7 Tech Developments Revolutionising the Construction Industry

Coolest Construction Technology Innovations

Construction and technology are two industries that have changed dramatically in recent years due to advances in research and development. With what outcome?

Innovations in Construction Technology

Experts in both fields have started working together to improve construction processes with the help of advanced technology. The resulting developments are set to revolutionize the construction industry, leading to safer, more durable, and easier maintenance.

1. Bendable Concrete

Imagine a product that weighed up to forty times less than standard concrete had fifty times more flexibility but was still just as durable?

This is what a team from Nanyung Technological University in Singapore set out to create, concrete that was less brittle and capable of flexing without cracking. Their product is called ConFlexPave, and, so far, it is living up to the hype.

Instead of just the standard mix of water, aggregate, and cement, the team of scientists incorporated a mix of polymer microfibres, enhancing the concrete’s ductile properties. When subjected to pressure, the fibers allow for the concrete layers to shift from side to side whilst staying intact, instead of just cracking as standard concrete. As a result, bendable concrete can be installed in seismic zones, reduce ongoing maintenance costs, and, as a precast product, even cut down on initial installation times.

2. Heavy Duty Construction Phone

Those working in the construction industry are familiar with the pain resulting from a destroyed smartphone. In a bid to shake things up, CAT (best known for their heavy moving equipment) has developed what surely must be the most indestructible smartphone to date: the CAT S60.

Not only can this phone survive underwater submersion (over an hour at a depth of 5 meters) and falls of 2 meters, but it also incorporates a thermal imaging camera that can see through smoke.

The phone can ascertain specific temperatures at a distance of 15-23 meters, and register temperature changes up to 30 meters away. More than just an impressive gadget, this technology will assist those in the construction industry with detecting electrical faults, locating subfloor heating issues and even in identifying machinery problems before a breakdown.

3. Electrified Concrete

According to the US Department of Transportation, over 116,800 people are injured every year due to car crashes caused by snow or ice on roads. To eliminate this statistic, Professor Chris Tuan (University of Nebraska) has been working on an electrified concrete product that would melt snow and prevent ice from forming on roads.

His breakthrough came when he introduced metal fibers and carbon particles into a standard concrete mix. When metal rods are inserted into the concrete and electrified, these particles produce heat, which in turn will melt ice and snow, even during heavy winter snowstorms.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is currently testing this amalgamation of infrastructure and technology for potential tarmacs at US airports.

4. Robot Gloves

Anyone who has ever performed intricate and extended work with their hands will understand the pain of muscle fatigue. This is a common problem for workers in manufacturing and construction, so the concept of the RoboGlove is so exciting.

A veritable exoskeleton, the RoboGlove has pressure sensors to determine when the wearer is gripping an object. This sensor will then strengthen the object’s grip thanks to technology that copies human biology (specifically, the muscles and tendons in the hand and arm).

Although NASA and GM first pioneered a robot glove for use on the International Space Station, the idea has now been licensed to Bioservo Technologies, a medical technology company based in Sweden.

5. Self-Driving Cab-less Dump Truck

The concept of a self-driving vehicle is by no means new, but Komatsu’s latest development is set to shake up the construction industry.

The Japanese equipment maker has been producing self-driving trucks for 10 years now. However, even with this technology, it was still necessary for the vehicles to drive forwards into a location, then negotiate a 3-point turn to get back out.

The new Komatsu haul truck is fully autonomous and has no cab, the front looks the same as the back, and it can be operated in this manner. So rather than waste time and productivity trying to turn trucks around, operators can now drive them in and then drive them straight back out the same way, no 3-point turn required!

6. Solar Panel Roads

A village in Normandy, France, has the honor of being the first place globally with a solar panel highway. The 1 km stretch of road in Tourouvre au Perche aims to power 140 local houses, thanks to the 2,800 square meters of solar cells.

These thin panels have been retrofitted over the top of the existing roadway and are now being tested for 2 years to see if they can withstand heavy traffic and still create the desired power level. Meanwhile, a tech start-up company in the US state of Idaho is also aiming to cover roads with solar panels. The hexagonal glass panels, developed by Solar Roadways, only weigh 30 kgs, yet are strong enough to be driven over by a small truck.

The panels absorb sunlight, which is then converted into heat to melt snow and ice. Additionally, these panels have been programmed to display different colors and signals, meaning they could eventually take the place of traffic signs and road markings. The panels are currently being tested for use as a footpath in a Missouri town along Route 66.

7. Surface-Clinging Drones

The suggestion that a drone could be used to inspect infrastructure was refuted because drones can’t be flown too close to structures, the design of the drone makes them incapable of withstanding gusts of wind while hovering.

As a result, any drone that was flown too close to a building or bridge would more than likely crash. To address this problem, PRODRONE, a Japanese company, developed a drone shaped like an inverted ‘L’ that is capable of ‘clinging’ to structures (both vertical and horizontal).

This means that the drone can be used to inspect buildings and bridges at an extremely close range and recognize cracks in concrete that are less than 0.1mm thick.

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