Construction work is known as a very hands-on industry. But the rising of technology has slowly but surely made its way into the profession. Breakthroughs in technology and “gadgetry” have evolved the entire landscape of this craft, making it more productive, more poised, and most importantly, more effective.
Because the profession involves a lot of health risks and means workers will always be surrounded by harsh work environments, creating complementary and reliable tools was always challenging.
The construction industry has been resistant to new technology and gadgets because there’s no place for experimenting when in this business. Tools must be easy to use, easy to learn, and should be effortlessly implemented into an average workday while boosting productivity. Some of the best rated job site radios were the fanciest gadgets you could get at construction site, but it all changed.
The construction industry has been thriving without the distractions of new, supposedly advanced technology, gear, and gadgets until it could no more. Most constraints are associated with complacency and risks of trying out newly developed items that may still be “buggy”.
As a result, the main gadgets, products, and gear that are involved and striving in the industry are either upgrades for already existing and indispensable items or gadgets that replace and precede old-timey items, services, and methods. This list will compile the most sought-after construction-related products and some of the leading technologies in the United States today.
Sonetics Bluetooth Headset
The Sonetics Bluetooth Headset eliminates the need for crackly walkie-talkies, hand signals, or uncomfortable foam earplugs. Workers can access multiple channels, meaning they can easily talk to each other, while messages from the boss come through on all channels.
Its distance radius is up to two miles, and thanks to advanced development, this headset can control how much background noise gets through, so sometimes it might even be handy when standing next to each other. But possibly its best feature is its weather resistance, as it can withstand almost all weather conditions.
Xoeye Technologies Safety Glasses
Safety glasses are one of the top priorities on any construction site. But with these smart glasses by Xoeye Technologies, any contractor can feel like 007 on the job. These handy accessories are not just for safety. They have built-in cameras, as well as projected screens. With access to Wi-Fi, a worker can perform precise tasks, including 3D mapping schematics while on the go.
This might be one of the top advancements in construction gadgets yet. It boosts time efficiency by not having to search and look through blueprints and plans and also helps avoid risky mistakes along the way. And because construction workers value results over anything, this is the perfect product on the market.
“Halo” Helmet Light
Hands-free lighting is not a new invention. From the LED light to all sorts of flashlights, hands-free lights are a part of an everyday household today.
But Halo light changes the way a construction worker uses this accessory. It can be wrapped around any hard-brimmed helmet and can make workers visible for up to a quarter of a mile at a 360-degree angle.
Its battery life span is up to 36 hours, and it’s not in the way for the workers either.
The construction business can avoid a lot of unnecessary accidents with this handy tool. It’s important to have the necessary lighting to not only see what you’re doing, but that can make the location of co-workers visible.
But apart from being visible and putting safety first, the Halo helmet light can also clearly illuminate any task before the worker, making the work much easier and safer. It’s also weather-resistant, so after purchasing it, workers can hardly get rid of this gadget.
Smart Clothing
There are all sorts of smart clothing available for construction workers to make their jobs easier and safer. There are a lot of unfortunate and avoidable accidents from loose, not visible, or unfit clothing. A handy accessory is a heated jacket (or cooling jacket) that helps workers get the job done under harsh weather conditions. These are called “responsive clothing”, and they can adapt to the curveballs Mother Nature throws our way. The construction industry is ruled by the one-size-fits-all mentality, which can sometimes cause some accidents if workers are not careful enough.
But the industry has gone beyond basic safety concerns and reached an all-time high when researchers in Germany answered the age-old question: what about life-threatening substances that can’t be seen or heard? The construction site is often filled with toxic liquids and gases. These protective gloves lower the chances of exposure to toxic substances by changing color when these materials are handled.
Laser Scanners & Laser Measurers
The use of lasers in the construction industry is nothing new. With laser scanners, people can effectively capture 3D models more efficiently than plans or video footage can. The newest laser scanner models can better understand the connection behind projects and more reliable data.
Another common use for lasers on a construction site is the laser measurer and level. Today, the measure and level most commonly comes as a two-in-one gadget and can eliminate the struggles of planning and boost time efficiency. While this is not a new invention, it is a tool that every contractor gladly uses and will always remain the “little black dress” of all construction gadgets.
Smart Helmet by Daqri
The Daqri Smart Helmet is so much more than just a safety helmet. It uses augmented reality to make construction easier, safer while avoiding costly mistakes.
Workers can access any information at the drop of a hat, and they will appear on the visor in front of them. This system shows measurements and details on the go, putting them in context so workers can see the entirety of the project and the connections of smaller tasks at all times.
The Smart Helmet supports HD video recording, 3D mapping, 360-degree navigation cameras, photography, and more. With access to all data, the gadget proves to be a very useful gadget for boosting productivity, lowering the chance of risks, and promoting time efficiency.
Drones
Drones are becoming very popular in multiple industries. Because of their versatile and resistant nature, they can be used for anything from advertising to construction projects.
A drone is great for planning, mapping, and even during construction. Drones can come in handy for constant real-time documentation. As a result, high-quality videos can demonstrate the entire process from beginning to end without much effort needed from employees.
After the project is complete, a drone can offer all documentation by creating surveys from the machine.
Companies like Kespry have created and developed drones specifically for construction use. This drone can autonomously monitor hundreds of acres while conducting various activities at the same time. The only thing a human has to do is plot the area using a map, and the drone does all the work from then on. Everything from the first flight to the collection processing of the data has been perfected by the company to fit the construction industry.
Extreme Post-It
Telling someone to do something is not always effective, as both parties will probably forget the information by the time they get there. Writing on the walls is rarely an option, and a note on a napkin is hardly a solution. This is where the genius product of Post-It comes in.
The Extreme Post-It was made for the job site to stick to practically anything from brick to gravel and withhold most conditions. Among the different types of written notes, this is the king of notes for the construction business. When it comes to paper, these are the ones to beat.
Extreme Post-It
Telling someone to do something is not always effective, as both parties will probably forget the information by the time they get there. Writing on the walls is rarely an option, and a note on a napkin is hardly a solution. This is where the genius product of Post-It comes in.
The Extreme Post-It was made for the job site to stick to practically anything from brick to gravel and withhold most conditions. Among the different types of written notes, this is the king of notes for the construction business. When it comes to paper, these are the ones to beat.
The Coldest Water
The Coldest Water prides itself on producing the go-to water bottles for laborers on the construction site. Hydration is possibly the most important thing when doing physical work outdoors. So much so that it’s one of the highest priority health risks to take care of next to wearing the necessary attire.
This bottle is made to withstand harsh weather conditions like rises in temperature and humidity while keeping anything inside safe and cold. It’s straightforward to use and has a lightweight design to make it less of a hassle because, after all, contractors hate one thing more than anything, and that’s wasting time and energy.
Max FlexiClick 5-in-1 Drill System
This is the X-in-1 drill system. Bosch being the leader in anything involving construction and tools worldwide, the company’s FlexiClick 5-in-1 Drill & Driver System is still unbeatable in common households and on the job site.
Every drill bit is included, making this battery-operated tool something that everyone will envy.
The need for construction workers will always be high. And for them to work even better, faster, and present a higher quality result, they need things, gadgets to help them evolve their industry.
And with the newest technological advancements, the industry has evolved greatly in the last decade and continues to grow daily.
Cooler
Anyone who’s ever spent more than a few hours in the sun knows that a mini-fridge goes a long way. Some job sites pride themselves on offering a few smaller coolers by the construction zone. And while this is not exactly a “gadget”, it’s still a crucial part of working in construction.
And the yet undefeated forever classic that monopolizes everything “cooler”, Igloo is still the best of the best when it comes to cooling anything since the 1940s. Also, no one nails the perfect design quite like the sleek retro look of Igloo, which is always a refreshing sight on the job.