5 Technology Innovations to Watch For
Whether you’re out in the field or working from home, you’ve probably noticed the recent boom in digital innovation. There are hundreds of new ways to complete tasks—sometimes by simply signaling that it needs to be done. Here are five of the coolest recent tech innovations, in no particular order. Check out this article by Big Rentz to learn more about each one.
- Drones
Construction drones “monitor worksites for equipment malfunctions and security breaches, can perform topographical mapping surveys for roughly 1/20th the standard cost, and have increased safety by 55 percent by performing dangerous tasks like making hard-to-reach measurements.”
According to ConstructionDive, contractors are using construction drones to “record images and videos that help optimize everything from grading plans and operations to identifying differences between as-designed and as-built site plans.” In addition, drones can be fitted with cameras, mapping tools, and GPS technology.
- Connected Hardhats
Japanese company Shimabun recently released an upgrade kit that can be used to “outfit standard hardhats with a range of advanced safety capabilities.” These are made to be worn on the construction site and do so much more than protect your head from falling debris: they can also communicate.
NetworkWorld also mentions the Michigan-based company GuardHat Inc., which gathers and “continuously transmit[s] data to a safety control center.” It is also fitted with a camera and microphone, and it can sense the presence of dangers such as carbon monoxide and nearby moving machinery.
- Smart Infrastructure
Within smart infrastructure, structural monitoring systems “monitor the strengths and weaknesses of a given structure that are invisible to the human eye.”
Siemens describes the benefits of smart infrastructure and mentions that it “intelligently connects energy systems, buildings and industries to adapt and evolve the way we live and work.” It includes both physical and virtual products and can support a more sustainable development.
- Virtual and Augmented Reality
Where virtual reality (VR) is a “strictly digital experience, augmented reality [AR] is the application of VR technology in real-world scenarios.”
Forbes mentions that AR “overlays digital information on the real world,” and VR does indeed completely immerse a user into a computer-generated reality. Think of a videogame like Pokémon Go, in which a game map is laid out over a real-time map. That’s AR, and the headset that makes you see and hear a different reality is VR. Both have become increasingly popular, especially in recent years.
- BIM Software
Building Information Modeling (BIM) allows “the construction manager to create an intelligent 3D model of the project and generates smart workflows around it.” This allows for a simpler, more streamlined process when it comes to constructing and designing a building. Instead of going into a project slightly blind, a manager is able to refer to that model to double- and triple-check their calculations.
The BIM 360 Resource Guide by Applied Software mentions that BIM 360 software is used for “collaboration on construction projects using the building information modeling (BIM) process. Collaboration involves organizations working together to resolve issues and deliver successful projects.”
This recent boom in digital innovation is sure to touch your work processes more than once in the coming weeks and months. To investigate the hundreds of new ways you can complete tasks, contact Applied Software today and talk to an industry expert about your individual needs.
