49 Q1 2020 BUILD happens, many fewer mistakes occur on site, which has a major positive impact on the lifetime energy of the building.” In terms of the next big thing to impact the construction market, Jason thinks this might not necessarily centre upon innovations or ‘snazzy tech’, but rather the idea of technology working together using the Internet of Things (IoT). “The uptake of technology in the construction sector is very poor and is mainly due to so many actors doing varying roles,” added Jason. “This means that if innovative technology tries to come in, it needs to cater for a number of different uses. “For impact to be truly seen in the industry, technology needs to leap on all fronts at the same time, and the connectivity of technology and the IoT may be the route that brings everything together in the near future.” One practical change is the trial of embedded sensors in concrete to monitor the drying progress. Linked with a construction management system, this organises tasks according to just-intime principles. Jason believes weeks or even months could be saved on projects without compromising quality. He explained that photographs, commentary or Point Cloud Scans could be uploaded directly on to Building Information Modelling (BIM) models, while the use of AR or tablets on site would allow changes to be sent directly to the contractors so they can instantly continue with tasks. Virtual environment With every construction project looking for increased efficiency, greater productivity and the highest quality outcomes, Leica Geosystems believes that by leveraging digital construction processes and tools, fewer resources can be used to make less waste, and create less pollution. Matt Wheelis, Global Business Development Director at Leica Geosystems, which is at the forefront of measurement and surveying in construction and other industries, explained that 3D laser scanning and other forms of reality capture have become excellent tools for renovation and adaptive reuse projects. “By better understanding as-is conditions, it is easier to envision and design the to-be conditions,” said Matt. “When capturing existing conditions, you are able to bring the existing geometry and imagery into a virtual environment. They give you the ability to remove objects like furniture and even people from operating environments. “Contractors can experiment with scenarios before beginning demolition; as well as envisioning new finishes in the context of the existing environment to ensure suitability.” For new construction, 3D positioning technologies are helping to reduce waste through precise measurements that are critical for offsite modular construction that requires a near-perfect fit on site. Matt added: “Reality capture technologies let customers scan the site conditions as well as the modules in the factory to achieve the fit required. While BIM-based digital layout solutions provide for precise fit to foundations and anchor bolts. “Then there is ground penetrating radar (GPR) solutions where customers can locate utilities and other underground elements without disturbing the earth, which avoids dust and sediment. By using GPR to scan the ground, utilities can be located in a non-destructive manner when compared to hydraulic blasting and hand-digging to expose and locate non-metallic utilities.”
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