Technology has transformed the world of surveying, but what does the future of measured building surveys look like? Since the pandemic, both individual businesses and general industries have had to adapt, and technology has accelerated those changes considerably. From innovative technologies to big data management, here are some of the leading trends and predictions connected to the future of measured building surveys.
Intelligent BIM systems
Building Information Modelling, or BIM, is an intelligent system which supports construction professionals, providing data capture for more effective planning, designing and modifying of buildings. BIM technology develops 3D models and document management for better coordination throughout the lifecycle of a project. Compared to 2D drawings, BIM reduces waste and increases efficiency because the data can be reviewed and amended in real time.
The future of measured surveys certainly includes BIM technology, but the technology itself is predicted to evolve in the coming years. It’s already expected to be an integral part of the property and construction sectors’ future, and designers, engineers, contractors and architects will continue to utilise it to create a more efficient and collaborative workflow. Further developments in cloud-based technology will drive professionals to work in new and even more innovative ways, with greater efficiency going forward.
Increased use of UAVs
One of the more recent changes to measured building surveys, but one that has been quickly adopted in the industry, is the increased use of UAV or drone technology. Bringing measured surveys into modern times, UAVs significantly reduce labour and costs for clients and can reach those areas of a building that are more complex, difficult to reach in person or pose safety risks.
Drones can be used to survey a building far faster than a surveyor can manage in person, while also delivering more efficient and accurate work, so it’s no wonder that this technology is being used more and more. In the future, it’s very likely that UAVs could be used for the bulk of measured building surveys for increased safety, identifying potential risks and allowing surveyors to view and assess a site without needing to do so in person.
Immersive Virtual Reality experiences
It’s anticipated that Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Reality (AR) will be increasingly used alongside the likes of BIM to deliver an immersive experience that offers so much potential for architects, developers and construction businesses. Since surveying deals with spatial data, it’s easy to see just how useful this technology could be to overlay this data with the real world, in real time, to show collaborators ideas.
It would enable clients to bring a building model to life, so you can walk through and around the model, while also enhancing collaboration between teams and reducing costs throughout the build. VR and AR can also identify potential safety risks in a building, enabling clients to see hazard simulations in person and support clients in making necessary changes.
Making informed decisions with Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) mimics human behaviour and can be used to identify patterns and make informed decisions with a subset of AI, Machine Learning (ML). While the technology is already used in construction, it has a place within measured surveys too, helping to find solutions that maximise expenditure and improve efficiencies.
A measured survey generates a huge amount of data, but AI can take this and use it to enhance ML capabilities and mitigate potential risks. It can be used for planning and scheduling, to simulate projects for effective space planning and increased safety by alerting workers of potential dangers and giving a clearer representation of the building for better forecasting.
Likewise, by using past data, AI can be used to predict realistic timelines and potential cost overruns. AI is the perfect tool for enhancing the design of buildings, developing alternatives which take electrics, plumbing and the mechanics of a structure into account.
Virtual site inspections
The pandemic forced industries the world over to rethink how they operate, and those within the construction sector were no exception. Technology enabled professionals in this industry to find new solutions to these challenges, but it offers an opportunity moving forward to free up teams and provide an efficient service virtually.
Virtual building inspections remove the need to have multiple people on-site, and a single site-based surveyor can work with a team back in the office via video tools. It’s a way of collaborating with efficiency and continued professionalism, without everyone needing to be present in person. Video site inspections, when combined with the likes of cloud data storage, cloud syncing and geolocation technology for imagery and videos, will streamline surveying in the future and will enhance customer experiences.
Image recognition software for pinpointing defects
Image recognition software offers numerous opportunities for building surveyors. It can be used with video capture to analyse data and find potential defects that might be missed otherwise. Image recognition software is still in its early stages in this industry, but it’s already seen as a huge success and in some instances, automated analysis using this software has been able to spot up to 95% more defects.
In addition to the efficiency it offers surveying teams, it also offers economic benefits and inspections don’t need to analyse every inch of a building to find issues, because the software can help them with that. The crossover potential with other technologies is vast, giving surveyors the potential to analyse buildings quickly, affordably and with greater accuracy.
Final thoughts
As technology becomes more automated and increases in accuracy, it will become even more integral to surveyors’ workflows. From navigating geospatial issues to improving health and safety and speeding up surveying tasks, the future of measured building surveys will certainly strike the balance between innovative technology and the expertise of professionals in this industry.
Already, many of these technologies are being integrated into measured survey processes, but as time moves on and technology evolves, it will become the central focus to enable surveyors to deliver better results and an improved customer experience for their clients.