Christopher Eschenburg of Ocean City, MD has worked in construction and project management for over 20 years, with experience in single-family, commercial and government construction. In the following article, Chris Eschenburg discusses technology in the construction sector, and how these innovative tools, machines, and software are rapidly changing the field. The job site looks nothing like it did 100 years ago, and it won't look how it does today 100 years from now. Construction technology is constantly advancing, making sites safer, more productive, and more efficient for workers, managers, and project owners.
Chris Eschenburg of Ocean City, MD notes that as industry-specific technology keeps evolving, experts seek to understand its impacts on the sector and how they can best harness all the 21st-century tech world has to offer.
Construction Technology
According to the Construction Industry Institute, the term "construction technology" encompasses
innovative modifications, machinery, tools, software, and more utilized throughout the construction phase of a project, enabling advancement in building methods.
However, many companies believe the term should encompass all technology used by the industry, including preconstruction apps like online bid boards, management apps, and takeoff solutions.
The Recent Construction Technology Tailwind
Researchers and developers of the modern world have brought the future to the present. Just 20 years ago, technology like connected equipment, mobile apps, telematics, autonomous heavy equipment, VR, AI, and 3D-printed buildings were parts of a sci-fi-esque realm. And now they're used on job sites across the planet.
Despite many firms continuing the non-forward-thinking trend of underinvesting in technology, venture capitalists are investing hugely in the advancing construction technology of the future.
James Lang LaSalle, Inc. reported that venture capitalists invested roughly
$1.05 billion in contech startups in the first six months of 2018, showing a whopping 30% increase over 2017's anticipated investment amount.
Chris Eschenburg of Ocean City, MD says that more recent data provided by CEMEX Ventures proves it remains a promising sector for investment — with 2022's total industry investment reaching $5.38 billion.
This construction technology cash influx is proving beneficial for many areas of the industry, positively affecting job sites and management teams nation- and worldwide.
The Impacts of Technology on Management and Productivity
Christopher Eschenburg of Ocean City, MD reports that research from McKinsey & Company details the disappointing fact that decades have passed while productivity remains flat. Traditional design-bid-build methods are no longer sensical, presenting disjointed, stagnated working methods.
But thankfully, Chris Eschenburg says that the rise of contech is slowly but surely spiking productivity and management ease, marking a crucial turning point.
Startups and well-established moguls have built a range of applications, software machine learning, and AI tools to boost management and productivity efficiency, such as:
Mobile Apps and Software
The digitally focused landscape offers a wide range of mobile and software solutions to ease the management of every construction project. Whether it's preconstruction, scheduling, project management, field reporting, or back office management, there's a technological solution available to streamline the process and enhance productivity.
Christopher Eschenburg reports that many solutions are cloud-based, ensuring updates to schedules and documents are viewable in real-time, facilitating improved collaboration and communication.
Construction companies can also employ such advancements to transmit and collect data from the job site to project managers in the office. On-site workers can easily submit expenses, information requests, work records, timecards, and other documents, saving hundreds of data-entry hours per year.
And that isn't the last of it — increasing numbers of software providers are establishing strategic partnerships to ensure construction titans can integrate their data with other solutions. Experts state it's "easier than ever" to run construction businesses with all these digital tools.
AI and Machine Learning
Data allows every business to make better decisions, including those in the construction industry. With AI and machine learning systems, firms can quickly turn colossal data piles into legible pools of outcome-predicting power. Companies quick on the uptake of such tech will gain a competitive edge when bidding on projects.
Christopher Eschenburg of Ocean City, MD explains that robots and AI are also utilized for real-time progress monitoring. For example, autonomous rovers and drones equipped with HD cameras take photographs and scan sites daily with extreme accuracy. Upon landing at the back office, managers use AI to inspect the quality of the work and determine progress compared to the deadline.
Offsite Construction Methods
Both modular and prefabricated offsite construction forms have been positively impacted by the advancements in the contech industry.
Like an auto manufacturing plant, offsite construction occurs in a controlled environment where the workers have the tools they need to perform their specific tasks consistently.
Christopher Eschenburg says that in the future, such technology will continue improving, and increasing numbers of firms will realize its value. It's a bright course ahead of the construction companies that jump aboard the bandwagon quickly.
