Now that we are on the brink of technological changes, one question remains at the forefront of most conversations: is construction automation changing the machinery industry?
The construction machinery industry is the cornerstone of many countries’ economies and has always been the hotbed for advancement and innovation.
Today, with automation becoming the norm, we have started seeing people contacting leading suppliers, like ABLE Sales, by visiting https://www.ablesales.com.au/ for modern construction machinery.
Automated Construction Machinery Market
The automated construction machinery market is significantly growing, and we expect it to expand even further in 2025 and beyond. Machines that we use in construction activities are called automated construction machines. These machines can work autonomously and remotely.
Several factors affect the growth direction and dynamics of this market. For instance, the effectiveness and capabilities of automated machines are improved by technologies like the following:
- Sensor technology
- Robotics
- Artificial intelligence
Understanding Construction Automation
Construction automation integrates software, machinery, and advanced technology into different building processes to improve, streamline, and optimise various industry aspects.
This technological shift is changing how we plan, execute, and manage building projects, resulting in many benefits for the sector and its stakeholders.
Types
Construction automation is in two main forms: off-site and on-site construction automation. Off-site refers to every practice that transforms the building process into something similar to modern automated production. Usually, construction activities are moved into factories and off-site, where we can optimise them to leverage industrial robotics, DfMA strategies, digital production workflows, and automation.
On the other hand, on-site is a factory-based process. However, it presents unique opportunities and challenges. Deploying and developing machinery requires new processes and equipment, making it a more natural option for new business activities, startups, and research.
Impacts
According to 2022 historical Census Bureau data, about 1.2 million construction employees leave their building jobs to work in other sectors.
Although this statistic is offset by the 1.3 million employees who leave other sectors to work in this industry, the construction machinery sector still needs to bring more new employees to meet the industry’s demands.
Fortunately, automation technologies offset the labour shortage while improving the construction machinery sector in various ways. These ways include the following:
1. Accelerating Timelines
Automation is revolutionising construction schedules, thus facilitating the entire process. Remarkably, digital programs and automated machines have greatly minimised the time manual labour takes, accelerating project timelines.
There is enough evidence that automation indeed accelerates construction processes. By automating on-site execution, design, and planning, building projects will effectively exceed and meet their timelines.
2. Streamlining Bidding Process
Do your bidding processes involve a team of individuals scheduling meetings and opening invitations to discuss bids? If yes, you lose time to ensure all stakeholders are updated on the final decisions and project. Because of the still-present impacts of COVID-19, about 45% of construction contractors also spend more time completing bid processes.
Through automation, we can program bots to send notifications to department members, like estimators, whenever new invitations arrive. Everyone involved with the construction project will quickly access bids and look for helpful information.
3. Optimising and Managing Projects
Technologies like AI are revolutionising project management, efficiently allowing the allocation of enough resources, better decision-making, and scheduling optimisation. AI algorithms also analyse different data amounts, including resource availability, cost constraints, and project timelines, to generate optimised resource allocations and schedules that minimise cost overruns and delays.
Companies such as IBM and Oracle provide AI-powered solutions for project management. These solutions use machine learning algorithms to handle and optimise building projects. In addition, these solutions can recommend corrective actions, give real-time insights, and identify potential challenges, enabling project managers to make informed decisions.
4. Improving Inventory Management
Construction automation transforms inventory management abilities. Companies may use software solutions to track supplies or order more when necessary. They may stay within budget and streamline construction operations with a good setup.
Better inventory management makes it much easier for employees to complete projects without challenges. If your construction team requires a new construction machine part, automated systems will help acquire one soon.
5. Enhancing Workers’ Safety
Safety is crucial in the construction machinery industry, where employees deal with potentially hazardous processes and heavy and large components.
For instance, robots may handle very dangerous tasks, like working at extreme temperatures, exposure to dangerous substances, and heavy lifting. In addition, automation enables human employees to concentrate on control and supervision instead of physical labour.
6. Supporting Sustainability
The building sector emits about 38% of emissions globally. However, construction robots help with sustainability efforts in this industry. These robots will minimise the environmental effects of construction projects by minimising waste and optimising material consumption.
In addition, robots improve energy efficiency by carrying out construction projects with less rework and greater precision, cutting down the required resources. For instance, in 3D printing, robots produce recycled or eco-friendly materials required for constructing structures that contribute to a lower carbon footprint.
7. Increasing Cost Savings
Apart from increasing efficiency and reducing waste, automation reduces the importance of multiple machine operators. This, in turn, saves on labour expenses.
Construction automation systems significantly drive innovation in the sector, and technological developments continue to expand. Here are several examples of automation revolutionising the construction machinery industry:
- Autonomous construction machinery is growing in popularity as it can perform projects more consistently and quickly than humans. In addition, since they work independently, autonomous construction machines work 24/7 without time off or requiring rest periods.
- Telematics: This technology is changing the industry. For instance, telematics devices use technological advancements in wireless communication to gather data from machines, such as usage statistics, engine performance, and location. We can use this information to enhance performance scheduling, reduce downtime, and optimise the management of fleets.
- AR technology: Augmented reality (AR) technology is changing how machinery operators interact with different construction machines. Through AR, operators may receive feedback on their progress, perform projects more precisely/accurately, and identify every area requiring more focus.
In conclusion, as the construction machinery sector continues to develop and face many new challenges, the need for automation becomes more crucial. Although it might take longer to overcome those challenges and even realise the automation benefits in construction, the potential for reduced waste, improved safety, and increased productivity makes it an invaluable investment for this industry’s future.