The future seems full of exciting opportunities for artificial intelligence and construction is no exception!
While the construction sector has always had the notorious reputation of being late to catch up to the innovation party, the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have repaired that to some extent. Like most other industries, swift changes had to be made to survive in our changed circumstances – from communication to ordering raw materials and exploring local construction options to managing repairs and renovations.
Luckily for our planet, there is also a big movement towards sustainability, reducing waste, improving resource utilization and being more aware and more conscious of our environment.
BIM does an excellent job of managing both these needs. With architectural projects of all scales depending on BIM, it’s now an indelible part of the construction landscape. It has most definitely led to better-designed, planned, and constructed structures. By encouraging collaboration and information sharing, it helps with better preparation, more solid groundwork, efficient logistics and waste reduction.
As technology advances, BIM will also evolve – becoming easier to use across all levels. This has naturally led to the need for education and training in the tools and their utilization. Courses are being offered across various programmes and companies are keen on training their employees. “It is the future of construction,” says Karel Dobbels, Managing Director of 3Maten, a survey company based in Belgium.
The debate that BIM raises on technology versus experience is worth a mention. BIM has seemingly levelled the playing field – sometimes allowing novice designers adept in the software to contribute more to a project than an architect with decades of building experience but very little knowledge of how the programme works. On the one hand, this generational disparity may grow wider as technology advances and becomes more accessible. On the other, with software programmes constantly being developed and revised, they are becoming easier to use and implement, encouraging even the most stubborn minds to try them out.
As we stride into a technologically savvy future, there is no doubt that BIM will continue to evolve and foster more collaboration in the construction of buildings and other assets. Smart cities can be planned and developed with collaboration from agencies around the world. The consumption and conservation of water, gas and energy can be more efficiently planned. The possibilities are endless and there’s never been a better time to watch how technology is impacting and changing construction and allied fields – paving the way for a better future!