Green construction . There is an immense push to adopt materials and technologies with lower carbon footprints .
channels , and passages , and it is now available commercially . Topmix permeable . This is a cement alternative that can absorb 4,000 litres of water a minute . It is in the early-adoption stage . Aerogel . This super-transparent , superinsulating material is 99.98 % air ; it is available commercially . Nanomaterials . These super-strong , ultralightweight materials may eventually be a substitute for steel reinforcement in structures and foundations , though they are still in the research stage .
WISEMBLY – DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ISN ’ T JUST ABOUT BIM
Although the benefits of Building Information Modelling ( BIM ) are huge , it ’ s not the be-all and end-all of digital innovation . Going digital means adding digital touches to everything that could be improved or optimised . From managing people , to tracking customer relationships , tech can help . But changing the way people work can be difficult . To deal with potential internal brakes , the first step should be to start digital construction from the inside ; revolutionising processes stepby step and using technology to help your team work to their full potential . You ’ ll be surprised how quickly you can create value and revenue this way . According to a cross-industry report from Oxford Economics for Virgin Media Business , the construction industry has the most to gain from digitisation . Their study revealed that companies that had fully embraced digital technology had grown their revenue by 5.9 %, and were optimistic about growing it even more . Fully embracing digital technology also means digitising processes .
Make the most of smart phones Smart phones are key to digitisation . You ’ ve got one , your colleagues have them and , most importantly , your employees have them too . Employers fork out a lot for the most up-to-date phones for their team , so it makes sense to use them to their full potential .
Mobile technology can transform the dayto-day workings of a business . Imagine being able to go to a site and give a customer an estimate there and then . There is an app for that . Imagine not having to trawl through pages and pages of timesheets and being able to see it all on your computer with a single click . There is an app for that . Imagine not having to visit different sites to see what progress has been made on your various projects . There is an app for that . There are thousands of apps that have been designed specifically for the construction industry just sitting there waiting to be used , and employees would be able to easily pick up how to use them .
77