The rising emphasis on energy efficiency, carbon neutral buildings, and low-environmental impact has not only become a trend in the AECO industry for a few years now, but it has also become a top priority in many construction firms. Streamlining their processes and increasing compliance to sustainability guidelines presents opportunities for both cost-saving and improving investment prospects.
Embracing construction sustainability is crucial to the future of the industry. This is apparent in how sustainability reporting requirements for companies across industries continue to expand rapidly. A 2021 report revealed that over 50% of firms reported climate-related risks and opportunities.
However, there are also economic opportunities with complying to evolving environmental standards. According to a study, the sustainability sector will continue its trajectory from $10.32 billion market value in 2020 to reach $74.64 billion by 2030. If construction companies want to keep up with this accelerated expansion, they will need to implement a circular economy that reduces waste and maximizes reusability.
Increasingly, as AECO companies turn to cutting-edge technologies that help to simp lify their efforts, understanding the value of sustainability and the benefits of construction technology is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the industry.
Leading-edge construction technologies aiding sustainability compliance
With technologies increasingly utilized by AECO firms to create a sustainable foundation for construction projects, adopting them early will help your team stand out as frontrunners in sustainable construction, potentially improving investment prospects down the line.
Three such technologies are revolutionizing the AECO industry, providing construction companies with various environmental advantages.
1. 360° Photo Documentation
Many firms experience errors on-site which inevitably lead to rework, which can severely impact a project’s budget, schedule, and overall productivity. Such errors can be prevented by adopting a productive construction progress management technology.
Using a 360° reality capture tool such as HoloBuilder, your team can plan pre-bid and progress walk-throughs ahead of time to ensure that all photo documentation needed is captured in the field with as few people as possible. Any discrepancies are indicated before proceeding to the next stage, . Using a proper solution can ensure sustainability by avoiding costly mistakes and rework, which contributes to reducing wastage of materials significantly.
2. Cloud-Based Single Source of Truth Platforms
Fluid communication and collaboration that improve productivity and efficiency are at the core of any sustainable construction project.
Traditional forms of documentation, such as loose papers containing measurement data, often get misplaced among a stack of documents. Not only does this cause miscommunication and misalignment of information within the team, but the frequent usage of paper is also detrimental to the environment, where paper accounts for 26% of total waste at landfills.
Hence, utilizing a digital single source of truth platform is critical to prevent siloed data and enhance the ability to share accurate documentation. A cloud-based solution like Sphere Viewer not only eliminates paper and reduces the amount of waste but also accelerates the overall workflow of the project, where all information can be viewed and shared in one place.
By centralizing data, construction workflows improve, naturally reducing environmental impact.
3. LiDAR 3D Scanning for Site Measurement
For architects, general contractors and MEP professionals who want to deliver higher quality projects in less time, mobile LiDAR 3D scanning makes it much quicker and easier to document as-built conditions.
With inch-level accuracy, a mobile LiDAR 3D scanning app can measure site captures, providing a fuller understanding of the site. Teams can then reduce the amount of waste generated on-site by taking construction offsite with prefabrication. LiDAR 3D scanning gives you the confidence you need to build in the most efficient way possible. Quality assurance of a site can also be provided with easy-to-use measurement, sharing, and exporting tools within an app like SiteScape, all through a compatible iOS device.
Conclusion
Sustainable construction starts with implementing simple solutions that reduce waste and optimize the workflows of each construction process. Through innovative tools such as FARO’s suite of software, construction teams can become more environmentally friendly in their approach, all while improving their operations and reducing expenses.
