Curious about just how important 3D technology is for construction and engineering professionals? A report from GM Insights estimates that the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry has a stake of more than 42% in the 3D rendering market. 3D technology is all around us, but it can be tough to see its effects on an industry-wide level. Let’s take a look at a few different ways 3D imaging technology has impacted the construction industry.
More Extensive Space for Creation
While designing a blueprint in 2D comes with a number of technicalities, 3D imaging software has all but eliminated them and expanded the design capacity of architects and engineers at the same time. One of the biggest benefits of using 3D technology is that an entire space can be rendered as it will exist in its final physical form. As a result, architects and engineers are able to examine a building design the same way they would as if they were surveying it after it was built. So if an engineer has the knowledge that AC units need about 20 BTU per square foot of space, a 3D rendering of a building could help spec out the necessary electrical infrastructure for effective HVAC service. Using 3D imaging software to design buildings in this way means the entire design process is more efficient and engineers have greater design capabilities than ever before.
Earlier Error Detection
Traditional 2D blueprint designs make error detection notoriously difficult. When a building is designed only using 2D techniques, determining whether or not certain features might be a problem during construction is nearly impossible. As a result, construction may be halfway finished before a design flaw is detected. When this happens, construction must come to a dead stop and may even need to start over again in order to remedy the design error that stopped it in the first place. Now, 3D imaging technology has made it possible to detect potential design errors much more efficiently. When engineers can see their designs as they’ll exist in physical space, it’s much easier to see errors before they become a problem during the construction process. Using 3D imaging also makes error detection more accessible to all members of a design team. Removing the technicality of using 2D blueprints means everyone will have an easier time spotting potential errors.
Better Design Efficiency
When it comes to designing and constructing new buildings, efficiency is key. If the 93% of construction companies who rent equipment have to wait for their tools to arrive, the least the team can do is create efficiency elsewhere in the design and build process. Fortunately, 3D imaging technology can do just that. As we’ve already covered, traditional 2D blueprints take a lot of time and skill to render properly. While a certain amount of skill is still required to properly render a 3D design, it’s important to note that the process is more efficient. Now, designs can be generated on computers and often with the help of AI in some instances. If one floor of a multi-story building is to serve as the blueprint for the floors above it, 3d software makes it possible to clone that floor and use it again and again for the building design. For traditional 2D blueprints, all of that work would need to be done by hand, which is a painstaking and time-consuming process.
The construction industry is making big strides with the help of 3D imaging technology. These are just a few of the ways in which it has revolutionized this line of work.
