Monthly Archives: December 2019

The Impact of Technology on the Construction Industry

By   December 8, 2019
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There is a whole lot of buzz nowadays about drones, 3D printing and robots. It’s easy to brush these technologies off as fads or luxuries until you understand a few of the cases which are being applied by integrating those emerging technologies. As everyone matures, we are getting much closer to a world where structures could be constructed entirely automatic and unmanned. I’ve talked to a variety of companies in this space and here is what I have discovered.

Agility at scale wins

Building big complex structures is a very expensive and time-consuming endeavor. The Freedom Tower in New York City took over seven years to complete. This past year, The Guardian showed a video of a 57-story building being constructed in 19 days in China. Granted, this construction is not as complicated a structure as the 104-story Freedom Tower, but 19 days remains an astonishing achievement.

How are companies attaining these remarkable feats? They are combining multiple emerging technologies to gather data, automate processes and construct structures with more precision, and speed instead of using the largest cranes or double the manpower. These technologies also allow investors to determine value out of their large investments much sooner than in the past, leading to a quicker ROI.

Automation enabled by data

Inspections play a crucial part in building. Before a single piece of engineered timber, the concrete or foundational base is constructed, the construction site goes through a series of inspections to comprehend various data points concerning the soil, drainage, vegetation, surface space and a whole lot more. Once the building procedure starts, many more reviews are necessary to guarantee worker safety, compliance, quality, progress and many other critical data points. In conventional construction, all these inspections are mostly manual, time-consuming and at times even dangerous to execute. Imagine the risk of examining beams on the 34th floor of a building under construction.

Drones are now being set up to expedite these inspections. They can cover a broad area in short time spans. They have quite advanced lenses which may capture detailed, close-up images, and send data in real time to computer systems and machines which could react in real time to the information received. There are many benefits of collecting digital information from drones. A large benefit is that the data allows builders to perform pre-construction simulations, permitting them to test many hypotheses and designs and reduce the risk of error before breaking ground for the first time. Another benefit, which I will expand on later, is having the capability to do construction jobs remotely and unmanned.

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is also transforming the way complex structures are being built printing concrete constructions in high speed. The 3D printing business published the top 10 3D printed structure inventions, which I recommend watching. Among the most astonishing innovations was from Amsterdam based 3D printing firm MX3D. One of the videos featured an unmanned robot 3D printing a whole bridge.

3D printing is also being used to publish complex, curved, layered and artistic structures and objects which make up modern buildings. Creating these intricate objects by hand and in the scale is a massive undertaking, but with 3D printing, the job becomes much more effective.

Automated robots are being used to construct beams, lay bricks, dig, drill, place timber beams, paint and perform just about any task needed to construct structures. What is really exciting in this area is the ability to do construction unmanned and remotely. Innovative businesses have built solutions that allow smart robots to operate synchronously to assemble complex objects. All this could be achieved under the watchful eye of a technician from throughout the world over the net.

RoboticsX, a high-tech startup in Germany was recently spoken to. Their vision is to change the entire world from space and robotics business. They state that “If Elon Musk is going to Mars, our robots and systems will be the first passengers”. RoboticsX is presently focusing on autonomous robotics which will enable the construction of buildings and structures on Mars which will perform under changing environments and without continuous supervision from earth. Their current focus is to constantly perfect this technology and apply it to the “Digital Factory” to optimize manufacturing plants in what many call the Industry 4.0 way. These robots are being used in the automotive industry to manufacture cars, trucks and other vehicles and in the pharmaceutical sector to produce goods. Peter Boras, CEO & co-founder, stated they are testing scaling around 3,000 robots working at the same time.

Summary

The construction industry is being disrupted and we are still in the very early phases. The number of innovation in several technologies have allowed leaders in the building sector to leverage technology to radically change business models for constructing large structures and buildings. The move form drake low loaders to drones, large information, machine learning, 3D printing, and robotics are some of the key enabling technologies leading the disruption. As machines get smarter and more competent each year, the vision of construction on Mars becomes less of a dream and more of a reality.

Online Executive Leadership Training

By   December 5, 2019
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It’s a smart idea to improve your career with leadership and management courses. After acquiring these certificates, you can update your resume to attract potential employers. Also, you can be the next decision-maker in the organisation. Generally, online leadership training programs for executives increase organisational performance. Companies with work cultures that support employees often encourage them to take these online courses. However, these employees must be executives or managers in the company.

How Do Online Executive Programs Work?

Courses in leadership and management build a range of skills. Online training increases your capacity and gives you a competitive edge. Also, online programs have flexible schedules. It means that periods of online learning will fit your busy schedule. Learning at your own pace is a convenient way of managing your career and education.
Like physical training facilities, potential learners for online courses have access to interactive tools. Since learning is done in virtual classrooms, participants can access online tools from any part of the world. Examples of organisations with online leadership programs for executives include MIT, Yale, and Coursera.

What Are The Benefits Of Online Leadership Programs For Executives?

Valuable Knowledge and Skills

By getting smart with executive online programs, you can prepare for the future and become self-reliant. Usually, professionals start new business ventures or act as consultants after their retirement. Leadership training for executives is an ideal way of preparing for a post-employment career path. When you take course models on management techniques, it enhances your capacity to become an entrepreneur.

Income Upgrade

Every hardworking employee likes to be appreciated. Usually, increments in salary come with value creation. After completing your executive program in leadership and training, it might take you a step higher in the pay grade of your career. Since executive certificate programs bring higher earnings, employers will demand more responsibilities from participants.
In Australia, the average annual salary for I.T (information technology) consultants is AU$95,000. You can rise to the management level early with a combination of online custom programs for executives.

Flexibility

Online certificate programs in leadership and management courses allow you to learn from the comfort of your own home or office. You don’t have to make budgets for trips and accommodation to attend semester examinations. Since these programs are internet-based, they can be taken from any part of the world. Also, you can choose any language to receive course instructions. Since it’s an e-learning program, busy executives can form social media groups and interact with other students remotely.

What Are The Disadvantages?

Less Bonding Between Course Mates

Regardless of communicating via virtual tools, the bond between coursemates increases in physical learning facilities. Usually, students form stronger bonds when they visit and meet in shared spaces. The classroom simulation that comes with virtual learning tools can replace normal team-building activities. Instead, students interact with software programs and mobile phones.

Lack of Real-time Mentorship

Active sessions of online learning programs bring opportunities for interacting with instructors. Usually, participants get alerts before their course sessions. It helps them to prepare, take notes, submit assignments, and ask questions.
During an inactive session, you might not have access to your live trainer. Even if you express that you have some problems with coursework, they might wait until the next session to go over it. Unlike leadership and management training in physical classrooms, you can’t walk to your trainer’s office for corrections or further instruction.

Promotion 

Your employer expects some display of leadership qualities after online leadership courses. Since it’s important to show what you have learned, this knowledge can provide insights for the organisation. Usually, executive programs in management prepare employees for promotion. It’s the right decision for organisations that need effective leadership. It might also be a chance to advance your career in another company.