Embracing transformation
Kevin Smith, Regional Director, Hexagon Geosystems UK
EMBRACING transformation in the rapidly developing construction industry is crucial for future success. The construction industry has changed over time, here at Leica Geosystems, we are working to ensure construction surveying is focused on the digital revolution. We know that companies investing in digital transformation are more successful and outperform their competition over time. However, with new methods and technology, come new regulations, concerns, costs and risks.
The geospatial opportunities of tomorrow
The geospatial industry is continually evolving and the future of geospatial technology is filled with several exciting opportunities on the horizon. Emerging technologies are designed to provide more detailed and real-time data for applications in urban planning and infrastructure. One notable example already in play within the industry is autonomy, which is set to become a driving force in revolutionising construction workflows.
If we look at how laser scanning technology has evolved over recent years, surveyors have moved into an era where data collection and sharing is faster, smarter and more intuitive than ever before. As the technology becomes more accessible, businesses will be able to better leverage the data they collect to inform their decision-making. Data capture will be fluid and the results will be seamless and easy to obtain. Automation will play a larger role in the processing of data and the analysis of the results.
Cloud-based solutions will allow businesses to instantly access their data from anywhere in the world, enabling them to collaborate more effectively. All these advancements can result in greater efficiency and cost savings and open new market opportunities. Staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies in the field is the key to success in the geospatial industry of tomorrow.
The digital transformation takes hold
The word on everybody’s lips in the construction sector is digitalisation. From sharing information in real-time to digital twin replicas of physical structures, as well as predicting technical lifespans, monitoring structures after completion, and accurate location data.The word on everybody’s lips in the construction sector is digitalisation. From sharing information in real-time to digital twin replicas of physical structures, as well as predicting technical lifespans, monitoring structures after completion and accurate location data.
These developments slash margins of error and by digitising the project process, the knowledge gained cannot lost in the minds of those involved and can be accessed at any time, from anywhere.
The construction industry is poised for revolutionisation, all the way up the supply chain, thanks to the tech innovation underway.
Here are some examples of emerging technology:
- Connected workspace
Data is presented in a unified format on one single dashboard. This empowers those in the construction industry to make informed decisions based on live insights and readily available, in-depth and accurate data analysis. - iCON and QR codes
The integration of QR codes has streamlined construction projects. The iCON tablet scans a QR code and finds the element in the project’s 3D model, bringing up the setting out positions for it on site. If you’re already connected to your instrument and positioned on-grid, you can get the instrument to automatically turn to where the element needs to be installed. You can also assign the QR code to a list of setting out points in a table. When that table is printed to PDF and sent to the site, you can scan the QR code to import all the data, instead of manually typing each point. - Remote laser scanning
Customers adopting laser scanning technology experience a fully remote online platform with seamless integration between different systems and cloud-based data storage solutions. It simplifies processes, saving businesses time and reducing the need for expensive processing hardware and data storage. - Ground penetrating radar, artificial intelligence and virtual reality
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is another geospatial technology gaining popularity, as it can detect buried objects and structures. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and virtual reality (VR) is becoming more widespread in the survey industry, ultimately automating the process of data collection and analysis and allowing for accurate predictive maintenance.
AI can detect anomalies and trends in data sets, while ML can automate the process of data collection, analysis and interpretation. VR can create immersive environments to simulate and visualise data.
Addressing challenges and elevating construction
Most organisations are under heavy pressure with budgets, schedules and the demand for increasingly complex problem-solving. As technology unfolds its potential and creates a data-driven landscape, the challenge lies in harnessing and interpreting the massive quantities of information at hand.
Modern construction methods are bringing about new regulations for companies to follow, mostly regarding cyber risks and privacy concerns. Required skill sets will change, as we expect to see industry professionals flipping toward data management and security and away from manual data collection. Hardware will be increasingly mobile, with flight-based, handheld and portable or autonomous devices becoming the norm.
Off-site tools offer solutions for the social and environmental challenges associated with traditional survey methods. For example, with digitalisation, the lack of qualified personnel is much less of a threat to the industry, as automation and off-site management reduce the need for a staff presence on-site.
Sustainability at scale
Addressing sustainability isn’t just a trend, businesses have a critical role to play in the fight against climate change and the transition to digital ways of working presents a tremendous opportunity for innovation, commercial success and social progress.
As the construction industry evolves, innovative thinking can contribute to shaping a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient future for the construction industry.
Minimising our ecological footprint while delivering innovative solutions is vital to us at Leica Geosystems; we are determined to be carbon-neutral in our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and all our direct suppliers will be subject to sustainability audits by 2023. In mid-February 2023, we also launched R-evolution, a business venture focused on reinventing how the industry addresses complex environmental challenges.
Within R-evolution we have a renewable energy project portfolio, which focuses on digitalising solar production and aims to reduce carbon emissions by ramping up renewable energy efficiencies and output. The acquisition of a 40-hectare site (equivalent to 60 football fields) in Archidona, Spain, marks R-evolution’s initial plans to digitalise solar energy production.
Our role in the construction industry of tomorrow
With a growing emphasis on faster, more efficient construction methods, prefab and modular construction will be a key influence. To thrive in this space we need to stay adaptable to evolving technologies and methodologies. Working together toward a digital construction industry, the possibilities for data acquisition, management and analysis are set to be ground-breaking. As the construction industry evolves, innovative thinking can contribute to shaping a more sustainable, efficient and resilient future for the construction industry.
As technology continues to rewrite the rulebook of construction, we’re ready to guide and even help shape, this evolution, setting the stage for a construction industry like never before.
Kevin Smith, Regional Director, Hexagon Geosystems UK