AMR Future Brief| Can Smart Construction Technologies Play a Major Role in Urban Planning in 2024?

The Internet has become one of the most fundamental aspects of human lives with almost every sector of the economy relying on it for delivering different goods and services to the end user. Also, with the ushering of the digital age, every major technology and innovation has the internet at its base. The increasing proliferation of the Internet has been central to the advent of the ‘smart’ technologies that have invaded every sphere of human life. For example, governments across the globe are launching ‘smart city’ initiatives to improve the standard of living of people living in urban areas and industrial townships. These initiatives aim to provide basic amenities and services to the residents on an on-demand basis and focus on revamping the set patterns of living and accommodation. For this, these programs take the help of smart construction technologies.?

Smart construction technologies to enhance the quality of urban planning?

One of the worst challenges faced by all the major metropolitan cities of the world including New York, London, Tokyo, New Delhi, Shanghai, Berlin, etc., is the lack of urban planning while developing the city as a whole. It is the root cause of many other problems like congestion, slum development, vehicular traffic and pollution, water scarcity, lack of sanitation, epidemics and burden on healthcare services, and many more. As the population of these cities increases, the dependence on temporary housing solutions has increased which not only puts the lives of the residents at risk but also deteriorates the aesthetics of the city.?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, these issues became much more prominent and the need for planned and sustainable construction activities was felt. As a result, many town planners, architects, and builders, in the post-pandemic period, are shifting to smart construction technologies that help in the development of planned cities and ensure quality and affordable housing for all. These construction techniques involve designing, constructing, and operating buildings through collaborative approaches and make use of digital technologies to improve the productivity, sustainability, and affordability of the construction project.??

Building Information Modelling (BIM): The dominant force in smart construction technologies?

As said earlier, smart construction technologies involve several techniques that simplify the building processes. Of all these techniques, building information modeling (BIM) is probably the most common yet most important technology used in modern construction. BIM is a process in which the physical and functional characteristics of a building and its interiors are digitally represented using software applications. These applications help engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and architects to design and construct a building based on the 3D models it generates.?

With the advent of AI, the scope of BIM software applications has widened considerably. AI-powered BIM tools allow contractors and architects to plan the project as per the resources available and thus ensure cost savings. Furthermore, the accuracy of planning and modeling increases with the use of predictive analysis techniques. Also, AI-based tools help different stakeholders in the project to collaborate, come up with ideas, execute plans, and develop solutions proactively. Moreover, to align with sustainability initiatives, AI can be trained to suggest construction policies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bring down the carbon footprint of the project.?

Recently, in June 2023, OpenSpace, a software development company, announced the launch of OpenSpace BIM+, a construction modeling and design suite. Developed in partnership with Revizto, a BIM platform developer, the design suite allows users to create and compare 2D drawings and 3D models which ultimately enables builders to have an idea of how the building would look once developed.?

Introducing robotics, 3D printing, and automation for opening new avenues of growth?

The second decade of this century marked the shift toward the use of robots and automation for performing different kinds of tasks and processes. In the construction sector also, intelligent robots and other automation technologies are being used to simplify building processes and reduce the time required for project completion. These smart construction technologies are especially used to perform repetitive tasks like brick layering, concrete mixing and pouring, site cleaning, etc. One major advantage of this workload distribution model is that the labor that was earlier employed for these repetitive tasks can now be trained for more creative and productive tasks.??

Along with this, additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing are used to develop construction elements and structures with ease. 3D printing has proven to be better than conventional manufacturing processes as it allows for producing not just simple components but also entire complex elements like living spaces, modular structures, furniture models, etc. Also, compared to traditional techniques, this smart construction technology, due to its very nature, reduces wastage, thus guaranteeing judicious use of the available resources. In January 2024, AJAX Engineering, a leading concrete equipment manufacturer, announced the launch of a 3D concrete printing machine that allows for the creation of a physical model from its CAD design. The company has claimed the 3D concrete printer is capable of developing buildings of 10*10*9-meter dimensions. Such smart construction technologies are expected to bring in numerous growth opportunities for the construction sector.?

In Summary?

Winding up, the growing need for urban planning in metropolitan cities and industrial towns has led to contractors and architects switching to smart construction technologies. These technologies with the help of innovations like AI, machine learning, and robotics are predicted to help governments and policy makers achieve the goal of affordable and quality housing for all in the near future.?

To grab more interesting information on smart construction technologies,?reach out to our analysts today!?

Also, you can contact us via our chat window, in case you have any further queries.?

? **?????????????? ????????????: Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar?

?

?