Achieving engineering success in a challenging climate in 2022

The construction industry is currently in a period of transformation, as a result of the developments of new technology and more companies embracing this change to coordinate their activity. COVID-19 has also had a major effect on the construction sector globally with many projects impacted by social distancing, health and safety measures, and limits on the number of people allowed on site. Many countries such as India have taken the opportunity to accelerate digital adoption and create a more efficient workplace.

At AtkinsRéalis, we’re well-positioned as engineering experts to respond to the improvements and changes in the industry. We’re passionate about providing solutions to our clients in various sectors. We partner with clients globally to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. Below, we explore how construction companies are adapting to different challenges as well as life after the pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on construction

The COVID-19 pandemic plunged many construction and engineering companies into a major crisis. Construction has always been a crucial part of the global economy, as the sector provides infrastructure, homes as well as employment. According to research, construction output experienced a record fall of 16.3% fall in 2020, after the record high of 2019 as the pandemic shook the industry. Therefore, the construction sector has multiple new challenges to tackle, including labour shortages.

However, even before the pandemic hit, the construction sector was already experiencing a shortage of talent, as a result of the growth in projects and ageing workers. Then there are the issues around safety and ensuring construction professionals are not spreading COVID-19 on the project site. Fortunately, there’s a range of opportunities that construction companies can take to improve workflows and efficiency.

Tacking the challenges in the current climate

Firstly, safety briefings and induction programs can be delivered to on-site workers, to help them protect themselves against workplace risks. There’s also a range of technologies that can be utilised on a construction site, such as smart badges and drone technology. While smart badges have been around for a while, they have improved over time as they can track specific areas of a new job site and gain knowledge of how many people are thereby understanding their movements. These smart badges will send out an alert to reinforce social distancing when workers get too close to one another.

Drone technology works similarly by offering remote site monitoring to ensure workers are maintaining safe distances. The rise of drones and camera technology in construction has been an exciting development, as it allows employees to work remotely and still have access to on-site projects. Creating a strong link between the office and offsite is one of the most significant ways to tackle construction and improve productivity. It’s important that construction companies focus on the latest technology to transform infrastructures and deliver greater performance.

What’s the future of construction?

The construction sector is set for an exciting future due to the level of change and technological advancements. The pandemic has no doubt paved the way for a number of key trends that will reshape construction in to becoming more resilient. This includes further emphasis on green construction to help create a more sustainable future, as buildings are still responsible for 40% of global energy consumption. As a result of the disruption caused by the pandemic, there will no doubt be more emphasis on technological efficiency, with more companies taking advantage of big data, AI and machine learning. The main challenge now is widespread adoption and accelerating opportunities within construction, as well as helping companies become more agile. However, with the right level of collaboration and technologies, the construction sector can achieve great success in a challenging climate.

Take your construction career to the next level with AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis is a market leader in the built environment. We work on projects globally and have some of the best civil engineering professionals who are committed to uplifting communities and driving success. We take pride in our high-performance culture and provide lots of opportunities for professionals to make an impact at our company. We also have strong knowledge and expertise in various roles, including engineering jobs, engineering careers, and civilengineering jobs. If you’re interested in finding out more about our roles, then join our talentcommunity and sign up for job alerts today.

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