don't fit together, resulting in wasted time, money and materials.
Enter Robotic Total Stations (RTS): this electronic theodolite integrated into an electronic distance-measuring system can be remotely controlled. Using a tablet equipped with the appropriate software, the overall plan can be produced by a single person; RTSs ensure greater efficiency, improved accuracy, fewer errors and less paperwork, as well as lower labor costs.
8. Self-repairing concrete
To say that concrete is ubiquitous in construction would be an understatement, but there are significant problems that accompany it. In principle, it is prone to cracking on exposure, usually to chemicals and water. This doesn't bode well, as the cracks widen and allow more water to penetrate, corroding the steel reinforcement embedded in the concrete. A solution is in the pipeline, however.
It's a revolution yet to come, but it's coming: self-healing concrete with bacteria and microcapsules in the mix. When water seeps in, these ingenious extra ingredients germinate and produce limestone that fills the crack before the steel reinforcement has a chance to corrode.
9. PPE
Although personal protective equipment (PPE) is far less technologically advanced than the other topics on this list, there's no doubt that it has helped revolutionize the construction industry over the last 40 years in terms of health and safety.
Regulations requiring UK employers to ensure that employees exposed to health and safety risks are provided with appropriate PPE came into force in 1992 under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, which originally came into force in 1974.
A review of the performance of the subsequent 2008 legislation showed that between 1974 and 2007, the number of fatal accidents to employees in the UK fell by 73%, with a 70% drop in non-fatal accidents; fatal accidents in the construction industry reached a record low in 2005-2006.
This is what we call a velvet revolution.
10. Internet
The list would be incomplete without a tribute to the telecommunications network that revolutionized construction. Those medieval European architects mentioned above could never have imagined the extent to which the Internet has transformed the way we design, build and supervise construction projects.
From construction management software to laser-based remote survey equipment such as RTS, from 3D laser scanners to cloud-based collaboration tools enabling engineering contractors and architects to communicate and exchange ideas before construction begins, the digital age has literally metamorphosed construction work.
A number of breathtaking technologies are under development, which promise to further revolutionize the building sector. They range from kinetic floors that generate electricity by controlling the impact energy of footings, to cement capable of absorbing and radiating light energy, to bricks capable of absorbing pollution by filtering the air and releasing polluting particles into a removable hopper at the base of the wall.
So check this space regularly: the next revolution will be blogged.
