Can Drones, AI, and Robotics Transform the Industry?
For so long, construction was quite a simple activity.
Shovels, picks, trowels, saws, chisels and the like, plus a bit of rudimentary scaffolding were about it as far as tools went.
Then there’s today’s construction technology-lead landscape. We’re in an age where innovative ideas are transforming traditional practices.
Drones, artificial intelligence, and robotics are leading the charge. These cutting-edge tools are revolutionising, amongst other aspects, construction site inspections and material management, and significantly improving safety on construction sites.
We’re delving into the real-world applications of these technologies to investigate what they can really do. The promise is they enhance construction project efficiency, reduce labour costs, and minimise human error.
Is the integration of these technologies going to deliver those promises? And is it paving the way for more effective and sustainable building practices?
What New Technologies Can Construction Look Forward Too?
Drones: Eyes in the Sky
Drones are becoming a must-have tool on construction sites. Why? Because they can do in minutes what used to take hours or even days.
Construction drones are primarily used for site surveys and inspections. They provide a comprehensive aerial perspective that traditional methods just can’t match. The high resolution and up-close flying potential they have in the hands of a skilled pilot make their use a no-brainer.
Their use makes many aspects of the construction process both quicker and safer.
- Site Surveys and Mapping: Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) can quickly capture site conditions and create detailed, and accurate, topographical maps. Instead of sending surveyors with tripods and tape measures, drones can capture everything exactly in a fraction of the time.
- Progress Monitoring: Keeping track of the progress of each project is crucial, and drones make it easy. Flyovers can capture high-resolution images that let project managers monitor how things are coming along without leaving the office.
- Safety Inspections: Inspecting hard-to-reach areas, like scaffolding or rooftops, used to be risky. With drones, it’s as simple as sending up a camera. This reduces the need for workers to be in dangerous situations. They’re great at identifying unsafe practices or conditions that might endanger workers – without endangering workers!
- Material Management: Drones can help monitor inventory levels and material stockpiles more efficiently. Accurate information helps ensure efficient material flow, and that reduces waste.
- 3D Modeling and Visualisation: Drones are perfect for creating 3D models of construction sites. These can be used for simulations or presentations, which improves stakeholder engagement – it’s so much easier to enthuse partners when they can see the result you’re aiming for.
Better Safety for Construction Workers
Using a drone for inspections at height saves sending a worker up there. Checking the roof, walls, and other less accessible places is much safer with the drone operator on the ground. And what if there’s an accident at height? You can get better and more thorough information if you can get a drone up to assess the situation.
Checking over the site, you may spot emergent safety threats faster. As we noted above, safety inspections are easier and don’t require anyone to put themselves at risk.
Who’s Using Them?
So are drones in action on construction sites at the moment? The American Society of Civil Engineers reported that by 2021 up to 40% of US construction companies were using drones on their sites.
We imagine the UK is probably a little behind the American industry. But three years has passed since that survey, so there’s little doubt that there will be a chunk of the industry making use of drones for all the multiple purposes they serve. It tends to be the larger organisations that use them, but as drone technology improves and becomes cheaper, it will be adopted across smaller firms also.
Technology continues to advance, and there’s no doubt the role of drones is expected to expand even further.
AI: Smarter Construction Decisions
We’re becoming more familiar with the concept of AI as time passes. There’s a mix of excitement and skepicism around it, but where it’s working well, there is undoubted value.
AI is being used in construction in several ways, both on site and in the office.
- Project Planning and Design: Design alternatives can be generated by AI algorithms, using the specific parameters and requirements for each project. They serve to optimise and streamline the design much faster than the human eye and hand. It will also analyse building data and make planning and resource allocation more efficient.
- Cost Estimation and Budgeting: In our last Insight we guided you through the day of Simon Hughes, our office manager. Part of his job is to collate the costs for each project, alongside our quantity surveyor. We don’t yet use AI to help with this, but its ability to store and analyse historical data could improve the accuracy of the figures we use to produce quotations.
- Scheduling, Resource Management, Quality Control: All these functions can benefit from the same optimised analysis that AI offers. Faster, clearer and deeper insight into your business functions can offer you better and more reliable figures with which to grow your business.
- Safety and Risk Management: By accessing shared data across the industry, AI can help to identify points of risk. Collating information about common incidents and overlaying that knowledge on your planned sites can highlight possible areas of concern. You can then use those patterns to mitigate against accidents on your projects.
Who’s Using AI Right Now?
AI in construction is growing, but varies significantly across the industry. A report from McKinsey & Company indicates that while many construction companies recognise the potential of AI, only a fraction have fully integrated AI into their processes.
As of 2021, it was estimated that about 10-15% of construction firms were using AI technologies in some capacity. As with drones, it is generally larger firms, with the resources and ability to invest in technology, that tend to lead in this area.
The Future of AI in the Construction Industry
The future of AI in construction is promising, with several trends likely to shape its development.
It will assist with the useful introduction of automation throughout the construction process, where it serves to improve and streamline processes.
Integration with drones could also mean the benefits we discussed above could be enhanced, creating a more interconnected and data-driven construction environment.
As AI technology matures, its integration into construction practices is expected to deepen, driving significant changes in how projects are planned, executed, and managed.
Robotics: Supporting the Tough Jobs
Robots aren’t just for factories anymore. They’re becoming more common on construction sites, helping with repetitive or dangerous tasks. Robotics integration is not only enhancing efficiency, it’s improving safety, reducing costs, and minimising waste.
So how are robotics being used on construction sites right now?
Practical Applications of Robotics:
- Bricklaying Robots: There are now robots that can lay bricks faster and with more precision than human workers. These machines can work non-stop, speeding up the building process. Companies like Construction Robotics have developed machines such as the SAM100 (Semi-Automated Mason) that can lay bricks at a rate of approximately 3,000 per day. That’s a considerable step up in speed off the building process. It also reduces physical strain on workers.
- Concrete Pouring: Robots can also be used to pour and finish concrete. This is a heavy-duty, time-consuming and hazardous process that requires care and precision to give best results. This reduces the need for large crews to handle heavy machinery..
- Demolition: Robots are being used to handle hazardous demolition tasks. This not only speeds up the process but also keeps workers out of harm’s way. Think the demolition scene from the movie ‘I, Robot’ but without the murderous intent!
- Robotic Exoskeletons: Again, we could stray into the realms of science fiction – Ripley taking on the Alien in a heavy duty exoskeleton, or Tom Cruise fighting in a military version in Edge of Tomorrow. Or there’s Ironman of course. Ok, these are still largely fictional, but workers in physical jobs are already benefitting from both powered and unpowered mechanical wearables. A great example of how it’s working in the construction industry is demonstrated in this video from Hilti in the USA.
New Tech – Real-World Applications in the UK
In the UK, several companies are already adopting these technologies. For example, the construction firm Skanska has implemented drones for site inspections and monitoring. Similarly, Balfour Beatty is using robotics for various projects, from surveying to material handling, aiming to enhance efficiency and safety.
Moreover, academic institutions like University College London are researching the potential of robotics in construction, exploring how new technologies can be integrated into traditional practices.
The movies may be ahead of the curve in terms of how tech can enhance human effort – but real life is catching up. As and when these technologies develop we’ll drop in another Insight – especially as we consider adopting them ourselves. There’s no doubt, ideas that seemed fantastical just a few years ago are now becoming reality. Their value in business is increasing, and their use is spreading throughout the construction industry.
If you want to speak to us about a project you are developing, visit our Contact page – we’d love to speak with you.
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