Nov 03

Augmented Reality

By AlpineMfg | Pre Fab Walls

AUGMENTED REALITY IS MAKING ITS NAME IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

What is Augmented Reality and how is it impacting the construction industry?

As 2018 wraps up, what do we have to look forward to in the construction industry for 2019?
As of late, the rate of innovation keeps our heads spinning and lots of times leave older construction companies fearing the future because of lack of control.

But as the new age of technology pushes into 2019 to modernize the construction industry, it also provides the avenues to stay in control.

Construction companies have been seeing major changes due to the new digital technology world. This new technology has helped companies streamline their practices, reinvent management structuring, and has even come up with an augmented reality to construct and design their buildings.

As technology evolves, we see a variety of new tools and gadgets that are impacting the industry tremendously, such as drones; will they rise in 2019? We believe so, along with augmented reality.

You’ve heard of virtual reality in construction but augmented reality is now making an impact in the construction industry.

Augmented reality is a derivative view of the physical environment, with its components enhanced by computer-generated images. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality

As we know, virtual reality is an interactive computer-generated experience that takes the place of the environment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality

Virtual Replaces

Although both concepts are correlated, there is a definite difference between the two.

In the construction industry, augmented reality in 2019 is in the frontline to impact every aspect of the industry from design to build.

Here are a few of the benefits that augmented reality has on the industry.

Availability

Augmented reality has integrated with mobile apps thus making it readily available on your phone or tablet.

3D Models

The benefits of a three dimensional model of a design-build proposal gives developers, and architects endless possibilities to convert their vision into reality. This could skyrocket the selling force within the commercial construction sectors because as this progresses, whoever has augmented reality in their design-build process will have the advantage over competitors.

More Accuracy

As augmented reality progresses in 2019; we will see more accuracy on projects that utilize it for the main fact that you will now have access to all the scopes of the project readily at hand to ensure the accuracy as well as efficiency.

More Efficiency

Using augmented reality imaging allows you to have ‘hands-on’ all phases of your project, hence making it much easier to minimize errors or adjust where needed. You will now be able to virtually walk through your project and fine-tuning as you see fit.
Considering the benefits of this new development in the construction industry, any construction company would be daft if they have not adopted augmented reality into their design/ build phase.
Companies can now take advantage of all the sects of prefabricated panels, parts, and components and have them already built and assembled and ready to go ahead of time.
Using AR removes all the guesswork from your project by creating an accurate recreation of your project.

What are you waiting for?

In the construction business, it’s all about ‘Time’. So start saving time and money by integrating AR images into your designs and better plan future projects.

Oct 15

0

Prefab on the Rise in Commercial Construction Industry

By AlpineMfg | Pre Fab Walls

PREFAB ON THE RISE IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

The Commercial Construction Industry is rising, and the general contractors are optimistic about the continued growth and profits over the next year because of the new rise in the prefab industry.

Orders for multi-family housing, office buildings, and hotels are reviving the industry. The demand in the commercial construction industry is increasing, but many contractors are struggling because of skilled labor shortages in the construction industry.

The Commercial Construction Index (CCI) compiled by the US Chamber of Commerce and USG, reports that more than half of construction companies are having difficulty finding enough workers to complete the contracts available. https://www.uschamber.com/report/usg-us-chamber-of-commerce-commercial-construction-index-2018-q3

Another concern is the quality and dependability of the available workforce. commercial construction industry

In response, contractors are turning to prefab in the commercial construction industry to increase labor productivity and decrease costs.

The CCI estimates that 60 percent of general contractors are already using prefabricated components to complete more projects with fewer workers. Almost 90 percent of these contractors reported higher labor productivity, faster job completion cycles, and higher profit margins as a result of using commercial prefab wall panels and other components.

Traditional framing requires multiple contractors with complementary construction skills. Human errors, poor weather, and scheduling issues can quickly put a project behind schedule.

Prefab timber construction alleviates these problems because factory workers and technology do much of the skilled labor. Prefab panels require fewer workers on-site, reducing scheduling challenges and the risk of error.

Construction companies save on labor costs and can pass some of the price reduction on to the customer.

Another critical benefit of prefab noted in the CCI is that using prefab construction decreases on-the-job injuries. Fewer absences and a healthy construction crew increase efficiency commercial construction industry and reduce costs even more. Construction projects using prefab materials produce less waste and need for rework.

Precision technology that ensures the wall panels will fit perfectly, so wall panels go up quickly without frustrating and time-consuming adjustments.

Overall, prefab wall panels save time and money for the contractor and consumer as well as produces a larger profit margin for all concerned.

Sep 01

0

The Truth of The Matter Concerning the Surge of Lumber

By AlpineMfg | Pre Fab Walls

Lumber, The Truth of The Matter

Lumber The Truth of The Matter Concerning the Surge of Lumber is that; Yes, it’s true that prices of wood have gone up. We all thought it was because of the “Trump Tariffs”, but they were actually because of the dispute between Canada and the US. The Tariffs just add to the increase in timber prices.

You see, there is a combination of things that have caused the timber prices to increase and one of the main causes is the restricted supply and growing demand because the main restrictions come out of Canada and they have had some major pine beetle issues. Whereas the demand in the Us continues to grow.
Another issue is that the lumber markets have been hit with a series of supply shocks in which has also caused the increase in prices. The fires that Canada, Washington, Montana, and Oregon have been seeing has limited loggers out of the forests. Then when they were allowed back in, winter came in with an abnormally cold front that wreaked havoc on the railway, limiting their cars as well as the speed of the transportation. So, of course, led to delays, and then back orders.

As you can imagine the domino effect it had moving forward: as the weather eased, the priority was given to the necessary, high-value goods such as the grains and potash that is in Lumber high demand, which worsened the delays for the timber.
We see one more piece of the puzzle that the trade restrictions are not the primary issue of the increasing wood prices. OSB and plywood are also a part of the same supply and demand as lumber and presently, there are no current trade restrictions between the U.S. and Canada on plywood or OSB. Yet as we have seen in the past few years; the prices for OSB and Plywood have both risen by 50%. By contrast, the Random Lengths Framing timber prices have also risen by the same percentage.

So, as we can see, the restrictions were the initial cause back when they were imposed in 2017 but they were not and are not the primary cause in the increase in lumber prices.

Jul 08

1

Offsite Construction is on the Rise: Why?

By AlpineMfg | Pre Fab Walls

When thinking about building, you don’t really think of it being offsite construction. People generally think about components being brought onsite and built in place. However, more and more construction is moving to offsite locations, a trend that only appears to be accelerating. Here are a few reasons for this move and why it’s expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Lower Costs

Constructing building offsite allows workers to gather in one place, cutting back on transportation costs. Furthermore, it’s easier to keep all of the tools and construction items in the San Diego Pre Fab Walls same spot, simplifying the building process. Transportation costs are similar, and offsite construction can even lead to fewer trips to transfer components. Furthermore, worker productivity is often improved as well, since workers quickly learn how to complete tasks in an optimal manner.

Faster Construction

Once all the components of a building or other structure are created, assembling them onsite is a fairly quick process. In addition, companies can create a buffer of components, enabling them to pre-build items for orders not yet placed. It will still take some time to assemble components, but the process tends to be significantly faster than onsite construction. For those in need of buildings quickly, pre-built components are the way to go.

Why Now?

Offsite construction isn’t new, but its popularity has increased dramatically in recent years. Part of this is due to improved construction and assembly techniques; new technology Pre Fabricated Walls makes the process even more cost-effective and reliable. Furthermore, building offsite has proven to be a viable method of building, and this success has encouraged others to make the leap.

Traditional construction techniques still fulfill a wide range of needs. However, more and more buildings can be constructed offsite and transported to their destination, and people might be surprised to find out just how versatile offsite construction can be. Companies looking to add space to their property should ensure they take the time to explore offsite options before investing.

Pre Fab Walls