Over the past two semesters as part of the BC 2014 & 2024 courses, I have been visiting multiple construction sites and making observations about the construction practices being employed on these sites. I have then posted back on these observations here on this blog. There are many new things I have learned by visiting these sites and in turn I have received a good idea about the direction the construction industry is heading in over the next decade.
At the beginning of the semester as part of our first assignment we were asked to make a prediction of what changes would occur in the construction industry and then apply these predictions to our site observations. Over the past fourteen weeks I have come to the conclusion that my prediction of the construction industry heading in a technologically advanced direction, was correct. Technology has allowed us to become more green and sustainable, saving time and labor in areas that otherwise causing inefficiencies.
On just about every site I visited I noticed workers and contractors holding cameras and taking pictures of the work being done. This observation fell under my prediction that in the near future, all work done on sites would be digitally documented in order to keep accurate records of what work was performed and how it was performed. Although structural drawings may show one thing, contractors may not always perform the work exactly how it is drawn. It is not rare for contractors to make small changes to plans if they happen to run into problems. By taking pictures of the site and making digital reports, these reports can then be referenced in the future if need be. This leads me to believe that it is very possible that in ten years, tablet PC's can be used to fully document the work which is performed on job sites and allow for up to date changes to be made to drawings directly from the job site.
To prove that the industry is heading in the sustainable direction, I took a look at some of the Virginia Tech construction sites. I noticed that by using precast concrete panels on many of these sites, the contractor was able to reduce the amount of Hokie Stone used; which requires a lot of labor to install; and at the same time provide quality work. Precast panels also ensure that the components were made to the best quality possible. Off site manufactured components are made in factories where concrete can be mixed and poured in controlled environment's increasing the quality of the concrete and overall craftsman ship. Problems with concrete often arise when it is either too humid, cold/hot, or if it is raining out. Precast and modular units used in construction will also allow buildings to be erected quicker because less on site labor will be involved meaning labor costs and overalls of the project will go down. Just one precast panel, used on the Undergraduate Admissions and Visitors Building, can be installed in just under 20 minutes and provide a large square footage of exterior veneer to a structure.
In the future, as the economy beings to rebound and construction beings to pick up, resources such as alloys and plastics will begin to become scarce. With this scarcity in resources, it will become important for the materials being used in construction to be of partially recycled materials. By using recycled materials, the cost of products will remain low. Energy sources will also begin to become scarce, and for this reason it will be important to create more energy efficient buildings. This can be done by using more energy efficient construction methods, such as precast and modular units, as well as better insulated structures.
Over the course of the semester there has been one overlying theme that I could not avoid mentioning. I have noticed a theme of preventing water infiltration into structures. There are few things which can deteriorate a structure quicker than water. Water helps mold to grow, weaken wood, and cause metal to rust. To help us understand the problems associated with water infiltration, every lecture in class seemed in some way to incorporate some way to prevent water infiltration which in my opinion was very important. The importance of flashing and weep holes when using veneer walls is one method I have noticed being employed on the sites around the Virginia Tech campus because the buildings all have the Hokie Stone veneer. I also found the spray on tar, and plastic and vinyl sheathing used on the foundation walls of the bank to be a great way to prevent water infiltration.
The past two semesters have given me great insight into how the construction industry works and the direction it is heading in. By visiting real construction sites in person and not just reading a text book, I have learned a lot and received great insight into the technological and sustainable direction the construction industry is heading in.
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