The construction process is evolving rapidly, and we’re not just talking about buildings getting taller and taller every year, almost able to touch the sky. Every day, exciting innovations are being applied to the building process, and the landscape we know is changing rapidly. In 2021, the construction industry hit a record $1.2 billion in funding, specifically for the technology and construction sector, and the results are already being seen in a variety of tech savvy buildings that are being constructed all around the world.

 

We’ve seen all kinds of new trends, from AI being used to design, as well as predict the estimated time it will take to erect new developments, to green vertical forests that act as housing as well as an air filter that can reduce air pollution.

 

These innovations will help us build more quickly, efficiently and in a way that changes how we work and live. This being said, technology and artificial intelligence may be overwhelming to some, but are essential to productivity and management, and will not be replacing the value of experience labour, and construction staples, like the concrete mixer.

 

Concrete Mixer- Robotic Construction

 

Many companies have been experimenting with creating robots that can be trained and programmed to complete the more basic and monotonous tasks on the construction site. From laying bricks one at a time, to taking and transporting concrete from the concrete mixer, to being programmed to building specific designs. The robots which were developed by researchers at Harvard, were actually inspired by how termites work, working together in a swarm to complete projects. These robots have sensors installed, allowing them to detect other robots and objects around them, allowing them to choose paths that do not interfere with other robots or construction processes.

 

Harvard’s four-wheeled robots will save thousands of hours of human labour and can work 24/7 to complete simple and monotonous tasks which would free up labourers to perform other important and more complex tasks and save time on the project.

 

 

Concrete Mixer – Mixing Self-Healing Concrete

 

Once a building or construction project is complete, it is intended to be fully safe and functional. Whilst this is the case for the majority of buildings and infrastructure, this functionality relies on the structures remaining in good condition. However, weather, wear and tear and other elements deteriorate these structures over time, and they need repairs and replacements.

 

Infrastructure like roads and bridges are well known to deteriorate overtime due to the above-mentioned factors. This requires construction teams to come back to the site, pour their concrete into their concrete mixer to fill holes and cracks, rip up and re-tar patches on the roadway, etc. After years of maintenance, there may be a solution for new projects and developments: self-healing concrete.

 

Self-healing concrete was sparked by great scientific innovation in the concrete space which makes this possible. When it is mixed in the concrete mixer or truck, the concrete being mixed is unlike any other, as it has a bacteria that was mixed in during the mixing process. When the dried and finished concrete is cracked, all it needs is water on the crack, which reactivates the bacteria in the concrete and causes it to release calcite, which ‘heals’ the crack, leaving the concrete looking as good as new. This would save millions in construction and repair costs, and hundreds of hours of time that would usually be spent on repairs and maintenance.

 

Eco-Buildings

 

Eco-buildings are also often referred to as vertical forests, as they create eco-friendly spaces upwards instead of across a ground-level landscape. Each floor of these buildings is intended to house various amounts and types of greenery, and we’re not talking about pot plants. Eco-buildings are designed in a way that allows them to house trees and shrubs without compromising the safety of the building structure. Not only are eco-building exceptionally beautiful against a landscape known as the ‘concrete jungle’ there are also effective ways to fight pollution, specifically in heavily populated areas.

 

With limited surface area in cities, it is difficult to plant and maintain trees and greenery, but these eco-buildings provide an effective solution to this issue and allow for the increased presence of trees and other plants that actively absorb pollution in the air, absorbing carbon dioxide and converting it to healthy, breathable oxygen. Eco-buildings are cost effective, and reduce pollution, and will be an attractive investment for individuals who want to reduce their carbon-footprint and live in a space with naturally filtered air.

 

Vertical forests are not just a concept, having already been implemented in Milan, Singapore, and China, with many other cities following suit in this endevour with unique concepts of their own.

 

 

Concrete Mixer- Building Vertical Cities

 

Whilst vertical forests aim to combat climate change and air pollution, vertical cities are being developed to solve the housing crisis. The population continues to grow as each year passes, but the amount of land for people to live in does not, in fact, it has become very scarce. Luckily, there is a solution that can resolve this lack of land as well as urbanisation and compensate for overpopulation.

 

With the ability to develop large areas of land decreasing, the height of buildings is increasing, but more than this, the idea of vertical cities is becoming more and more talked about. Vertical cities are described as Tetris-like tower formations that serve not just as housing, but as communal and commercial spaces for inhabitants. In 2019, Dubai proposed a vertical city that would serve as a habitat for 25,000 people, and have its own water supply, green energy and aim to produce zero-waste, as well as have 20,000 square meters of garden space and greenery. The project has not yet been confirmed, but from the first batch of concrete mixed in the concrete mixer, we know it will be a sight to behold.

 

3-D Printed Houses

 

3D printers look to certainly be a huge part of the building sector in the future and are being used more and more to create entire small structures. The 3D printer can be likened to a small crane, which works back and forth to print out or set layers upon layers of concrete mixture, this process uses a specialised concrete mixer made specifically for this task. These crane-like 3D printers were developed by a company called Apis Cor in San Francisco, and have continued to advance, proving that they can create entire concrete walls in short spaces of time, saving time and effort as they can work 24/7.

 

3D printing homes is not a threat to the construction industry at this time, as they can only create small structures, however, this is a huge advantage for those in need. After natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis, thousands of people end up misplaced and homeless, and 3D printing homes allows them to have a safe, stable space to live in after losing their homes, and it is essential that this is done quickly.

 

3D printing homes can provide a cost and time-effective solution to the housing crisis and give people in poverty the opportunity to have a safe place to live as these 3D printed homes are made using real building materials and are secure and stable.

 

Smart Roads

 

Smart roads have the technology and the potential to change the future of transport. Smart roads look and act as typical roads but have sensors and technology in or under the concrete or tar that are able to sense traffic, speed and volume and generate real-time information on the conditions of the roads, to allow drivers to get updates and information regarding traffic and weather. In the future, these smart roads could even use technology to detect collisions and crash impacts, alerting traffic users and emergency services of the precise location of the incident.

 

Not only does this technology serve to generate useful information, but it can also provide green energy solutions, by charging electric cars as they drive on them and using the charge generated by vehicles using the roads to power streetlights or robots.

 

Smart Bricks

 

Smart bricks are a creative advancement to our regular building bricks and have been compared time and time again to the iconic Lego building bricks due to their appearance.

 

Smart bricks are designed to fit into each other like Lego bricks, and still leave space in between for the installation plumbing, pipes, wiring, and insulation after the process. Smart Bricks were developed by Kite Bricks and are actually made from high-strength concrete and other materials that give them the ability to control thermal energy, regulating the warm environment inside to trap heat from escaping better than regular bricks.

 

These Lego-like bricks have the potential to make the construction process quicker and far more efficient, using structures that lock into place for extra strength.

 

AI For Construction Workflow

 

AI technology allows for the construction process to be assessed and monitored better than ever before, giving workers a new perspective and a more in depth look at what is happening in all areas.

 

Construction itself is a highly complicated procedure, often becoming confusing and disorganized, which ends up costing the construction company time and money. AI can be utilised to aid data collection, management and reporting and assist in effective communication across the board for an overall more effective process. According to research, using AI in construction has the potential to increase profits in the construction industry by over 70% by the year 2035.

 

Machine learning helps to gain a better understanding the process and give an analysis of existing procedures and techniques to give feedback to construction workers and managers. This information they can then utilise to aid their decision-making and avoid costly mistakes and delays as well as predict timelines and future outcomes along the way. From advising how much concrete needs to be loaded into the concrete mixer, to identifying weak points in the overall process, AI can serve an essential purpose in the entire process.

 

BS Power

 

From eco-friendly buildings to roads that can predict future traffic in real-time, not only is the way we build changing, but the purpose and function of these projects are changing too. BS Power is proud to be a part of an ever-changing and growing industry, offering the tools, equipment and machinery that play a huge role in construction projects big and small, from the concrete mixer to the generators that provide steady power flow to building sites.

 

If you’re looking for a concrete mixer, heavy machinery or small building and gardening tools, BS Power has what you need, and everything in between.