The construction industry in the US is one of the largest in the western world, comprising nearly a million individual firms and contractors, all of which are collectively responsible for the hiring of around eight million employees. Its size and infrastructural impact owe thanks to the considerable breadth and depth of skills, knowledge and creativity within the US’ workforce over its centuries of development – but there is a third party in the growth of the industry and in the accelerating pace of national infrastructural development.
That third party is technology. Technological advancements throughout the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries have enabled hitherto unpredictable innovation in numerous corners of the industry – as, indeed, with practically every other industry worldwide. But the specific impacts of technological advancement are not as easily spoken by the average American. How exactly has technology impacted the construction industry – and how might it continue to do so?
Power, Tools and Efficiency
The obvious manner in which tech has irretrievably altered the construction industry is with respect to the tools of the trade. The development of new construction equipment, from the smallest power tools to the largest industrial mechanisms, is impossible to ignore. The development of power products that enable the harnessing of electricity has put incredible power in the palms of our hands – in turn, dramatically improving build efficiency. Now, complex structures can be built by smaller construction teams in far less time.
Materials
The speed with which contracting teams can work is only partially indebted to the constant advancement of mechanized and powered tool technologies. The other side of the equation is the great advancements we have made in material engineering – made possible, of course, by technological advancements.
Synthetic materials today make the fabrication of certain structures much quicker and easier, as with plastics in the sealing of doors, windows and roofs. The development of precision tools of industrial proportions has also enabled a wholesale industry of manufactured materials, with mass-manufactured wood products like MDF and plywood only so abundant for the existence of precision tools.
Health and Safety
The impact of technology on health and safety in construction cannot be ignored, either. Power tools are built with safety stops and failure points in, to reduce the likelihood of an accident while performing basic construction tasks. Cameras and sensors are also invaluable to tracking workers and ensuring safety, whether counting bodies out of a site before closure or sensing the presence of a person prior to a major destructive event.
Organizational Effectiveness
Finally, technology has enabled architects, project manages and administrative staff to conduct their work in a much quicker and more efficient way. Computers and proprietary construction software allow for people management, complex calculations and even such mundanities as HR management to be completed with ease – to the betterment of staff and projects.