Commercial Architecture June 2019 - 5

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CONTENTS

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Don't Get Steamrolled By Technology

oint clouds, 3D laser scanning, augmented reality,
virtual reality, digital twins, and jobsite wifi networks
are just some of the technologies that are last week's

buzzwords. This week they are everyday tools for many
and the next big change for most. How big is this business?
According to Fortune magazine, if the construction industry
brings its productivity in line with other industrial sectors,
it could realize $1.6 trillion in savings ("The Construction
Industry is Finally Embracing Technology," Clay Dillow, 102-18). Progress is being made. According to that same article, more than $18 billion has been invested in construction
technology since 2013.
Since this is clearly moving at lightning speed, I wondered what lies ahead. Quick research revealed a dozen or
more sources projecting new technology trends to watch in
2019. I chose B1M (theb1m.com), primarily because I

human movement to deliver considerable productivity gains.

enjoyed their video (https://youtu.be/BkRsA_v5oY4).

According to the report, exoskeletons are rapidly being used

The B1M people offered several trends to watch. In the
video intro, they mention point clouds and 3D laser scan-

in manufacturing and some successful live trials have already
been conducted on construction sites.

ning. In the body of the video, one of the trends they suggest

Autonomous vehicles are on the list, which is no surprise,

is the connected jobsite. Those technologies, though quite

with Volvo Construction Equipment leading the way. Volvo

new, are, for some, standard equipment. You can get a sense

has demonstrated a 40% efficiency improvement by cou-

of how powerful that combination of technologies can be by

pling autonomous dump trucks with human-powered exca-

reading our feature on p. 16, "Tech Drives Wrigley Field Res-

vators. Semi-autonomous electric excavators are also being

toration." The Pepper Construction folks had some very

tested.

challenging scheduling for the project, working primarily in

Other technologies include advanced materials, such as

the off-seasons over several years in very limited construc-

recycling plastics into roadways and re-purposing CO2 by

tion space. Those technologies became vital to the project

trapping it in concrete to increase compressive strength when

success.

cured. Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) made the list for a

Another trend offered by B1M is robotics, in the form of

lot of obvious reasons, as did augmented and virtual reality.

autonomous rovers used for site inspections and to perform

The one to keep a close eye on is 3D printing, or additive

repetitive tasks such as brick laying and rebar tying. Not

manufacturing. From my experience with our sister publica-

mentioned in the video, but a significant factor, is safety. In

tion, Efficient Plant, that technology is growing rapidly and,

the manufacturing world, conventional robots have to be

in many instances, proving to be an absolute game changer.

caged off and shut down before humans can approach them.

Construction material "inks" are readily available and being

That could present logistical problems on a construction site.

rapidly developed/advanced. Additive manufacturing inks

But that, too, is changing as cobot technology advances,

are another product that can absorb recyclable materials.

allowing robots to safely work along with humans.

There are three primary reasons to follow new construc-

Exoskeletons are a technology I did not expect to appear

tion technologies. One is that it's simply fascinating. Second

on the B1M list. I didn't know that the technology was

is that just about all of them offer significant gains in effi-

advanced enough for "regular" use, but we're apparently at

ciency, waste reduction, and improved construction quality.

least at the doorstep of implementation. They are suggested

Third: If you don't pay attention, development and imple-

as a way to protect workers from manual-handling injuries

mentation is moving so fast you're likely to get steamrolled

and the risk of hand-arm vibration, along with augmenting

before you realize it. CA

Gary L. Parr
Editorial Director

The Wrigley Field renovation
project is an excellent example
of the power of advanced construction technologies. Learn
more on p. 16.

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T UREM AG A ZINE.COM

JUNE 2019

http://www.theb1m.com https://www.youtu.be/BkRsA_v5oY4

Commercial Architecture June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture June 2019