5 Old Problems With New Construction Technology Solutions

There’s no shortage of equipment and safety barricades, traffic cones, or hi-viz vests and helmets that can be found for construction sites. However, there are several problems, which can be resolved with the utilization of construction technologies.

How? The right technology can help reduce redundancy and errors which were made in years past. So, what are some of the old problems, which technology can resolve for construction crews?

Labor Shortages

This is a big one. People are calling out, not having enough specialists, and not having the right personnel to work on a specific section of a job site, are common issues employers face. However, automation and new robots and technologies can significantly help reduce this problem.

There are many automated tools and robots that can work on any construction site for those tasks which are trivial or are the same, day in and day out. This allows you to better train your crew so that they can perform more complex tasks, and can pay attention to different areas of the workspace.

And, with more robots and more hands-on-deck for you to use as a construction manager, you don’t have to worry about a labor shortage in the event someone does call off or need time off when you’re working on a big project for a construction client. 

Untrained/Under-Trained Labor

Training new construction crew members are costly, and the problem is that some are not adequately trained. With Augmented and virtual reality equipment, as well as other new technologies, this is no longer an issue for construction companies.

The use of this virtual reality equipment and tools will make it far easier for companies to train employees, and reduce the errors they are making on an actual job site. Since the training, they are doing is virtual, they can choose several ways in which to tackle a problem.

Or, they can learn alternatives, which may be a better option for them to use, in order to complete a task. These technologies make it easier to train, to properly train personnel, and to ensure they are going to take the right steps when it comes to making decisions while they are actually on the job. 

Collaboration

A lack of easy to use mobile collaboration tools can greatly hinder communication on site. Today, GPS trackers, mobile devices, and communication tools are utilized on multiple construction sites to help reduce errors and to help improve collaboration.

With these technologies, crews can instantly let each other know where they stand. IF assistance is required, or if changes have to be made, these are conveyed instantaneously. There’s no lapse, there’s no wait time, and there are no issues in communication with the right technologies in place. 

Mobility Issues

Communicating on a huge job site is a problem that can reduce efficiency and workflow. In some cases, you’re wasting half a day or longer to hear back from a manager that’s offsite. How can technology improve this?

• Real-time software lets you know what’s happening, from anywhere, at any time
• Managers can communicate from anywhere
• Crew members have mobile devices, GPS trackers, and wearables on site

Basically, everyone knows where everyone is, and if there’s something that has to change during the workday, it can easily be communicated and shared in real-time, so that all team members are aware of it. No more waiting several hours before a message can be shared, and work can continue on a site. 

Tight Margins

Plenty of labor time on construction sites is wasted time. Why’s this? Crews are

• Wasting time mobilizing/moving equipment and supplies manually
• Prefabrication deliveries are getting delayed
• Supplies aren’t transported on time

What are the solutions? Drones, cloud technologies, mobile technologies, and more. With the right tools and equipment in place, you no longer have to worry about a delivery truck not getting supplies to you on time.

Or, you don’t have to worry about a crew member dropping pricey equipment and damaging it. The use of drones or automated vehicles will do the work instead. This not only helps reduce the possibility of human error but also the amount of time it takes a machine to do these tasks is far less than that of their human counterparts.