A bullseye for construction: Eliminating error and rework with cutting-edge tech
By David Mitchell
Errors and rework remain an acute headache within US construction, especially for critical infrastructure projects, particularly from a waste/carbon perspective. Recent estimates put the cost of rework at around 5 percent of total project costs , and also suggest it accounts for more than 30 percent of all work on site . It’s a situation that requires urgent pain relief. The recent Infrastructure Bill has ushered in a wave of mega infrastructure, including nine nationally significant projects. Whilst this is all well and good, it comes at a time when labor shortages are escalating, construction costs are rising, and the climate crisis is heating up. It’s squeezing margins tighter than ever before. This means contractors cannot afford to waste a single resource, especially through wholly avoidable rework. With hundreds of billions of dollars at stake and Net Zero emission goals on the line, it’s an issue we can’t ignore. To try and combat these issues, many leaders are turning to digital technologies to drive up quality, accuracy, and efficiency, making on- site operations slicker, safer and smarter. For example, recent advances in cutting-edge innovations like digital twins, Computer Vision (CV), and Engineering Grade Augmented RealityTM are changing the game, offering new ways to manage projects, build with greater accuracy and ultimately reduce costs and waste on even the most complex projects. They are gradually making errors and reworking a problem of the past. The question is, how much of an impact are these technologies having in the drive to reduce errors, and can the industry survive without them?
Digital design Since the introduction of Building Information Modelling (BIM), construction has drawn more and more on Computer Aided Designs (CAD). In fact, a recent Dodge Construction Network report found that BIM is now used by around 80 percent of civil engineers. As part of this new digital normal, project teams can now also lean on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and increasingly advanced IoT-enabled hardware to view and interact with 3D design models like never before. This uptick in digital adoption is supercharging modern construction methods and creating a new breed of surveyors and engineers that are supported by the accuracy software and digitally-enabled hardware provides. Taking human error out of the equation is a critical step in eliminating rework. Sticking to the plan Digital technology is also improving construction efficiency by syncing up project management workflows with digital models. For instance, computer Vision is automating quality control, realigning construction with designs by identifying defects and eliminating human error in real time. Meanwhile, digital twins can peer into the future and predict errors by simulating scenarios using highly accurate 3D models and structure replicas. Backed by AI-enhanced sensors, these living, breathing design assets mold to reflect real-world changes and autonomously update.
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csengineermag.com
JULY 2023
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