Abstract
Innovation is the outcome of the application of imagination, information, along the initiative of extracting different values from resources, and consists of all processes through which newer ideas are generated and transformed into utility products. In the field of construction, innovative ideas such as virtual reality, cloud computing, BIM, and robotic automation have changed the trends. Innovative uses of the VR technology are being discovered by some advanced, futuristic organizations, which include the use of VR for undertaking site-safety training, for site safety, as well as for operating heavy machinery. Cloud-based or web-based services refer to virtual servers that enable users to access stored data and complete software packages through any Internet-connected device. Construction software could take data and organize it, and with the help of the cloud, make the organized data points accessible to all. The primary objective of using BIM is to better visualize a facility and empower the untrained but critical stakeholders, as well as decision-makers. The visualization aspect of BIM helps form a representation of the facility or facility elements. Robots would be extensively used to assist human workers at construction sites. The drones not only give a bird's-eye view of the site but also provide progress reports and real-time updates on any changes required to be made.
Introduction
Innovation may be defined as the translation of an idea or concept into a good or service, thereby creating a value proposition for which customers are willing to pay. To be considered an innovation, an idea has to be replicable and that too at an economical cost, satisfying a specific need. Innovation is the outcome of the application of imagination, information, along the initiative of extracting different values from resources, and consists of all processes through which newer ideas are generated and transformed into utility products. In business parlance, innovation is the outcome of ideas being applied by the firm in order to meet customer expectations. Newer materials, design approaches, advancements in digital technology have led to o plethora of innovations within the construction industry. (Arditi et al., 1997) This paper intends to explore the recent innovative concepts applied to the UK construction industry.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality is the in-demand technology presently, and is of immense use in the construction industry, which has been plagued by a considerable amount of inefficiencies as well as low profit margins. With the help of a virtual environment, an organisation is not only able to render the resulting structure in 3D but experience it too, as they normally would in reality.
Virtual reality is an artificial, computer-created simulation or re-creation of a real environment. As shown in Figure 1, it enables the user to feel as if he were experiencing the simulation first-hand, owing to his vision and hearing being stimulated. (Steuer, 1992) The application of virtual reality in the construction industry is an innovative subject, as it provides a super-immersive experience for users. Thus, Virtual reality proves to be a significantly versatile tool in the field of construction and is applied in multiple areas.
The most popular usage of the VR applications is the 3D walk-through that is used to sell property – the majority of the estate agents provide this facility for general residential as well as commercial sales and rentals. Moreover, this 3D VR modeling helps in pitching to clients to win architectural projects. (Whyte, 2003)
Innovative uses of the VR technology are being discovered by some advanced, futuristic organizations, which include the use of VR for undertaking site-safety training, for site safety, as well as for operating heavy machinery. The hazards regarding the site can easily be communicated to the operatives as well as the visitors, ensuring safety, thereby reducing the probability of accidents on-site. (Leinonen and Kähkönen, 2000)
There are several benefits to building a construction project in a virtual environment. Probably the most obvious benefit is the ability to test various factors without the wastage of time and cost of building the structure, thereby reducing the number of errors in the completion of the building.
Cloud Computing and Mobile Technology
Cloud-based or web-based services refer to virtual servers that enable users to access stored data and complete software packages through any Internet-connected device. (Dinh et al., 2011) The construction industry requires the balancing of back-office functions along with the physical presence required on the job site or at the client’s place. Present-day technology solution-providers need to serve the users in both work settings. Thus, the trending discussion is to make mission-critical business applications available remotely. Remote access would enable staff to work from any location without the restriction of being based at a specific physical location. In view of the extent of consolidation, decentralization of offices, travel-based positions, as well as project-work being done in different locations across the country or even internationally, providing robust remote-access technology to employees is crucial for the success of a construction company. For several organizations, meeting this challenge requires transferring some of their applications to the cloud. Construction software could take data and organize it, and with the help of the cloud, make the organized data points accessible to all. With the help of this information, contractors are able to convert random data into smooth work processes and enhance project workflows. Transfer of data to the cloud implies an increase in data capacity without investing in additional infrastructure. This could be further expanded to permit mobile device connections. (Beach et al., 2013)
Though mobile technology has been in existence for quite some time, the use of cloud computing in mobiles has ushered in a “new mobility” which has transformed the way construction teams work, helping them work better through greater coordination, whether in the office, on the field, or with another company. (Rawai et al., 2013) Contractors can take project information “out to the jobsite with mobile devices as well as apply a host of applications on these mobile devices.” Construction companies are now able to report from the field, along with doing other activities such as project management, scheduling, punch-lists, as well as time-tracking tasks. This is clearly visible in the upsurge use of mobile technology in the construction industry. (Venkatraman and Yoong, 2009) With pace and mobility being the key factors in the dynamic business world, business management solutions are expected to gear up accordingly to support the highly mobile workforce of the construction industry, not only for the present-day requirements but also for the future.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Several contractors as well as professional teams are making use of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in order to provide a virtual walk-through of the construction project, as well as enable owners in managing ongoing maintenance. Building Information Modeling (BIM) may be defined as “the act of creating an electronic model of a facility for visualization, engineering analysis, conflict analysis, code criteria checking, cost engineering, as-built product, budgeting, and many other purposes.” (Holness, 2006)
BIM monitors the real-time performance data of facility elements as well as facility activities. It helps monitor the productivity of a construction process and provides dynamic real-time data to assist decision-making (Khosrowshahi and Arayici, 2012). It also helps in determining locations and placement of facility elements, be it the placement of the hangers to support piping during the construction phase, or the placement of furniture systems during the operations phase.
The primary objective of using BIM is to better visualize a facility and empower the untrained but critical stakeholders, as well as decision-makers. As shown in Figure 2, the visualization aspect of BIM helps form a representation of the facility or facility elements (Eadie et al., 2013). The visualization could be realistic and very detailed in nature, and helps support decision-making with respect to the facility's design or construction, and is used to assist marketing efforts in the form of walkthroughs, renderings, as well as schedule visualizations. BIM facilitates the integrated design approach, which ensures coordination right from the initialization of the design process by inherently front-loading the process and involving the various parties since the inception (Azhar, 2011).
Robotic Automation
Modern-day advancement in the construction industry has helped analyze the significance of timely progress, productivity, safety, quality, as well as the availability of skilled labor for profitable and successful construction. The construction phase is of utmost importance among the various phases of structure formation, starting from site survey to completion, as the quality of the project relies heavily on it. Recently, a Japanese construction equipment manufacturer recommended substituting labor with automated machines or robots as a countermeasure to the problem of labor shortage.
Construction work is labor-intensive, done in dangerous situations, with frequent changes in work content as well as materials. Future construction sites would look very different from what we are used to seeing today. Men sporting high-visibility jackets and hard hats would be replaced by buzzing drones, robotic bulldozers, and 3D printers (Gambao and Balaguer, 2002).
Robots would be extensively used to assist human workers at construction sites. The drones not only give a bird's-eye view (figure 4) of the site but also provide progress reports and real-time updates on any changes required to be made. (Wakefield, 2016) The Skycatch drones, as shown in Figure 3, invented by Japanese construction machinery giant Komatsu, can work as the vision for automated bulldozers. The drones capture 3D images of the construction site and send them to a computer, which then sends these images to automated machines to plan their course.
Conclusion
To conclude, Innovation is the outcome of the application of imagination, information, along the initiative of extracting different values from resources, and consists of all processes through which newer ideas are generated and transformed into utility products. In the field of construction, innovative ideas such as virtual reality, cloud computing, BIM, and robotic automation have changed the trends. Innovative uses of the VR technology are being discovered by some advanced, futuristic organizations, which include the use of VR for undertaking site-safety training, for site safety, as well as for operating heavy machinery. Cloud-based or web-based services refer to virtual servers that enable users to access stored data and complete software packages through any Internet-connected device. Construction software could take data and organize it, and with the help of the cloud, make the organized data points accessible to all. The primary objective of using BIM is to better visualize a facility and empower the untrained but critical stakeholders, as well as decision-makers. The visualization aspect of BIM helps form a representation of the facility or facility elements. Robots would be extensively used to assist human workers at construction sites. The drones not only give a bird's-eye view of the site but also provide progress reports and real-time updates on any changes required to be made.
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