The outlook for the construction industry in 2020 looks promising, with a recent survey undertaken by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) clearly pointing to widespread positive sentiment across the market. With over 680,000 employers and 7,000,000 employees building over $1.3 trillion in structures each year, the industry continues to play an important role in the US economy. The transportation sector is not going anywhere.
Demand for raw materials pushing prices up, capacity for key suppliers and bureaucracy are all contributing to longer projected delivery timelines for the year 2020. And with there being many interacting elements between vehicles, labor, equipment and busy worksites, maintaining the highest of standards in health and safety continues to be a priority as does the need to increase efficiency.
Today, more and more operators in the sector are exploring ways to leverage technology to optimize process efficiency, minimize unnecessary costs, and improve safety and performance in key areas of their business. Most survey respondents said they were looking to adopt labor-saving technologies, with 46% intending to increase their budgeted spend in technology this year. But how exactly to they expect to do so?
Using UAVs
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), otherwise known as drones, are rapidly growing in popularity in today’s construction industry. Developments in drone technology means it can gather large amounts of topographic and planimetric data, audio material, photos and videos.
By integrating this technology into their surveying workloads, construction companies, both large and small, can produce accurate surveys in dramatically shorter time frames than with traditional methods and without the need for expensive manned aircraft.
Some models take images of over 200 hectares of land in one day thanks to drone technology. Its CEO, Chris Fleming, explained: “A drone takes a twentieth of the time and a quarter of the cost than using humans would.”
In addition to surveying land, drones have also proven to be effective tools for jobsite inspections. With one of the main challenges for project managers being real-time control of a project, more is needed to capture real-time data. Typically, construction personnel inspect sites by foot, manually gathering data as they do so. This process is, of course, labor-intensive and slow, and data can very quickly become outdated, especially when conditions such as the weather change suddenly.
And as drones can be sent into high risk areas, there is no need to put workers in situations that might pose risks to their health and safety. Some drone kits are integrated with thermal technology to check for hot spots. This enables construction personnel to safely and quickly check the status of a structure, and makes it easier to identify defects, leakage, and corrosion issues, without incurring costs for additional personnel and equipment.
With real-time data and images being relayed back to an advanced modular ground control system, health and safety managers can inspect sites and ensure teams are staying on top of their projects without leaving the comfort of their office.
The Power of Robotics
Robotics technology is disrupting the construction industry like never before. In fact, a recent report by market research business Kenneth Research states that the global robotics technology market in the construction industry is expected to reach $19.36 billion during the period 2018-2025, owing to a growing adoption of various types of robotics.
With the construction industry facing skilled labor shortages, more businesses are turning to automation to ensure they meet demand and contribute to continued economic growth. Equipped with the right robotics, construction businesses can complete repetitive tasks without the need for manual labor. Robots are able to perform tasks much faster than human workers, work 24/7 on projects without becoming fatigued, are less prone to error and even perform tasks that would otherwise pose danger to humans.
With the construction industry facing skilled labor shortages, more businesses are turning to automation to ensure they meet demand and contribute to continued economic growth. Equipped with the right robotics, construction businesses can complete repetitive tasks without the need for manual labor. Robots are able to perform tasks much faster than human workers, work 24/7 on projects without becoming fatigued, are less prone to error and even perform tasks that would otherwise pose danger to humans.
Building Information Management (BIM)
In the recent survey by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA), roughly 39% of respondents’ firms were using BIM technology. Of these, 25% reported using it for clash detection, compared with 19% in a previous AGCA survey.
In BIM modeling, clash detection is part of the design phase, meaning any constructability issues can be addressed before construction begins, saving huge sums of money. It has been estimated that, industry-wide, each identified clash saves about $17,000 — on large projects, identifying 2000-3000 clashes is not unheard of. And according to a report on the productivity benefits of BIM, in the US, 65% of contractors said that BIM technology effectively reduced cost overruns, rework, and missed schedules during construction. Furthermore, 57% of designers using BIM said they found the technology directly reduced the number of errors and omissions during the design phase of a project.
The use of BIM technology can mean shorter project duration. A report which documented construction practices over several years, found that in 2009, the average duration of BIM projects was 27% shorter than traditional projects – by 2012, BIM had widened the gap to 37%. Another survey estimates that BIM’s data sharing ability alone is enough to reduce the duration of a single project by up to 7%.
Aside from enhancing efficiency, BIM is an effective means to manage safety risk. According to an article on BIM for Health and Safety in Construction, the potential to influence and prevent construction injuries decreases exponentially as a project progresses – research indicates the most effective form of safety program elements occur during the planning and pre-construction phases of a project. BIM enables businesses to identify and minimize potential health and safety risks from the very outset of a project.
Harnessing 3D Printing
Although 3D printers have been around since the 1980s, it is only in recent years that construction businesses have started utilizing them.
Using the geometry and characteristics specified in a digital 3D model created using BIM technology, 3D printing enables construction businesses to reduce expenditure on supplies significantly. One 3D printing construction company said it expected 3D printing to save construction companies up to 50% on the cost of building a house.
As well as driving cost efficiency, 3D printing enhances project planning capabilities. During the design phase of a project, companies can inexpensively and rapidly create models that can help them identify areas of concern and prevent delays. Furthermore, 3D printing assists businesses in better gauging client expectations.
Harnessing Fleet Management Software
By introducing robust inspection and preventative maintenance software, a business can ensure its fleet of vehicles and equipment meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations at all times.
The evolution of technology has significantly transformed the way vehicle and asset inspections are conducted. Providing a modern means to carry out inspections can ensure safety and compliance requirements are fulfilled, while minimizing downtime and saving time, money and paper in the process.
For today’s fleets, a mobile app allows drivers and asset operators to be systematic, thorough, and, most of all, safe. Whip Around’s mobile app is an example of vehicle and asset inspection software that businesses can leverage to ensure fleet compliance and safety
Fleet and asset managers can create customized DOT and OSHA checklists to be completed by workers and guarantee integrity with time, date and location stamps and mandatory photos to prove inspections took place. Reported defects are sent to supervisors and maintenance personnel in real time. Drivers and supervisors are notified when the repair is entered in the system and when it’s completed and verified with a mechanic’s signature — preventing bottlenecks inherent in a paper-based maintenance system and minimizing downtime.
A Customized Approach
This approach to inspections ensures that the process is thorough and in line with timeframes stipulated by OSHA and the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). And because data is entered into electronic forms, illegible handwriting and misplaced paperwork become problems of the past. During DOT, OSHA and financial audits, electronic records can be located far quicker than paper records.
When it comes to preventative maintenance, many fleet managers are still relying on whiteboards, spreadsheets and paper to track when important maintenance is due. It’s not uncommon for paperwork to be misplaced, damaged or illegible, and or services to be missed because reminders haven’t been set up or vehicles haven’t been visible.
New features on products enables fleet and asset managers to wave goodbye to the troubles associated with whiteboards, spreadsheets and paper. It allows them to better control vehicle and asset maintenance by triggering usage-based alerts and workflows for preventative maintenance jobs and services. This helps prevent unnecessary repairs and downtime.
Having a digital system ensures safety and saves businesses time and money. Specifically, OSHA and DOT violations are reduced, and productivity is increased. Some customers report that a mobile app saved their business $3,000 per week and helped with the establishment of a comprehensive preventive maintenance program. What’s not to like about that?
from Quick Transport Solutions Trucking Blog https://ift.tt/2AxK8AG
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