The Romans built roads. We build roads. Many of their roads still exist, including the Appian Way in Italy. Many of ours need constant maintenance. One could make the argument that not enough has changed over the course of millennia with respect to roads.
Obviously, that is not true. Roman roads did not have to deal with the level of bulk commerce that occurs today. But what is true is that the pace of change is now clearly accelerating. The roads of tomorrow will be fundamentally different from the roads of today. With a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and safety, construction is embracing cutting-edge solutions to meet the demands of a growing transportation network. These new technologies include new uses for drones, 3D printing, and a rapid turn towards cleaner, greener construction options. Combined, these innovations and their expanding pervasiveness will not only induce buyers of construction services to accelerate their purchases, including to combat climate change, but they will usher forth a new era of more resilient and interconnected surface networks, while lowering costs and emissions.
The Eye in the Sky
Like so many technologies that were developed by other industries for other purposes, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming increasingly commonplace in construction. These devices are being utilized to survey, monitor, and enhance jobsite efficiency. For many road projects, which span many miles across various types of terrain, they offer a fast, convenient, and low-cost way of keeping an eye on everything all the time.
Aerial surveying is one of the main uses of these devices. Traditional surveying can take time, resources, and put workers at risk. Moreover, accuracy can be compromised by human error or simply the scale of the endeavor. UAVs, on the other hand, are equipped with high resolution cameras and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors. These tools can generate precise 3D models of relevant areas, supplying engineers with information necessary to spot flaws or reorient construction as needed.
Drones can also be used to monitor construction progress. Project managers can use these devices to track project development, spot small problems before they become big ones, and render properly informed decisions regarding how resources and manpower ought to be used. They provide real-time imagery and video, allowing stakeholders who might not be at the project site the ability to assess progress and hold contractors accountable, including those who operate departments of transportation. This also helps limit the number of people on jobsites, making the delivery of roadwork safer.
Monitoring is hardly the only way drones and UAVs increase safety. The latter, for example, can be equipped with thermal imaging cameras that can detect potential hazards such as overheating equipment or electrical malfunctions. Additionally, drones can fly into spaces that would be dangerous for a typical worker, including overpasses and bridges.
3D Printing the Future
While 3D printing technology has been commonplace among the general population, its use in construction is only slowly making inroads. New 3D technology designed specifically for construction supplies contractors with innovative solutions to traditional challenges, increasing efficiency, lowering costs, and making sustainable infrastructure a reality.
The principal idea behind the technology is the creation of prefabricated elements. Using measurements gathered on the jobsite, these parameters can be entered into a program that then “prints” out necessary shapes and structures. These could include bridge components, barriers, or even sound walls. Produced off-site in a closed facility, workers do not have to contend with the elements, rendering production more streamlined and making being at work more pleasant. This is especially important given the priority many workers are giving to their own comfort. As technology develops, the quality and consistency of 3D-printed components stands to get better and cheaper.