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The construction industry is constantly seeking ways to deliver high-quality products on time and under budget while remaining competitive in the market. Technology is one way to contribute to that goal.

Technology is impacting the construction industry like never before. Today, new technologies in construction are being developed at a breakneck pace. What seemed like future tech 10, 20 years ago like connected equipment and tools, telematics, mobile apps, autonomous heavy equipment, drones, robots, augmented and virtual reality, and 3D printed buildings are here and being deployed and used on job sites across the world.

Emerging construction technology isn't just a fad or a fun new toy. There are real, practical applications and benefits to modernizing current construction processes. Construction companies want to remain competitive and not be left behind, they are finding ways to integrate new approaches into their strategy and workflows. Technology has made construction sites safer and workers more efficient. It has allowed companies to increase productivity, improve collaboration, and tackle more complex projects.

These cutting-edge technologies in construction are drastically changing how the industry operates and how future projects will be performed. Some top 20 technologies which are revamping the construction industry and taking it to next level are discussed here. 

GPS technology plays an essential and ever-increasing role in the construction and mining sectors. The technology has become critical to improving the productivity, efficiency, and safety of construction and mining job sites. GPS technology connects the worksite, providing accurate and often real-time geospatial information for surveying, estimating, engineering design, site preparation, controlling construction equipment such as excavators, bulldozers and graders, and much more. GPS-based solutions enable streamlined workflows, eliminate costly rework, and improve profitability across all phases of the construction life cycle.

Telematics has quickly evolved into a robust business management approach that has helped contractors reduce costs, `lean' operations, and ultimately gain a competitive advantage. Construction site management no longer requires bosses and supervisors to actually be on-site. Through the use of telematics, workers and equipment can be monitored for efficiency, deterioration, and construction safety.

Telematics systems combine GPS technology, on-board diagnostics, and monitoring sensors to track, log, and report data via cellular networks on the performance and operation of the construction equipment. Data from telematics systems are typically accessed through a web portal and can provide data on a number of machine systems that can help equipment owners to improve equipment utilization and asset allocation, optimize preventive maintenance schedules, reduce fuel consumption, create accurate job bids, and much more. Equipment manufacturers are installing telematics systems as standard equipment on an increasing number of their product offerings each year.

Construction automation has been described as the use of mechanical and electronic means in construction to achieve automatic operation or control to reduce potential exposure, time, or effort while maintaining or improving quality.

The scope of construction automation is wide and involves the entire construction stages for instance production of construction material, prefabrication of construction components, on-site construction, operation and maintenance of buildings, and demolition and recycling of structures.

Automation of construction addresses various and serious issues related to construction, for example, low quality of the final product, shortages of skilled labor, the safety of labor, poor weather condition, and short construction period which nowadays are features of the project.

The internet of things (or IoT) is a network of physical devices that are embedded with sensors and network connectivity to allow those objects to connect and exchange data. The data received is collated and analyzed to inform future decisions. In construction, the internet of things is being used in many ways, such as remote operation and monitoring, supply replenishment, construction tool tracking, and equipment servicing and repair. In the future, it could impact how all buildings and infrastructure are constructed, leading to more efficient and responsive cities. This will also improve the environment, impacting everyone's quality of life.

Construction software is an invaluable tool for any construction enterprise which is on the verge to grow with its business terms. Construction software is being rapidly adopted in construction industries owing to its tremendous benefits that are benefitting in positive aspects.

There is software for everything from accounting and expense tracking, fleeting product tracking, field service, and project management. With all the advancements in the construction industry, it's essential that any construction software has a mobile platform to document things. Using construction software that has a mobile app allows workers to create field notes, documentation, and more. The software has the added advantage of allowing project information, planning, coordination, and control over the various tasks involved in multiple construction projects. Also, the management can view new and original documents to the project, can check for approval on change orders, and much more.

Construction software facilitates the enhancement of operational efficiency and reduction of costs. It enables effective management of the labor force while reducing the documentations.

Construction firms are now using data to make better decisions, increase productivity, improve Jobsite safety, and reduce risks. With artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems, firms can turn the mountains of data they have collected over the years on projects to predict future outcomes on projects and gain a competitive advantage when estimating and bidding on construction projects.

AI and machine learning in construction is going to become a linchpin for collating and analyzing multiple streams of data from an integrated digital workflow. Properly trained AI can categorize data faster than a human operator, cutting the time needed to get the clearest picture of issues on a job site.

Autonomous and semi-autonomous construction equipment is the future and it will lead to safer job sites with the work being done more efficiently and accurately than today. The operators might be standing at a safe distance operating the machine remotely. Maybe the equipment is operating itself while someone monitors the work from the job site trailer or even back at the office 50 miles away. 

These machines use sensors, drones, and GPS to navigate the construction site and conduct site work based on 3D models of the terrain to accurately excavate and grade the site. Augmented GPS, a combination of onsite base stations and satellites, can be used to geofence the site and allow autonomous equipment to move around the site with precision accuracy.

Perhaps the most widely adopted of all new technologies are mobile devices. With their easy-to-use apps, they allow workers to access, document, share and edit important project information even while on the job site. Heavy-duty devices made specifically for fieldwork feature rugged construction, screens that are better lit for viewing in bright daylight or poor weather conditions, and industry-specific components such as barcode scanners and radio-frequency identification readers (both of which can help track shipments, equipment, and materials).

Mobile technology can help to save time and keep the project moving forward faster by providing real-time updates and making information available between the job site and the office. Today there are software and mobile solutions to help manage every aspect of a construction project. From preconstruction to scheduling, from project management and field reporting to managing the back office, there's a software solution out there to help streamline construction processes and improve productivity.

Safety training and equipment operator training are two areas where virtual reality (VR) could have a strong impact on the construction industry. With VR, workers could get exposure to environments such as confined spaces or working at height in a safe, controlled environment.

Many of the problems found in the construction industry are directly correlated with the inability of field personnel, designers, architects, and engineers to truly experience a project before it is built. Virtual Reality can solve this problem. 3D modeling and BIM programs, which have impacted the field of project modeling, can now be adapted to VR tools to visualize a fully virtual representation of an idea in a new dimension at a relatively low cost.

Augmented reality, or AR for short, is one of the most talked-about technology trends in construction. Using the advanced camera and sensor technology, AR combines one's physical surroundings with computer-generated information and presents it in real-time. While the technology has been used in video games for years, this “augmented” experience is recently making waves in construction, offering immense opportunities to improve the project lifecycle.

As technology continues to mature and become adopted, augmented reality in construction will become an invaluable tool and has the potential to change the future of the building.

With the ability to provide real-time information, augmented reality is being used within the industry to increase efficiency, improve safety, streamline collaboration, manage costs, and overall boost project confidence.

Drones are being used on construction sites to help in assessing job progress, surveying, mapping, and gathering information about areas of the project that might be difficult for a human to access. Drones are also particularly helpful in keeping a construction site safe from theft.

The high-quality information collected by drones can give users the opportunity to view a site in real-time as it progresses, to better manage resources and keep projects on schedule. Additionally, drone technology will give those in the industry the ability to view a project without having to step foot on site.

Drones could soon be as commonly seen on construction sites as trucks and excavators, thanks to the many ways they can be used to help workers better monitor and capture the construction of a project from inception to completion. The applications for drone usage in the construction industry are endless, and more and more, the industry is discovering the many ways the technology can be used to reduce expenses, save time, and prevent safety hazards.

In construction technology, robots are gaining in popularity. From the bricklaying robots to the 3D concrete printing robots, there is a drive to build the next great thing. These robots do repetitive motions that after a while hurt human workers, or they work as aids. The MULE (Material Unit Lift Enhancer) helps workers load and place heavy material. This robot doesn't replace but supplements human laborers. And by using a MULE, it saves workers the repetitive injury strain they face.

The construction industry has tremendous potential for wearable devices, such as smart glasses and hardhats that can provide visualization, augmented, and mixed reality. These visualization tools can provide improvements in accuracy, efficiency, and safety. Other wearables, such as technology-enhanced safety vests, smartwatches, and health trackers, are being utilized to monitor workers' emotions and movements to enhance safety, increase productivity, and reduce risk.

Construction wearables are being outfitted with biometrics and environmental sensors, GPS and location trackers, Wi-Fi, voltage detectors, and other sensors to monitor workers' movements, repetitive motions, posture, and slips and falls. Geofencing allows the site or safety supervisors to establish restricted or hazardous areas that will alert workers with a combination of alarms and lights that they have entered an area that is off-limits.

Smart clothing, or e-textiles, that can monitor vital signs like respiration rate, skin temperature, and heart rate will also make their way to the construction site. These wearables will be able to monitor a worker's posture, track movements, determine if they are suffering from fatigue and whether they are intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics. Keeping a watchful eye on workers can help predict an accident before it occurs.

Exoskeletons are wearable devices that work in tandem with the user. They are placed on the user's body and act as amplifiers that augment, reinforce, or restore human performance.

Construction workers are more likely to have a work-related musculoskeletal disorder than all industries combined. Exoskeletons make construction workers Iron Man. Well, not completely, but close. They come in two different forms: power assist and unpowered.  Power assist use sensors and motors to help construction personnel lift heavier objects and work longer than they could have without. The unpowered exoskeletons improve posture and use counterweights to redistribute weight. They take the strain off the body and help workers maintain a healthier body while completing strenuous work.

Helping to protect workers from manual handling injuries and the risk of hand-arm vibration, these mechanical suits that “augment” with human operatives can also deliver considerable gains in productivity.

Computer-aided design has been present in the construction industry for ages, but it has become more powerful and efficient with the technology advancements.

This program permits construction works to begin even though the design isn't finished completely, allowing fast-track projects. Besides, it enhances performance and procurement systems, making it possible to address all potential issues before the actual work starts. That way, there's a reduced risk of mistakes which means you'll stick to the budget and schedule.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a process that incorporates digital representations of buildings in 3D models to facilitate better collaboration among all stakeholders on a project. This can lead to better design and construction of buildings.

Changes to the BIM model occur in real-time, so any changes or updates to the model are instantly communicated to all team members when they access the model. Everyone is working with the most up-to-date information at all times. Because the schedule can be simulated, a visual representation of the construction process allows team members to plan out each phase of construction.

Building information models are files that can be extracted, exchanged, or networked to support decision-making regarding a building or other built asset. The use of BIM goes beyond the planning and design phase of the project, extending throughout the building life cycle, supporting processes including cost management, construction management, project management, and facility operation.

Building information modeling uses historical data as well as future predictions to improve construction projects, gain insight into on-site conditions, and allocate resources as necessary. Not only does this result in job sites that are far more productive, safer, and efficient than those of the past, but BIM also aligns with the recent growth seen in building prefabrication.

Adopting the latest technology in the construction industry can make future buildings last longer while reducing the impact of surroundings. And, 3D printing is one of the most exciting innovative technology of the era that can help building contracting companies to reduce the amount of material waste and increase construction work speed. Some construction companies are using 3D printing construction materials for their small design and build projects, while others top companies are testing the 3D printing of the whole building structures.

Construction materials such as plastics, composites, and extruded concrete can now be made easily via 3D printing. In addition to the cost-benefit of 3D printing your own materials, 3D printing also allows for creating more durable materials. Intricate design elements can also be achieved using 3D printing capabilities. Traditional methods of creating these intricate design elements, usually by hand, can often be time-consuming and costly.

Big data is creating significant changes in the construction industry. It is key to improving productivity, aiding with risk management, and maximizing ROI.

Construction projects create a lot of data. In the past, much of that data was unstructured and siloed. Data was collected, often on paper, and filed away once a project was completed. That's been changing over the past several years as construction companies are realizing the benefits and insights that big data, predictive analytics, and real-time data sharing can unlock.

As technology has changed, construction companies are capturing more data than ever before through smartphones, drones, wearables, job site sensors, telematics, and GPS systems on heavy equipment and other mobile solutions. All of this extra data being captured and recorded can become overwhelming as firms try and find ways to structure and analyze this data in order to make actionable decisions to improve their bottom line.

Construction firms are now using data to make better decisions, increase productivity, improve Jobsite safety, and reduce risks. As construction projects become more complex, big data may soon become the most important tool at a construction company's disposal.

The world of green technology solutions within the construction industry is fast improving, and countless definitions exist regarding what green technology is as well as its related benefits. Simply put, green technology in the construction industry involves producing new buildings that incorporate one or more aspects of environmentally friendly solutions. Building green has raised the bar for the housing industry in its entirety by establishing new standards for liveability and sustainability.

Modular and pre-fabrication (prefab) construction is a method used to construct a building in a factory environment using the same materials and design laws that would be used in a traditional construction environment. The building is created in separate modules in a factory and then transported to the site for assembly. Once the modules are in place and sealed they become the integrated walls, floors, and roof.

Due to each module being engineered separately rather than all on-site together, modular and prefab construction is generally stronger than conventional building methods.

This method of construction is highly sustainable and efficient without compromising on sophisticated design. It also eliminates around 80% of the site location activity such as a reduction in site disruption, vehicle traffic, and safety and security risks. This is particularly beneficial for locations in busy, built-up areas such as schools, hospitals, shopping centers, and city centers where the level of risk is much higher due to more people.

Building off-site also reduces waste due to workers only using the exact amount of materials needed to create the modules for the build. This, along with improved quality management, significantly increases the level of sustainability throughout the construction process