- The continued adoption of technology
in the field of construction
really expands the career paths in the AEC industry,
and even opens up new ones.
Let's take a look.
- My name is Joshua Marriott.
I've been in the construction industry for about 20 years.
I started leaning a little bit more towards the technology
side of things.
So I merged into our VDC, our BIM department.
I started working on 3D modeling design, coordination.
Working with the architects, engineers, owners,
internal project teams.
Then I started getting into
more of the R&D side of things.
The field solutions.
The newer technologies that are kind of arising
within the construction industry.
In the last couple of years
I've been working on setting up that type of department
within a large general contractor.
The things in the field solutions arena
that I've been working on, include drones, UAVs.
The processes and procedures that go along with that.
The data that we're able to collect out of
out of the imagery that we're able to get from a UAV.
As well as point clouds
that we're able to use laser scanners
and different types of camera systems.
Also a lot of 360 photography.
Working on artificial intelligence, robotics.
Using photography and data
that you're able to collect
with different means and methods.
And be able to use computer software to pull data
and extract data.
Monitor projects, construction progress.
Monitor safety.
Be able to identify and count items.
Quantification through artificial intelligence.
More and more of the GCs are hiring animation specialists
to help with that enhanced visualization.
Being able to kind of see that project in, you know,
actually like a moving format
rather than, you know,
just stills of what the project.
Taking a still shot of a model
that's overlaid with some imagery.
With the technology we have now
you're able to actually see that moving.
You're able to kind of navigate around the site.
One of the coolest things that I've seen recently
is being able to fly the site with a drone
and basically bring that model,
bring a 3D model into that video of the drone flight.
And being able to kind of fly around,
you know, a building that's not even there.
Not even existing at this point.
And actually being able to kind of see video.
Live video of what's going to, you know,
going to be there at the end of the project.
The utility grade solar projects we're working on.
We're actually implementing machine automation
to where I can create in 3D, in the comfort of my office.
Upload points to a machine and the machine's driving itself.
The operator on site is literally has a stop button.
And the only thing he's doing
is basically following the machine.
Making sure the machine's not running anybody over.
But the machine's driving itself to the proper location,
it's installing equipment at the proper location.
We're seeing more and more of that.
Automation within drones,
basically point layout with drones.
Or, you know, ground-based drones or aerial based drones.
Being able to basically install points in the ground.
One of the things on like a utility grade solar site
is you have tens of thousands of points in the ground
marking locations where a post is going to go.
And, you know, the typical method
or the historical method is to have a survey team
go out there and mark all these points on the ground.
We're seeing,
UAVs that are able to fly to these locations.
Land within, you know, centimeter-level accuracy,
put a pin in the ground.
Marking a location for a machine to come follow later.
Or just for material laydown.
Be able to lay material
at the location so that the automated machines
that are going to install that equipment
have the material they're waiting for 'em.
We're seeing robots basically do layout.
You're able to,
set up this rover more or less
with data from the three dimensional model,
and let it run overnight.
And come out in the morning and have points on the ground
where you're going to be installing work for the day.
You're always going to need the human element.
You're always going to need,
a thinking person
kind of planning this stuff out.
Thinking about schedule,
monitoring the equipment
on a busy job site.
I think that you're creating a safer environment
because you're taking people out of the equation.
You're taking people out of potentially harmful,
harmful areas of construction.
And you're putting machines in place
but you're always going to have to have a human
behind that machine.
Helping it operate or supporting it in its operation.
- As the AEC industry continues to adopt technology
at an accelerated pace,
the opportunities will continue to expand
for careers in construction that have a need for people
who understand digital workflows
and advanced technological solutions.