Modern methods of construction: how new technology is leading to better outcomes

As the demands for sustainability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the construction sector soar, the role of innovative technologies has never been more necessary.

Technology, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), is increasingly becoming leveraged within the sector, proving a “pivotal moment” for the industry.

We only have to look at the launch of the UK Government’s new framework for harnessing AI to boost public project delivery to see that the use of new technology is on the rise, moulding the sector into a new shape.

Yet, there is no single piece of technology that is going to transform outcomes within the sector – improvement lies in the individual innovative practices that are slowly incorporated into day-to-day site work. 

Fortunately, there are multiple examples to explore how these modern methods have been, and can be, made possible through use of technology.

Here are four examples of how BAM has used technology to improve risk management for clients, construct buildings with minimal disruption to critical operations on projects, accelerate planning processes by using virtual walkthroughs, and ensuring that workers are not navigating difficult terrain by deploying robotics on site.

Putting AI into practice

Using AI as an example, it is poised to significantly enhance the efficiency of construction companies by introducing generative design, which is bound to have a positive impact on client work. However, there is still a long way to go – 55% of chief operating officers in the sector indicated that the main barrier to creating business value with AI was identifying the right opportunities to apply it. The challenge lies in recognising the right situations where AI can have a tangible, positive impact on the company's performance. In practice, it can provide simple planning efficiencies as well as on-the-ground support. 

Last summer, BAM trialled the use of a number of AI tools including work with nPlan to quantify and tackle potential issues within a portfolio of projects. Using AI, BAM was able to improve its risk management of the outcome of 50 projects by analysing potential risks and associated costs - enabling the firm to take prompt preventive action.

Improving risk management through AI significantly enhances safety, which reduces the likelihood of accidents and ensures compliance with safety regulations, such as the latest Building Safety Act which took effect in October last year. This anticipation and mitigation of potential problems ahead of time ensures a smoother, more predictable construction process for clients.

Using 3D modelling on large-scale projects

When we take AI one step further and explore its capabilities of 3D visualisation, we can also see how it can make the planning side of construction projects possible.

For example, when building the Sighthill bridge across the M8 in Glasgow, BAM used 3D concrete printing to create the staircase that provided access to the bridge. Printing allowed for precise and intricate shapes to be made, which can be difficult with traditional formwork. The removal of moulds and materials also reduced waste by 40% compared to traditional methods, keeping costs down whilst improving carbon efficiency. 

3D modelling has proven to be a valuable tool when it comes to healthcare too. In the construction of medical facilities, such as the Skyway Link Bridge at Southampton Hospital, the technology has allowed necessary construction to take place with minimal disruption to its critical operations. At Southampton Hospital, 3D modelling produced a digital replication of the bridge, enabling the team to pre-emptively address potential issues ahead of time, ensuring a seamless integration into the existing infrastructure of the hospital.

The place for robotics in engineering

When it comes to modern methods of technologies, the introduction of robotics has certainly caught the attention of the construction industry. With reports of bricklaying robots and pothole-fixing robots, there has been a keen eye on the outcome of their performance.

When implemented, robotic technologies are proving to be effective.

Agile mobile robots - often referred to as robotic dogs - are now being deployed to navigate difficult terrain and confined spaces within construction sites which are deemed too hazardous for people. A robotic dog, named Spot, was fitted with in-built laser scanners and put to work by BAM on a remote construction site in Shetland. The four-legged robot used customised 3D laser scanning equipment to collect data and create records of the 55,176m2 area, whilst being controlled remotely via 5G signal.

The successful use of Spot in this isolated location with harsh weather conditions and challenging terrain demonstrates that some tasks on sites can be automated or undertaken remotely, reducing the need for people to travel to difficult locations.

This has not been the only deployment of Spot – recently, it has been used by BAM to survey a former atomic bomb test site in Suffolk on behalf of the National Trust, as these facilities were deemed unsafe to enter due to decaying concrete. Spot has also worked with National Highways to inspect potentially hazardous roadside locations.

Whilst the use of robotics can help strengthen worker safety and innovation within the sector, it cannot replace the need for workers in the project. According to a report by Goldman Sachs, AI and robotic technology can only handle 25% of “unpredictable physical work”  – a skill that is vital on construction sites. The robotic technology will likely augment human labour rather than replace it entirely, because the value of human judgment, expertise, and adaptability remains crucial in the industry. 

Each of these examples of new technologies – AI, 3D modelling, AR, VR, and robotics – offers distinct advantages and when integrated fully, construction projects will see more efficient, cost-effective solutions that improve worker safety. 

When used holistically, they will not only reshape individual projects, but will improve outcomes within the construction industry and collectively setting new standards for the entire sector – standards focused on safety and efficiency, whilst making construction work possible.
 

The article first appeared in pbctoday on 8th April 2024.