Increasing Quality in Irish Construction
The Irish construction sector is growing rapidly to meet the increasing demand in the country. Housing needs, especially in big cities like Dublin, are on the rise. By 2040, the population of the country is set to grow roughly by 1 million. This increase in population needs to be met with adequate housing solutions. The government has unveiled various projects to ensure that the construction industry in Ireland can keep up with the demand. They have also unveiled specific initiatives to ensure that the sector is equipped with the latest technology and has the skilled workers required.
The government of Ireland launched the Project Ireland 2040, which aims to ensure the future growth and development of the country so that they are well prepared for this massive growth of population. Through this, they also aim to make construction an attractive career choice so that they can get more young people involved in the industry. The government also realises that the sector needs improvements, and the infrastructure of the country needs an uplift.
In the government’s plan to uplift the sector, there is a focus on increasing the quality of Irish construction through technological advancement and digitisation. The government is pushing for enhanced use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to boost the industry and increase quality.
With the use of BIM, architects, engineers and construction managers can create intelligent 3D models of the construction site which can be useful in giving them insights and serve as a tool for more efficient planning, design and structure. This method is also valuable in minimising waste and can help save additional time, effort and labour.
Further, the industry will see significant benefits by adopting more modern methods of construction as opposed to traditional methods. Given the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on site, these methods can be increasingly beneficial. Moving more construction processes offsite will surely help in maintaining a limited number of workers on-site and maintain compliance with social distancing rules. Additionally, offsite construction limits health and safety risks and reduces the waste. Since most of the offsite construction happens in factories, the products are subject to greater quality controls and can help speed up otherwise lengthy processes.
The other important aspect that can help increase quality in construction in Ireland is digitisation. For years, the sector has been slow in adapting digitisation methods rather than traditional ones. But, the benefits of digitisation have been even more evident in the past few years, and construction companies all over the world have been shifting towards them.
The use of various software and hardware has led to a significant reduction in costs while steadily increasing efficiency. This has led to the adoption of multiple technologies like robotics, drones, 3D printing and the use of virtual and augmented reality in various construction processes. Drones can easily survey multiple worksites within seconds while minimising effort and time. Virtual and augmented reality can help architects and managers pinpoint problem areas beforehand and avoid mistakes saving valuable time and resources. Employing the use of applications can help managers and architects track and manage the progress of the construction site without having to be always present.
In order to increase the quality of construction in Ireland, construction companies will need to shift towards more modern methods of construction and implement more digitisation strategies. The industry that was once known as the ‘brick and mortar’ industry is slowly entering the digital age and increasing the standards of the industry. Companies that make the switch to the digital age will see significant benefits in the future and will help to improve the quality of the sector.
Related Articles on Increasing Quality in Irish Construction
