The time is ripe for contractors to integrate construction technologies into their multifamily residential projects. If the contractor isn’t convinced there’s a strong need for construction technology, then they need to know that property management companies expect construction companies to incorporate construction technology or Contech into their projects. Clients expect full transparency into the project and construction technology makes it happen.
Commercial projects already rely heavily on property technology also known as proptech. Therefore, the size and scale of multifamily residential community projects demand the industry adopt construction technology. Contractors who don’t invest in construction technology could quickly fall behind and lose opportunities.
Companies involved in multifamily community projects find constructional technology eases project management, provides an accurate visualization of the project, and increases the safety of the project. These visualization tools can identify and correct prospective problems early before breaking ground.
Construction already lags behind most industries in terms of adopting technology as confirmed in a McKinsey and Company report. Construction companies looking to remain competitive while addressing the labor shortage find that construction technology can help overcome these challenges.
Construction Technology for Visualizing Multifamily Properties
Two key technologies can provide a visualization of a new multifamily property. They’re transforming the construction landscape for multifamily residential projects.
Business information modeling (BIM)
One is business information modeling (BIM). This renders digital versions of the multifamily property project. BIM combines 3D modeling, data, and collaboration tools to create real-time visualization of a completed project before breaking ground.
Multifamily projects involve the complex coordination of multiple disciplines. Thus, an advantage of BIM is the improvement of collaboration and communication among stakeholders including architects, engineers, and construction leaders.
The tool can visualize everything including construction, plumbing, access control management, HVAC systems, and security systems. This helps stakeholders clearly visualize the space relationships, materials, and building systems. Leaders use the model for automated clash detection to find potential conflicts in the design early. It saves time and reduces costly on-site errors.
BIM streamlines workflows, cuts waste, and shortens project timelines. Architects can make changes on the fly and instantly update the visual model. The project team can make better decisions during each phase of the project.
BIM facilitates accurate cost estimation and better budget control throughout the project. It can track the quantity and quality of materials needed. This is key in managing costs in large-scale multifamily residential projects.
3D printing
While BIM can visualize every aspect of a multifamily residential property, nothing beats a physical model that you can touch. This is becoming easier and less expensive to do as 3D printers become more affordable.
This method lowers construction costs by reducing the amount of waste material, minimizing labor requirements, and reducing the time investments associated with traditional building methods.
Speaking of less waste, 3D printing is a more sustainable method of construction. Additionally, materials used in 3D printing can consist of recycled materials and other eco-friendly options. This helps projects achieve sustainability goals.
3D printing also helps facilitate collaboration and communication with stakeholders. They may not have the ability to understand digital models. A physical model overcomes that.
A project can undergo high levels of customization without additional costs. This is useful for multifamily residential projects where differentiation between units can be realized without significant design and manufacturing constraints.
While 3D printing can do a miniature model of the whole building, it can handle components and entire sections of buildings. The company would print them off-site and assemble the components on-site. As a result, it saves a lot of construction time and control costs.
By integrating BIM and 3D printing, construction companies working on multifamily residential projects can enhance their operational efficiencies as well as the quality and sustainability of their constructions. These innovative technologies can lead to smarter, faster, and more cost-effective building solutions.
Construction Technology for Monitoring Multifamily Projects
Construction sites are filled with all kinds of activities. Workers operate large equipment and small equipment. People move materials on foot or in vehicles. Managers observe the entire scene.
To simplify tracking people, construction companies use apps that integrate video cameras. Video cameras are like multipurpose pocketknives as they can do many important things. Leaders can monitor the jobsite from their devices to check progress, quality, and safety.
They can also set up the cameras to take photos at set times and post them in the cloud that everyone can access. Some technologies can associate the images with construction drawings to give stakeholders a real-time overview of the project and how much more work is left to do.
Cameras can track materials, equipment, and large equipment. They help make sure all the assets are in the right place while maintaining a safe construction site. It’s possible to find areas of improvement as the high-level views may spot better ways of organizing the construction site.
A well-organized construction site can deliver these benefits:
- Reduces barriers and safety hazards.
- Keeps foot and vehicle traffic separate.
- Shortens distances for moving material.
- Prevents duplicate handling of materials and chemicals.
- Ensures materials are in the best places to optimize storage and safety.
Most importantly, video surveillance with remote monitoring services can watch over the jobsite and save all videos as recordings. Trained monitoring operators work with artificial intelligence to constantly scan the project site for problems and report them.
The reason artificial intelligence must be part of the video surveillance package is that monitoring all the cameras 24/7 is a tedious task. Advanced technology won’t often miss anything. It contains thousands of scenarios to monitor and can alert the human monitoring operator whenever there’s a match.
Trained monitoring operators know how to respond to any given scenario. Because they’re located away from the jobsite, they don’t worry about their lives being at risk. This allows them to calmly address problems as needed. They may issue a verbal warning over a speaker, call the police, or contact the project manager.
Like robots and automation, artificial intelligence manages the demanding part of monitoring while humans make the decisions on how to respond to problems.
Why Construction Technology Is Essential in Multifamily Projects
The rising costs of materials and labor shortage have led to many delays and cost overruns on multifamily residential construction projects. Part of the problem is due to ineffective planning, scheduling, and execution. Technology can streamline these processes to cut costs and achieve project deadlines.
Adopting technology always comes with initial costs. Nonetheless, the long-term savings can be substantial. Business information modeling, 3D printing, video cameras, monitoring, and advanced project management apps avert the costs associated with labor and material waste. When a contractor invests in construction technology, it has the potential to experience major productivity gains.
How to Select Construction Technology
Where do contractors and construction companies start in their search for construction technology that makes sense from a strategic perspective? Here are some things to look for in researching construction technology.
Project or business requirements
Assess the needs and requirements of the business or project. Don’t select construction technology for the sake of it. While most companies can use a project management app, some may need a more powerful option like BIM.
Some BIM apps incorporate project management and other components. When it comes to things like security, the company may need a separate solution that can be integrated with monitoring services and other components.
Return on investment (ROI)
How much will it cost to implement the technology? Do the math to determine the potential ROI for the construction technology. How long will it take for cost savings and efficiency gains to recover the investment? Verify the technology aligns with your budget, sustainability, and financial goals.
User-friendliness
Very few apps and technologies have a zero-learning curve. There will almost always be a learning curve depending on the technology and services. Look for technology that’s user-friendly and easy for employees to adopt.
For the technology to succeed, employees must undergo training to learn how to use it for their roles. This also helps reduce resistance to using the new construction technology.
Not all construction technology involves a learning curve or training. For example, a security partner can manage the installation and monitoring of the cameras. Employees won’t have to worry about that. The security partner sends regular reports to the company to keep them apprised of updates.
Scalability
Can construction technology scale up or down as needed? This is important for companies planning to use the technology on multiple projects or work on projects that vary in size.
Data security
Construction projects often contain sensitive data, such as budget, financing, client information, and plans. Ask the vendor about data security and cybersecurity measures.
Compatibility
Will the construction technology work with existing systems and processes? Adding new technology should not create new problems or disrupt projects.
Industry standards
Check to see if the technology conforms with industry standards and regulations. Complying with standards increases the quality and safety of the multifamily residential project.
Time to Adopt Construction Technology
Technology is ushering the construction industry into a new era of safety, efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. These innovations revolutionize the way multifamily residential projects are planned, designed, and executed.
If you’d like to learn about video surveillance’s role in construction, check out the construction security and safety best practices guide. Contact us with your questions.
