Tool in Action
Every February the U.S. celebrates National Engineers Weeks to honor the great minds and professionals that improve the world through innovative technology. This year’s National Engineers Weeks runs from February 16-22. We are celebrating by sharing three new inspiring technologies that impact our trade professionals.
The new tech on the rise in 2025 will leave you with your jaw hanging and wondering what can we possibly do next?
“Real Life Lego” — 3D-printed building blocks pave way for faster and cheaper infrastructure
Hurricane Helene and the LA fires are just two natural disasters that completely decimated and displaced whole communities on opposite ends of the U.S. and only within four months of each other. With over 200,000 people without homes on top of a national housing shortage, the need for quick and affordable shelter and housing is more obvious than ever. Thankfully, researchers from the University of Nevada are developing 3D-printed modular building blocks to quickly develop buildings and bridges.
Currently, this project is being used to develop emergency bridges and naval bases in combat zones for the U.S. Army, with plans to shift to disaster relief. If all goes well, these 3D-printed construction materials offer many potential benefits to the housing market.
Potential benefits:
- Easy, modular builds may not require construction specialization, making them accessible to the general public.
- Faster construction times.
- Potential to decrease the cost of overall construction materials.
- Bricks can potentially be made from recycled plastics.
Learn more about this emerging 2025 technology from Construction Drive.
Advanced AI software, drones, and robots become our construction assistants
“Machine learning” has been around since the 1950’s when a 5-ton IBM was able to differentiate between multiple kinds of timecards. However, that first milestone looks primitive compared to modern artificial intelligence (AI) that can develop portraits, whole instruction manuals, and even assemble recipes based on the leftovers in your fridge. Now AI has made its way to the jobsite in multiple ways.
Power tools are now integrated with AI to help manage tools and worker permissions, and can even “sense” potential dangers like kickback and deploy auto-shutoff to improve worker safety. Drones are used to monitor jobsites and access conditions while keeping humans safely planted on the ground. AI-enhanced cybersecurity software is constantly checking for and adapting to beat new malware and phishing attacks.
This new era of AI signals an entire transformation for trade workers and the construction industry. However, science fiction has always warned us to be wary of “robot uprisings”, plus there is the very human concern of how AI can impact jobs.
So…should workers be worried?
Not at all…or at least not today. Current AI is only programmed with a narrowly focused mind. Not only does this prevent you from needing to worry about your power drill attacking you, it’s also why AI tools and software will continue to assist management and workers, and work to keep jobsites safer. Humans are still needed for their ingenuity which will always be valued on every jobsite.
More advanced construction and crew management software to manage projects and keep workers safe
Construction sites are constantly moving and changing, and large construction projects utilize multiple trade specialties all at once. With so many moving parts crews need a strong system to keep projects on track without jeopardizing worker safety. Procore construction management software wants to provide exactly. Its latest software provides construction crews with the following services:
- Real-time project management
- Budget and expense tracking
- Document storage and sharing
- Communication from jobsite to other departments, like Human Resources, Financial, Equipment, and more
- Maintain online and offline services
- Crew and equipment scheduling
- AI-driven data services
To implement this technology expect less paper and more smart devices on jobsites to help this technology take effect and boost productivity all-around.
Learn more about Procure Management Software from Construction Drive.
Predictions for the tools of tomorrow
AI is certainly transforming the modern jobsite and it’s only going to continue evolve. However, I think the impact will move onto consumers. As the technology develops and becomes more accessible consumers could potentially have more user-friendly tools as well. While there will always be a need for engineers and trade workers, this technology will create more consumer products. Such as how Lego-like 3D-printed building blocks can become the next era of home, garage, landscape/hardscape, or even tiny house construction.
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