Civil engineering is the pioneer of the construction industry worldwide. Since its inception, this engineering has focused on man-made construction solutions, like manual labor, handmade blueprints and elevation designs, human masonry, and concrete construction requiring tireless human effort.

Human labor has faced scorching weather conditions for many decades, risking their lives and health to develop infrastructures for mankind. Civil engineering today works on the pillars of economic feasibility, building aesthetics, safety, and environmental impact. These areas of concern can be better addressed if construction is assisted with technology.

However, as every other industry is focused on emerging with IT assimilation, civil engineering lags. As per statistics, nearly 40% of worldwide construction companies have instilled or are planning to instill IT infrastructure in their operations, while the rest 60 % continue to work with traditional construction methods.

This percentage is meager because nations thrive only when their infrastructures are strong and infrastructures in turn rely solely on national and international construction projects.

Hence the need of the hour is IT-assisted operations in civil engineering around the globe. Some of the ways IT can help civil engineering make groundbreaking progress are described below.

1. 3D Printing

Through 3D printing, realistic models and prototypes of buildings and construction projects can be made adequately. It is the construction of a 3-dimensional object using a CAD model, filled or infused with certain materials that are deposited, joined, and solidified. This is done through computer control, which adds material layer by layer. Through 3D printing, architectural building models are made realistic to the point that sometimes entire buildings, small homes, staircases, balconies, and bridges can be built through the right 3D technology and printers.

2. Building Information Modeling

BIM is the virtual understanding of a construction project lifecycle through apt predictability of its structure, design, layout, and visuals. It also enables engineers to digitally explore alternative elevations for an infrastructure, in case the original model or plan fails the feasibility at any stage of the project execution phase.

This modeling ensures the stakeholders that projects shall be delivered on time and that no time or resource wastage shall be experienced on any end. All such analysis is done through specialized data mining and AI tools with precision and accuracy.

In simple words, BIM is the shift of 2D blueprints to 3D visuals which are easy to understand due to realistic imaging and detailed representation of requirements. BIM models can include multidimensional information from materials, procurement, geospatial or logistical point of view.

3. Green Construction Material

Today, many construction giants have installed green construction materials in their projects which not only look aesthetically peaceful but have thermal and environmental benefits too. With the atmosphere depleting at a speedy rate, engineers and architects want to build eco-conscious homes and buildings to provide longevity and environmental stability together.

Similarly, eco-friendly materials like bamboo, cork, mycelium, and precast concrete, all through the latest technologies are integrated within infrastructures to reduce heat and cold, minimize temperature effects, reduce CO2 emissions, etc. Construction materials like steel and concrete are recycled instead of dumping waste in the sea leading to lesser pollution and a more stable environment.

4. Disaster Management

One of the most crucial aspects of construction that civil engineers have to probe into, forecast accurately, and plan accordingly is disaster management.

Through AI-assisted tools, digital twinning of job sites is made through collected visual data, followed by predictions of potential threats through volumetric measurements of the frequency of natural disasters e.g. earthquakes and floods, etc. Similarly satellite imaging is used to assess how feasible a site is for construction keeping in view records of natural disasters.

5. Preservation of Assets

Perhaps the most important usage of IT in construction is the check and balance of costly assets, which are not easily purchased or replaced.

Today, many companies shifting to digital operations have successfully installed or outsourced such helpful services as construction equipment management software, which keeps track of construction equipment’s conditions, purchase, repair, license renewal lease dates, duration, etc. It indicates when the equipment needs replacement or when the license expires in case the equipment is on lease.

Through such software, the company is free of the hassle of keeping track of construction equipment and its details.

6. Sensors and IoT Devices

In this era of uncertainty and inflation, site inspections are a must, but due to high costs and time consumption, IT integration in such operations is no less than a blessing. Through sensors operating on IoT devices, materials can be monitored effectively, especially concrete for high buildings can be assessed regularly to see if it needs repair or replacement.

 Similarly, potential leakages and dangers of falling can be adequately predicted by placing sensors checking for vibrations in construction sites such as bridges, stairs, and roofs.

7. Integration of Robotics

Construction is not just risky but also time-consuming. In traditional civil engineering methods, the project life cycle is lengthy and tedious, with a chance of resource wastage due to multiple uncertainties during the project management phases.

Today, to shorten construction time and minimize human errors, robotics are being integrated into construction operations, e.g. in bricklaying and masonry, many buildings are now built through robotic arms and machinery. This integration might take time for construction companies, because robotics, when instilled in operations, require different types of planning, design, and execution.

8. Usage of Drones

Instead of lengthy site inspections, time-consuming decision-making processes, and meetings among stakeholders taking days to come to a conclusion for implementation, today survey drones are used to get bird’s-eye views of sites. These drones help in making quick decisions about construction, feasibility, and durability over the next period.

 The drone takes 3d pictures of sites and through reliable AI-based calculations, suggests alternate sites with better elevations. The greatest advantage of drones is that they can reach far-flung complicated sites where labor cannot go easily without precautions.

Conclusion

To conclude, it can be said with assurance that technology assimilation in civil engineering can do wonders if done through carefully planned strategies and ample resourcing. Though it would take time to overcome the rigidity of conventional construction companies to adopt tech-friendly operations, still this paradigm shift is worth it.

Companies who have already been through these integrations are far ahead in project management and execution, as well as earning profits, than companies who are still working otherwise.

Further Reading:

Mastering the Art of Time Management in Construction: Tools and Tips for the Modern Manager

Salesforce Service Cloud consultant exam guide with tips and resources