Five must-know construction industry trends in 2020 that will determine the future

The construction industry is unique in many respects. It falls at the intersection of many different classes of workers, all requiring a different level of skill set. Each tier of workers has their essential part to play from the construction laborers to the civil engineers and architects. 

However, over the years, the landscape of the construction industry is slowly but surely, changing. New technology is affecting the industry more than ever, making it essential to understand the trends that would shape the industry in the new decade.

Keep up with these trends

Of the below-mentioned trends, some would be known to you, like green building construction, while others can be totally new. However, a comprehensive understanding of these is important now that almost half of 2020 is up. The construction trends to watch out for are-

1. Robotics- This is probably the most direct impact of technological advancements in the construction industry. There are several ways in which robotics and technical advancements have permeated the construction industry and enhanced it. One significant example is the use of drones. Drone use for surveying and mapping has been one of the fastest-growing trends over the years, and it would continue to shape the industry in the future as well. Drones can be used to map large areas, survey the area, and help design, gather information, etc. They are also used to ensure safety measures and improve the efficiency of work on the job site.

2. Green building construction- Green building construction, simply put, is the inclusion of sustainability in the construction practices. As people are becoming increasingly aware, green building construction is set to become the norm for construction. And the good news is that some places have begun to include these measures in their laws. This means good news for the environment because the buildings are made in an eco-friendly manner, but the resources in its construction are also used more efficiently. As the population grows, the people would need more buildings to live in, and the only solution is to make the buildings themselves sustainable. This trend is here to stay.

3. Modular and prefabricated construction- Prefabricated construction is a boon for millions of people around the country. This is because it leads to significant savings on the part of the owners and builders. Modular off-site construction involves building the same structures again. As a result, the furnishings and pieces are all top-notch in terms of construction and save a huge amount of time and resources. As the volatilities in construction increase, this acts as a counterbalance to eliminate extraneous variables and is surely here to stay.

4. Building Information Modeling- This trend represents exactly what the name suggests. Building information modeling (BIM) uses software and technology to represent buildings and infrastructure projects as digital images. These digital representations help engineers and architects visualize a building before it is made. Based on these, some simulations can also be run tweaking construction variables like labor, building material, etc. BIM technology works to optimize the construction process and saves on labor, time, money, efforts, tools, etc.

5. Augmented reality and Virtual reality- Think about it, what if you could look at and interact with every part of a building, even before the construction has begun? How nice would it be to get a feel of the interior and iron out the flaws in design beforehand? It is almost like being able to see the future. The digital 3D visualizations that AR and VR can produce are getting better with time and it is to be seen how they shape the future of the construction industry.

Takeaway

The construction industry trends mentioned above are going to change the landscape in the coming years. The effects of these trends are something that cannot be predicted at all at the moment. How would it impact the various stakeholders like construction workers, engineers, constructors, etc.? Only time can tell.