BIM News

It’s a tech-driven world out there, and the construction industry is one of those sectors that aims to champion the integration of advanced robotics, AI, and comprehensive modeling software the likes of BIM in order to improve project efficiency, construction efficacy, and of course, boost site safety across the board. Construction site management is an intricate process that entails the meticulous micromanagement of its numerous elements – and safety is one of those crucial parts that can make or break a construction project.

Ensuring stellar worksite safety through advanced technological solutions allows all key actors in a construction project to boost productivity across the board and ensure total compliance throughout the process – whether you’re laying the foundation, or putting the finishing touches on the interior design. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the best tech innovations that are elevating construction site safety.

Virtual reality for education and training

Virtual reality has nowadays become accessible and affordable, and forward-looking construction companies know all too well the power and potential of VR when it comes to training and education, worksite safety, planning and design, and more. Professionals and leaders in every industry are already using virtual reality to train and educate surgeons, pilots, car mechanic, you name it, and so construction companies are rapidly integrating the technology into their processes to achieve the same.

VR offers a safe, stable, and controlled environment for the education and training of all employees, including low-level workers and top-brass management. Wielding cumbersome machinery, handling hazardous materials and elements – whatever the job requires, you can learn to do it with the help of VR. All of this virtual training will not only raise morale and productivity on the site, but invariably improve safety as well.

BIM for smarter risk prediction

Among the top technological advancements that are shaping the future of construction, and changing the world as we know it, is BIM technology. Building information modeling is, to keep in simple and concise, a design and 3D model-based process that provides all AEC experts with the technological tools and software needed to create, optimize, and refine construction projects in a digital setting – from inception, to the last tile in the bathroom. This technology is quickly becoming a staple in AEC industries, as it allows seamless cross-industry collaboration, accurate planning and design, and of course, it makes every construction site that much safer as a result.

With BIM at the helm of every construction project, engineers and other industry experts can create a highly-nuanced construction plan and allocate all roles on the construction site accordingly, all the while identifying the risks, planning for all potential hazards, and preventing them in the preliminary phase. It’s this type of detailed planning and preparation that will ensure worker safety throughout the length of the entire construction process.

Tech-driven machinery for enhanced productivity

Of course, the efficiency of a construction project heavily relies on the machinery used on site, and construction companies have been investing heavily in recent years in the rapid modernization of heavy on-site machinery. Some of the key focuses here are enhanced productivity, lowering the learning curve for new workers, and improved safety through advanced features. In Australia, for example, construction companies are using tech-driven machinery to accommodate the need for faster urbanization in a safe way.

To reduce costs as well, Australian contactors are choosing reliable crane hire in Brisbane and other rapidly-expanding regions in order to manage projects in a cost-effective way, as they not only need to provide advanced machinery to their workers, but keep financial expenditure as low as possible. If you too are operating in an environment that demands extremely high construction costs, be sure to hire advanced machinery instead of buying these assets and investing in their upkeep and maintenance. 

Wearable technology for better worker safety

But, construction site safety is not just about the integration of BIM and planning the entire process to the finest of details in order to avoid delays and on-site accidents – it’s also about equipping the worker with innovative wearable tech to boost the safety of the individual on-site, as they’re navigating the construction area. Nowadays, you can equip the worker from head to toe in smart wearables.

Innovative tech the likes of sensor equipped helmets that detect carbon monoxide and other toxic elements, noise-canceling headsets that allow crystal-clear communication with other team members, safety vests that track the body’s movement and vital signs – all of these features improve personal safety on the job, and provide invaluable insights to the upper management.

Drone technology for improved surveillance and security

And of course, what would a modern construction site be without drone technology? While the concept of using unmanned machinery to expedite on-site processes and protect human workers is not new, it has only become popular and accessible in recent years. Drone technology that is resilient, durable, and advanced enough to be used on a construction site is costly, but forward-looking companies have started using it to improve numerous processes around the site.

When it comes to worker safety, drones can be invaluable. Unmanned machinery can be used for site inspection, and it can delve deep into the nooks and crannies of every construction site to inspect for potential hazards. Likewise, drone technology is the perfect solution for damage control as you can use it to fix gas leaks, reinforce crumbling structures, and much more.

Wrapping up

Technology is shaping every industry in the world, with construction being the one to pioneer its integration into every process and sector. Keep these tech innovations in mind and be sure to implement them into your own processes in order to build your competitive edge, and become your government’s top construction company for all large-scale projects in the future.