Erik Brogan, a professional in the Minnesota construction industry, unveils the transformative trends poised to redefine its future. In the following article, Erik Brogan delves into the dynamic realms of technology, sustainability, and innovation, offering a compelling vision of what lies ahead.

The construction industry, with its rich potential for positive change, has historically faced challenges. From sustainable building materials to innovative practices, there’s a bright future ahead that promises environmentally conscious and safe infrastructure development.

Erik Brogan delves into the impressive and highly anticipated construction innovations.

Erik Brogan of Minnesota on Sustainability in the Construction Industry

Concerned about climate change?

These days, many companies use sustainable materials, energy-efficient machinery, and recyclable materials. Some of the eco-friendly solutions that the Environmental Protection Agency recommends include:

• Using less water and energy when operating on buildings.
• Recycling materials instead of chopping down trees for construction.
• Proper disposal of waste materials.
• Minimizing transportation use for material deliveries. Or,
• Using energy-efficient vehicles to deliver construction materials.

Moreover, construction companies also use improved structures to withstand storms, snowstorms, and other effects of climate change.

More Stable and Long-Lasting Infrastructures

Erik Brogan says that according to Climate Change Adaptation, the erratic weather caused by the climate crisis can contribute to building collapses.

The strong winds and heavy snowfall?

Eventually, the structures will weaken due to such storms. However, many construction companies install impact-resistant and water-resistant materials.

Furthermore, they are building new and improved structures with the help of technology.

Reshaping the Industry with the Help of Technology

Erik Brogan explains that installing new roofs, building new bridges, and constructing new homes require a team of engineers, architects, and contractors. They calculate how much these structures can withstand the weather or the weight of the vehicles on the bridge.
However, errors in calculations can cause structural disasters.

But with the help of technology’s automation and accurate calculations, technological advancements eliminate human errors.

Some technologies that the construction industry are starting to utilize and anticipate are:

3D Printing

Using 3D printing in the construction industry can minimize waste – as 3D printers can accurately calculate and produce how much material needs to be used and printed. Erik Brogan of Minnesota additionally notes that 3D printing produces materials faster, which saves time and effort.

However, other types of technology can aid in construction efficiency and reliability.

Robotics

Construction robots are on the rise.

Why?

Because construction robots can do the following:

• Independent off-site operations (milling, timber, welding, etc.).
• On-site operations (aiding in automated constructions – such as groundwork and bricklaying).
• Use drones that inspect construction errors and collect data.
• Transport materials via self-driving vehicles.
• Prevent on-site constructors from safety and health hazards by replacing them with robotic assistants.

But on-site operators aren’t the only ones benefiting from these technological innovations.

Augmented Reality

Erik Brogan explains that before any infrastructure is built, the civil engineering team and architects plan the building first. They often think:

• Can the road withstand heavy truckloads?
• Will the wooden flooring on the balcony warp when it rains or snows?
• Can the project be done in 2 months?

Fortunately, Augmented Reality (AR) can help them with the design and construction process.

AR helps construction professionals visualize their construction plans better – as it can simulate the buildings, providing a virtual environment. By using an AR headset, they can walk around and navigate their designed structures.

Furthermore, simulating the structures via Augmented Reality reduces errors – no more redoing the walls as the material isn’t stable or reconstructing the bricks as one is placed the wrong way; through AR, architects can visualize the structure beforehand.

Erik Brogan of Minnesota also remarks that architects and engineers also base their designs on outside factors.

BIM (Building Information Modeling)

Planning and designing homes is easy for architects and engineers.

But why does it take so long to construct it when there’s already a design?

Architects and civil engineers consider the outside factors.

•  Is the soil prone to erosion? Then it will be inadvisable to live in a riverside cottage – as flash floods can easily wipe out the home.
• Do storms occur often? Then the house should have hurricane-grade windows.

With the help of Building Information Modeling (BIM), it can also assist professionals in accurately and efficiently planning construction projects.

Erik Brogan notes that BMI objects can collect geographic information, as well as provide geometric and parametric building information – which also helps them visualize the building and its materials better.

Once they’re done with their project, the architect and engineering team can feel more at ease.

Because they know they built a structure that’s long-lasting and accurately planned, designed, and constructed – all thanks to modern-day technological innovations that the whole construction industry should follow.

Conclusion

Erik Brogan says that the construction industry is massively improving. Many of them now use sustainable materials. But they also utilize advanced technology – as it helps them efficiently build more stable structures.

And with technology rapidly evolving, we can anticipate that the construction industry will utilize these innovations in no time.