We can’t deny how dangerous the construction industry can be. Even with the improvements being made in safety regulations and training for the past few years, experts are still concerned with the number of fatalities that occur every year.
There’s a lot of injuries on the job site, which contributes to more significant insurance, as well as ridiculous administrative costs. Not just that, even the progress of the project, as well as the productivity of workers are affected as well.
In the construction industry, there’s just one common goal each owner wants to achieve– that is, to ensure the safety of workers. Fortunately, with the latest advancements in technology, this is becoming more and easier.
There’s plenty of new innovative products known for improving the safety of daily operations. To give you a better idea, we’re going to discuss some of the technologies that bring the construction industry to the next level.’
1. Drones
Drones are used in several industries, and they are pretty useful in the construction site. They could gather real-time data regarding job progress, and this dramatically reduces the need for workers to be always present at the job site.
There are also larger drones used to move heavy materials and to ensure that workers are always protected and away from harm. Basically, it could perform dangerous tasks that might be too dangerous for human workers. Through this, no lives will be put at risk anymore.
2. Smart Devices And Apps
There are hundreds of ways on how intelligent devices could improve not only contractor safety but efficiency as well. This could also have a positive impact on real-time decision making.
One great example of this would be mobile devices that rely on computer vision, sensors, and image processing to come up with 3D models that could be shared with other users like project managers, and most importantly, with the whole team. That also means lesser time would be needed to take measurements, and workers won’t have to worry about going to hazardous job sites anymore.
When virtual designs have been developed, this has opened doors for modeling software that could be designed to come up with highly detailed, 3D maps as well as plans for the job site before construction.
Through this, team members would be able to determine possible problems and ensure that the safety of workers would be guaranteed. Interesting construction cones and connected apps allow the real-time collection of data necessary for managing quality, as well as job site safety.
Furthermore, there are also firms that came up with the anti-collision software system that works well in monitoring the position, as well as the movement, weight, inertia, and other factors in the construction site. This data can be used and viewed through mobile devices, and there are also sensors that you can attach to on-site workers to get more insights.
3. Smart Wearables
DAQRI has been developing plenty of wearable technologies, and one of which is the intelligent helmet that used 4D augmented reality to get information related to safety.
Smart wearables, such as intelligent goggles, watches, and more, can be connected to intelligent construction trafficsigns, and they could definitely improve construction safety.
That’s not all, some companies are also developing intelligent helmets that use 4D augmented reality to capture and share information all over the job site.
There’s a transparent visor that functions as a heads-up display that exhibits work instructions, and it’s something that could be seen through the helmet to see how a job is being executed.
Final Words
After all, it has been said and done, it’s still essential that workers won’t end up being too dependent on these technological innovations in the field, but learn how to use them effectively.
Keep in mind, if you really want to overcome the issue of miscommunication, and improper planning, it’s still essential for the whole team to interact with each other, and share relevant information whenever necessary.
Apps and devices are just there to serve as a guide, and an additional tool that makes the work easier. Though, it doesn’t mean that it will do everything for you.
In the construction industry, proper training, discipline, and the capability to adapt without complete dependency are just some of the most crucial aspects to ensure success in safety programs through the use of technology.
