How Information Modelling Is Changing The Construction Industry

Research Objective

Discuss about the Information Modelling Is the Changing The Construction Industry.

The construction industry is increasingly emerging all over the globe. In Australia, the construction industry is the third largest industry after finance and mining, and is   a major economic activity. (AI Group, 2015).  There are more than 300,000 construction companies that employ millions of people which takes up about 9 percent of the country’s workforce (AI Group, 2015).  The industry produces infrastructure and buildings for other industries, and grows the economy. Over the years, many changes have occurred in the industry, including the construction industry. There are new processes, tools and software’s in use in today’s modern construction industry (World Economic Forum , 2016). Additionally, mobile technology is also transforming the construction world. Builders and contractors have smartphones as well as other mobile devices all the time even on the go which they can use for their job roles. The fact that they can move around with data and information at all times provides many opportunities to increase efficiency, lessen costs and carry out projects in time by using mobile solutions (Flow Finity, 2016). For instance, construction managers are required to keep a lot of things in track including the daily progress of teams, subcontractors. They also need to know and have the right equipment, methodologies, timelines and more.  Trying to juggle all that information on paper is difficult and time consuming. With Mobile data, it is possible to allow real-time data processing where necessary information is collected and sent to and fro the office and construction sites. Such innovations are greatly transforming the construction industry. Mobile data in construction is being used to track daily project activities as well crucial information. It is also being used to streamline teamwork between workers in the office and those in the field. This study addresses the impact of mobile data for the construction industry by describing mobile technology, the benefits and challenges. It also defines companies that have used or are using mobile data through the literature review section.  

To study mobile data and report on its impact in the construction industry

1. To study and analyze construction companies that are leveraging mobile data
2. To show the advantages of mobile data

• To describe any challenges faced by construction companies with mobile data

The construction industry activities can be categorized in three broad areas for both public and private sectors. They include:

1. Engineering construction  which covers major infrastructure, heavy industrial resource based projects and mining and
2. Non-residential buildings such as shops, offices, industrial premises, hotels, hospitals and more.

• Residential building including houses, home units flats, townhouses

This section consists of review and analysis of published literature about mobile technology in construction to support the work published in this report with the aim of revealing impacts including benefits and challenges of mobile technology in construction. However, to better understand mobile data for technology, it is important to explore how technology has transformed the construction industry.   

Major Activities in Construction Industry

Developments in construction are driven by many factors including growth in industrial activities demand for construction, revenue growth, populace growth, consumer sentiments, interest rates and feature construction methods (Sondhi, 2008). Moreover, growth in construction can also be driven by technological advances. One of the greatest driver of the growth in the construction industry is technology. Technology is greatly transforming industries across the world and the construction industry has not been left behind. Although the construction industry has been slow in adopting technology, it is quickly catching up (Jacobs, 2014). Embracing new technology advances helps improve operations and reduces costs. (Chaffe, 2016).  It is being implemented to develop and improve health and safety levels.

Currently, drones are increasingly getting adopted in construction sector and are shifting the way the industry operates (Chaffe, 2016). They are being used to enable efficiency, eliminate human errors and improve safety levels. Therefore, drone usage is bound to increase and have lasting effects. For instance, drones are presently being used to replace traditional land-surveying approaches (Chaffe, 2016). They greatly reduce labour and the time that is used to perform accurate land surveys at the same capturing the crucial information faster than other surveying methods. Implementing drones is also helping the construction industry eliminate many mistakes done by humans when they follow the old-fashioned processes of surveying land (Courtney, 2018). Additionally, the use of drones has drastically improved worksites safety measures by helping to eradicate hazards. Furthermore, drone implementation increases construction sites security levels through site monitoring for theft. Companies including Intel are designing and creating drones specific for industrial purposes that can be used by the construction industry.

Building Information Modelling has also introduced major changes in the construction industries by replacing traditional models and drawings with intelligent, detailed and intelligent interactive 3D models (Allison, 2015). It integrates all the processes and activities which brings together all required information about a project into a collaborative environment.  By drawing construction models in digital form, workers and other project stakeholders are able to cooperate overcoming the challenge of working in isolation making sure that everyone is able to can work through collaboration in order to achieve goals in an efficient manner (Sure House, 2015).  As building information modelling evolves and continues to emerge, it may shift to become more sophisticated enabling 5D modelling, integrating time management, rates, project and cost estimations and quantities.  Research shows that there’s likelihood for building information modelling to become more valuable for the construction industry in future (Lee, 2008).

Literature Review

The prevalent use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) which necessitates constructers to model projects in 3D before implementing construction. Virtual Reality (VR) enables construction designers to develop, design and interact with models (Comunale, 2017). Additionally, they use it to spot imprecisions and make amendments in a manner that other methodologies do not allow (Whyte, 2010). The VR technology not allows allow builders to render buildings in   3D but also allow them to work in them as they would in the actual world (GenieBelt, 2017). Unreal is one of the software applications in use by developers in construction for creating virtual reality environments (ViaTechnik, 2018). The tools is open source and used to visualize and render architectural models. It allows architects and engineers to design and build in a virtual reality environment by means of a powerful editor toolset and the interaction models that have been specifically designed for VR world building (ViaTechnik, 2018). 

Technology is used for more than providing efficiency and cost reduction. Since engineering and construction is faced by many potentially dangerous   hazards that, technology is providing mechanisms for enhancing health and safety standards for construction workers (Xiao, et al., 2018). Safety is a priority for many construction companies, and they are therefore increasingly working hard ensure employees are protected from probable injuries.  Both Virtual and Augmented Reality applications are being implemented to help create safe construction environment (Hongling, et al., 2017). They foster with envisaging complex workplace situations by enabling up risk-preventive knowledge and undergoing training (Behzadi, 2016).

Augmented Reality (AR) technology has made it possible to share building information in real-time resulting to better project outcomes (Courtney, 2018). This is enabled by the fact that AR has the capability to overlap data and images onto physical spaces. Such capacity is useful especially in the case of complex processes for highlighting probable hazards and challenges before they occur. It also helps to project construction schedules and analyze probable risks so that suitable measures can be taken to circumvent these foreseen challenges, which leads to project success. Moreover, AR is enabling engineers and builders to cooperate with contractors and clients making it possible to collaborate on projects and make modifications on time (Xiangyu, et al., 2014). AR technology therefore facilitates the capability to lessen cost and reduce development times through projecting unforeseen project issues. 

In construction industry, the introduction of mobile technology is a huge development for project management (Bedard, 2018). Mobile technologies enable mobile data that is providing a lot of progress for the Industry. Construction teams are implementing tools that are facilitating collaboration and eradicating challenges in construction including planning, designing, and development such as smartphones and tablets (Bedard, 2018).  According to a survey Sage North America, many decision makers for manufacturing, construction, strongly believe that mobile technologies are   positively impacting   productivity (Eddy, 2013).   The survey which involved over 200 construction firms showed them implementing mobile computing devices to access company data and information while on construction sites to reduce travel costs (Eddy, 2013). Mobile-device utilization has thus progressively enabled construction workers to prepare instant reports in the field which quickens decision making eventually cutting down costs and time (Bedard, 2018). Mobile technologies are playing a critical role in the construction industry (Venkatraman & Yoong, 2014). No matter the complexity of the construction project, a number of works are involved including builders, site supervisors all   who want the project to gain efficiency and be effectively managed while minimalizing costs (Bedard, 2018). In Australia, mobility continues to increase as now active mobile participation is approximately almost 20 million (Statistica, 2018). Australians like other users across the globe are increasingly using mobile devices and using them for Internet access.  According to recent studies, small and medium sized construction workers use smartphones at work and over 60 percent use tablets for remote access (Deloitte , 2015). Laptops follow at slightly above 40 percent. Construction workers have reported that remote access has made it easier for them to access company information while they are on field work. According to (Deloitte , 2015), key decision makers in construction that are using mobile technology to collaborate with workers and clients have found that mobile technology helps them organize projects and associated activities very well.  Research  also found  that more than 30 percent top project leaders are using mobile applications to ensure projects collaboration,  more than 20 percent are keeping, maintaining and  assigning tasks to  specific employees using mobile devices and over 30 percent are using mobile devices to stay up to date with project progress (Deloitte , 2015). APE Mobile is an Australian tech firm aiming to work with construction and mining companies. ABE mobile provides a mobile app for site workers and engineers to perform their office paper work on tablets instead of wasting a lot of time to and fro office and construction (Powell, 2015). In countries like New Zealand, modern and mobile technologies including emails, telephone, smart phones and tablets have made it possible for workers and entire construction teams to collaborate and have continuous access to work flows (Slide Share, 2017).  Additionally, the situation is similar in other countries across the globe. Mobile devices growth have enabled construction workers to depend on them for collaboration (Pham and Dawson, 2003; Li et al., 2006)

Technology and Construction

Applying mobile tools in construction has many benefits (Witty, 2008).  Mobile data is greatly improving the construction by providing the following benefits:

• Reduces construction delays

Mobile data helps gather real-time information at the construction sites including progress, available contractors, and incidents which reduces delays. Real-time data processing helps project issues that could keep the project on hold ensuring project schedule is maintained.  

• Enhanced communication between owners and project stakeholders

By using mobile computing devices to complete routine reports on site as well as send emails, a construction team is able to maintain communication with all project stakeholders. Streamlined communication ensures that all team members including stakeholders can simultaneously access same information and that errors are minimized and arising issues that require attention can be quickly addressed.

• Increased operational efficiency

By removing away the need to utilize spreadsheets and paper construction companies are able to save time that could otherwise be spent on data entry, or the time spent searching or trying to retrieve information. The use of mobile data enables quick office operations which results to operational efficiency and ultimately project success.

• Improved field staff accountability

Conventionally for construction companies, it has always been difficult to track field workers. However with the advent of mobile data, apps and Google mapping technologies it is now easy to track and monitor workers. Such results to improved accountability and costs saving.

• Enables more accurate documentation

By using mobile technology to identify and access information, there results reduction in issues that arise as a result of from impossible to read handwritings, information gaps and data inconsistencies (Riddell, 2017). Photographs and time stamps that are taken on constructions sites provide accurate and unquestionable audit trail for constructions projects which facilitates accountability delivery to everyone and can work as evidence in the case of egal disputes.

• Improved infrastructure management

Mobile technology integrated database solutions increase equipment tracking and management. Thus, a company that is using real-time information for project schedules, staff availability, and equipment locations gets to improve equipment usage and inventory planning.

• Real-time mobile access to project plans and  bylaws

There exists many apps that construction teams can use for two-way access to information. Construction establishments can upload electronic copies of plans, drawings, or bylaws for easy and fast offline access by workers in the field which improves production and reduces errors and re-work.

Embracing mobile technologies for construction companies has several issues and limitations that can hinder its development (Cheng-Chieh & Kritsonis, 2006).

• Costs

It is costly to purchase new devices and technologies. Additionally, such gadgets require upkeep and ongoing maintenance

• Workplace distractions

Mobile technologies have the capability to bring distractions at the construction sites. As such, they have the potential to make workers become interrupted from their roles. Their increase in production can not only help with efficiency and productivity but be become a major work distractions

• Additional training requirements

Drones

Mainly, when a construction company introduces new mobile tools and technology, they are require to train their workers on how to implement the technology.

• Require security

Construction companies should ensure that the right security policies and procedures are being applied with the usage of mobile devices to ensure security. This is because mobiles devices are susceptible to security risks particularly when they are used to access and contain sensitive data. Additionally, when workers use their own devices for office work, they can easily become the weakest link that can be used by hackers to illegally access company data.

To reduce the challenges that come with mobile technology adoption, it is critical for business to carry out some procedures including:

• Security policies and procedures

It is crucial for construction companies to ensure they come with rules and regulations on how mobile technologies are to be used in the company including when and how. With such control, companies are able to keep operations in check and at the same time ensure the security of their systems.

• Train construction workers

There’s need to train construction workers on how to use, control, manage and secure any new mobile technology including hardware and software that a company introduces. Right training will ensure that workers know and are therefore confident with mobile technology in use. Training them will also reduce the errors that come as a result of lack of operational skills

• Have rules for BYOD devices

If a company allows workers to do office work with their personal devices, there should be policies laid out to guide that. Sometimes personal mobile devices may not be secured enough and can become the weakest link that hackers can use to gain access to company systems.

• Ensure proper user identification and authorization mechanisms

Construction companies need to ensure that all workers are rightly identified and authorized when trying to access company data by use of mobile devices in order to enforce security of their systems.  

• Track and monitor workers on mobile usage

To ensure that mobile technologies do not become a distraction for workers in the field, companies can make use of time tracking apps to control usage. This ensures that workers only use mobile devices to access information when there’s need to.

Construction projects have been known to operate on set timelines with a lot of unknown information that could come up and affect time budgets and allocations.   Sometimes the  information  required to be conversed when  construction  is taking place include plans,  equipment purchases,  building materials, models and blue prints,  project budget and approvals, digital drawings and construction plans, mails and more and comes from different team members. For that reason, construction projects require harmonized efforts between workers, architects, supervisors, managers and even external stakeholders for proper completion and success. This study has examined mobile technologies and their role and impact in construction companies.  Mobile technologies enhance communication within projects which improves efficiency and productivity for the construction industry.  

Building Information Modelling

Conclusion

The construction industry is faced with much pressures to reduce on costs, increase productivity and gain a competitive advantage with regard to service quality and customer satisfaction. New developments in mobile technology can enable companies be able to achieve such objectives. With no doubt the future of industries is mobile. As mobile technology continues to emerge, its implementation by construction companies will increasingly expand. Implementing mobile strategic plans can help construction companies increase job effectiveness and competence with a mere click of a button.  And a although some mobile innovations are still in development and some digital approaches geared for  construction are yet to  completely transform operations, there’s evidence that companies that adopt new and emerging technologies will continue to progress.  

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