5 Ways 2018 Technology is Improving Civil Engineering

There is a revolution in civil engineering happening, due in part to 2018 technology.

From drones to innovative construction materials, be on the lookout for how technology will influence, impact, and improve the civil engineering industry in 2018.

Continue reading for more.

2018 Technology: Photovoltaics

There is growing interest in environmental sustainability in the US and the civil engineering industry is following suit.

Many of the new technologies introduced to the industry will focus on renewable energy and reducing environmental impacts.

The perfect example of this is photovoltaic glazing. Building incorporated photovoltaic (BIPV) coating can help structures produce their own power by essentially turning the building into a solar panel. Additionally, there is photovoltaic glass which also turns light into electricity.

The use of BIPV coating and other photovoltaics will reduce the energy consumption of heating, cooling, and lighting a structure.

Modular Buildings

Modular buildings, also known as prefabricated buildings, have become increasingly popular and will continue to be an important 2018 technology.

In modular buildings, each section, or module, of the building is constructed off-site, typically on assembly lines. Module construction can take a minimum of 10 days but usually takes one to three months to complete.

The buildings are completed 60% to 90% before transportation. Once transported to the building site, the pieces are assembled by a crane.

The modules can be placed side-to-side, end-to-end, or stacked, allowing for a wide variety of configurations. Placement of the modules can take a few hours to several days.

Their popularity is attributed to its many advantages.

They are cost-effective, as nearly all the design and engineering aspects are addressed during the manufacturing process. They also reduce waste and are easier to construct than traditional buildings.

Materials and Metamaterials

The materials used in construction have also seen technological advancements.

Metamaterials are now available for use. These synthetic materials have been designed to have a specific set of properties due to their molecular makeup. With their versatility, engineers have the freedom to design more innovative projects than before.

One of the more popular metamaterials is graphene.

Graphene is 200 times stronger than steel but incredibly flexible and ultralight. It is the thinnest material in the world at 1 million times thinner than a human hair. It is also the most conductive material in the world and was the world’s first 2D material.

It can be made to have many properties under different conditions. There is so much potential for using graphene in construction and other industries with an almost limitless range of uses.

Self-cooling bricks have also been developed from a combination of clay and hydrogel. The hydrogel absorbs water and when the water is released, it reduces the temperature.

Light generating cement is another example of 2018 technology. The creation of the cement has made an impactful move towards more energy efficient structures.

3D Printing

Three-dimensional printing, or additive manufacturing, builds 3D objects by printing them layer by layer.

This allows individuals and companies to create prototypes, models, and products out of various materials, such as plastic and metal. The latest models are even capable of combining multiple materials to make one object.

3D printing also promises to lower costs to organizations in a variety of ways.

The construction industry could see much innovation with the implementation of 3D technology. Large structural or even entire buildings will soon be printed. There is even a company attempting to 3D print a bridge.

NASA also sees 3D printing as an opportunity to construct accommodations and infrastructure.

The engineering sectors of various other industries, such as the automotive and healthcare industries, are set to be revolutionized by 3D printing. 3D printing will allow for faster development. Soon there will be a chance for large components or even entire cars to be 3D printed.

In healthcare, 3D printing can be used for tissue and organ fabrication and customized prosthetics.

Much of the 3D printing done in the healthcare industry is used for visualization. Doctors can use the data from CT scans to print scale models of what they will be operating on.

Drones in 2018

The civil engineering industry, long dependent on manpower, will be heavily impacted by the development and constant innovation of drones.

Observation

From farming to real estate, drones provide invaluable help by providing views of inaccessible or hard to navigate places.

Thanks to drones, engineering teams will now have access to overhead perspectives and 360-degree panoramic views. The information from drones can be uploaded online to a cloud server where teams can share the views virtually and with anyone who may be apart of the project.

Surveying

In the area of surveying, drones can be equipped with sensors that measure, store, and relay data. The drones can be controlled remotely, thus eliminating risk to on-the-ground surveyors or air personnel.

GPS (global positioning system) has led the way to greater interest in global information systems (GIS). GIS is a system designed to capture, store, and analyze many types of geological data.

GIS professionals are responsible for identifying property boundaries and subdividing land as well as producing topographic and hydrographic maps. GIS will be important to the future of surveying.

In response to the growing interest and importance, a leader in GIS named Esri created an app which streamlines the creation of detailed maps from drone-captured still imagery for visualization and analysis. The data is held in a cloud-based GIS thus making it easily accessible.

Cost

Implementing drones and using the 2018 technology to map projects will be hugely cost-effective. The use of drones also has to potential to reduce labor while increasing productivity.

Surveyors will be able to work on many projects at the same time while having a more qualitative dataset at their fingertips.

Take Advantage of Innovation

2018 is looking like it will be a great year for technological innovation in civil engineering.

If you are looking for help on your project, contact us at ILSI Engineering. We offer services comprehensive service across civil and structural engineering in wastewater management, sewer system and planning, and program management.

ILSI engineers are licensed and certified and dedicated to delivering exceptional results on any project.