Modern technology and building construction

Blueprintless drawings

Electronic drawings replace hundreds of paper blueprints and can be updated instantly as work progresses. Work orders and changes are issued via secure Internet connections, and soon mobile devices will show work plans to guide crews in the field.

3-D construction

Planners “build” a virtual building in three-dimensional form, showing “clashes” between features of the building so they can be fixed before construction starts, saving money and time. As work progresses, crews can check alignments against the 3-D building before problems multiply. Subcontractors fabricate fixtures off-site to exact specifications, then quickly install them.

GPS in the dirt

Architects and engineers use global positioning systems to gauge heights and depths of excavations. Operators have GPS sensors on the blades of earth-moving equipment and follow the computerized contours rather than manual layouts with stakes.

Robot shooting

Using a robotic station, an engineer marks places for walls, ductwork, holes to be drilled and other features, “shooting” hundreds of locations based on the computer-aided design, faster and with improved accuracy.

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