CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ABSTRACT
construction technology is a clear concept that has not only been perceived but has been clearly utilized for drastically improving a nation both the developed and the developing countries.
INTRODUCTION
The introduction of Technology to construction has evidently developed the world economically, socially and innovatively.
Construction as an industry comprises six to nine percent of the gross domestic product of
developed countries. Construction can be generic or based on civil engineering. Building of a dam, road, monument, wooden structure, real estate assets, e.t.c. It is done by the construction industry with proper Calculation. Construction plays an important role and is also vital to the achievement of national Socio-economic development goals of providing shelter, infrastructure and employment. The major source of capital formation in construction that can spur growth and development in some countries (e.g. Nigeria) is from the public sector with the traditional approach in the major infrastructure procurement through process of funding through annual capital budgetary provision. This large correlation of government participation with the level of construction Industry was due to minimal private involvement in capital formation and formal infrastructure Procurement that limits the potential of the sector. However, with the rising emphasis and growing interests of stakeholders on bridging the infrastructure gap, the future growth of Construction as a tool for sustainable economic development is somewhat optimistic.
It is no secret that technology is constantly evolving and rapidly changing the landscape of many different industries. This ranges from increasing the efficiency of day-to-day operations to manufacturing new and advanced high-tech products. Typically, it’s the companies that have the ability to adapt and embrace technological change that ultimately survive the competitive business climate.
THE TERM CONSTRUCTION
Construction differs from manufacturing, and that manufacturing typically involves mass production of similar items Without a designated purchaser, while construction typically takes place on location for a known Client. Construction starts with planning, design, and financing. It continues until the project is built and ready for use. To make things more conceptual, we can also say that construction is simply the designing, creation, forming or building of things or construction can be, bringing together things in other to come up with a beautiful structure or product.The history of construction begins in the ancient days where huts and shelter are constructed by hand or with simple tools. As cities grew during the bronze age, a class of bricklayers, craftsmen and carpenters, appeared. In the 19th century, steam-powered machinery appeared, and later diesel and electric powered vehicles such as cranes, excavators and bulldozers. Construction is not only dealing on the aspect of building but also has to do with solving problems and development. Having clearly understood what construction means, what makes it more unique now is the “technology”, so, construction technology has a broader impact in on a nation’s development. Let’s get a grasp of what technology is.
TECHNOLOGY
The history of technology is the history of the invention of tools and techniques and is similar to
other sides of the history of humanity. Technology can refer to methods ranging from as simple
as language and stone tools to the complex genetic engineering and information technology that
has emerged since the 1980s. The term technology comes from the Greek word techne, meaning
art and craft, and the word logos, meaning word and speech. It was first used to describe applied
arts, but it is now used to described advancements and changes which affect the environment
around us. Technology is also the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
especially in industries. New knowledge has enabled people to create new things, and conversely, many scientific endeavors are made possible by technologies which assist humans in traveling to places they could not previously reach, and by scientific instruments by which we study nature in more detail than our natural senses allow. Now that we know what is construction and technology, We then proceed to construction technology THE CONCEPT OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
It is no secret that technology is constantly evolving and rapidly changing the landscape of many different industries. This ranges from increasing the efficiency of day-to-day operations to manufacturing new and advanced high-tech products. Typically, it’s the companies that have the ability to adapt and embrace technological change that ultimately survive the competitive business climate. Construction technology is simply the study of the method and equipment used to build structures or it is simply introducing technology to construction industries. It's also applying technological knowledge in construction industries. Back in the days where construction was handled by crude tools, development was seen to be a mirage, now construction technology has been introduced and techniques has been modified and learnt. N: B: A country with good construction technology grows rapidly and faster in terms of social amenities and national development. Buildings are built from long ago in history but the difference is that technology of the early days were simple and just for the purpose of shelter. With the passage of time, revolutionary changes have appeared in construction and it is all due to the technology that can be defined as practical use of your knowledge. In the beginning, buildings were made from stones and mud, but in recent time, we construct buildings using multiple types of materials including stone, timber, concrete, metals, glass, robots etc There is huge difference between new and old construction methods. Use of latest machinery has made its way through the civil engineering. Most of the building parts such as pillars, roofs, and concrete blocks are available in prepared forms that increase the speed of construction process greatly. Use of pre-stressed concrete tendons and beams strengthen the buildings along with speedy construction.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The term national development is the ability of a country or countries to improve the social welfare of the people, e.g by providing social amenities like quality education, quality water and transportation infrastructure. These were achieved through technology. Technologies are fundamentally altering the way people live, connect, communicate and transact with profound effects on national development. For instance in the ancient days where mobile phones were not existing, donkey was used as means of transportation, water was not treated etc. But just take a look as how technology has made life easier whereby you can contact someone in different countries, you can travel round the world just within a short period of time.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
It’s simply how construction technology has brought development to the nation and the world at large. When talking about how construction technology has brought development, it’s actually a process that began years ago and its being improved daily by transforming the impossible to being possible e.g. If you were told that glass could be used to construct, you will dispute that fact but now glasses are being used to build and it looks beautiful. Coming down to road construction, technology has come up with machinery and ways to ease the workload and produce a quality product/substance.
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
Construction industry includes a wide range of constructions suitable for all classes of society:
• Commercial construction,
• domestic construction,
• industrial construction,
• heavy or civil constructions;
These are few examples that are now displaying master pieces of construction technologies. Each of these requires different technological treatments. For domestic construction, simple technological methods are usually preferred and frequently available materials are mostly used. In commercial construction, the basic concern is infrastructure that is responsible for strength and long-lasting projects. These are mostly launched by government agencies and they are projects require latest construction technologies, equipment, and materials.
IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION
1. Creating more efficient day-to-day operations Efficiency in technology have drastically increased in just the last decade. In a short period of time, businesses adapted quickly to incorporate first computers, then dial-up internet and now internet accessibility through a tap on a smart phone. This is a significant change that has made information and communication quick and accessible. The construction industry is no different. Gone are the days when project managers would manually draw up project outlines, lists, illustrations, and tasks for their teams. Mobile technology and project management software has allowed them to do this much more efficient than in previous years. These digital records make it much easier to keep constant communication with workers, simulate 3-D models of the projects, and even control costs on the jobsite.
2. Shifting toward smarter building structures A big trend in the construction industry today is retrofitting outdated buildings with more advanced structures. Retrofitting involves adjusting or replacing old infrastructure in existing buildings with new technology to improve performance. This could include numerous internal upgrades such as replacing lighting systems, installing internal climate sensors and outfitting the building with a state-of-the-art building automation system. A building automation system, or BAS, is a centralized control system which monitors an entire building’s functionality including heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), lighting systems, and often water, fire and life safety. In outdated buildings, these systems are often not interconnected, which can lead to energy-waste. Many contractors are now decreasing in efficiencies by integrating all of these functions into a unified system, which often drives down building costs as well as energy consumption.
BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION
• Buildings produced in less time – up to 90% faster than conventional methods • Better construction quality management
• Improves overall safety and security
• Up to 80% less waste and more products recycled for future use
• Reduces transport, labour and site preliminaries by around 80%
ROLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF CONSTRUCTION TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The construction industry is an investment led sector where government shows high
interest. For prosperity of any nation, construction industry is quite essential. Construction in
both developed and developing countries may be viewed as element of economy which through
planning, design, construction, maintenance and repair and operation, transforms various
resources into facilities. The types of public and private facilities produced range from residential and non residential buildings to heavy construction and these physical facilities play a critical and highly visible role in the process of development (Isa et al, 2013). The major participants from construction industry include design team (architects, engineers and quantity surveyors), management consultants, general contractors, heavy consultation contractors, special trade contractors or subcontractors and construction workers and users of facilities, the government serves as financier, regulator or purchaser. The construction level of manpower ranges from highly skilled professionals to completely unskilled laborers thereby providing employment.
The level of activity in the construction industry has an important influence on the Gross National Product (GDP). The industry contributes substantially to gross fixed investment in most countries as construction output is a response to the demand for new investment in building, infrastructure and utilities and in replacement and upgrading of such facilities. Construction industries are more vulnerable to fluctuations in government policies than other economic sectors. Such government policies may influence a decrease demand for housing especially in period of high interest rates, a decrease demand for factories in period of manufacturing, down turn decreased demand for infrastructures and public utilities in times of public constraints. These fluctuations in construction output not only have a direct impact on employment levels within the industry itself but also on industries for which construction firms are major customers like steel manufacturing industry, paint manufacturing industry, mechanical and electrical engineering industries, timber (saw mills) and furniture making industries, transport industries and financial and professional services.
In developing countries, physical construction activities alone provide between 2 to 6% of employment demands of the nation and the subsidiary activities provide an additional 2 to 4% while in developed countries, the figure rises to between 6 to 10% (Okeola, 2009). Construction plays a key role in satisfying a wide range of physical, economic and social needs and contributes significantly to fulfillment of various major national goals.
CONCLUSION It is obvious that construction technology’s role in national development is a significant one in both developing and developed countries. Nigeria’s economic growth over the last decade is high and the contribution of construction technology along agriculture and manufacturing industries has been a steady raise, and construction plays an important role in the nation’s drive for a diversified economy that can lead to true development. Apart from it’s socio-economic potentials, its employment generation capabilities and multi-sectoral dimensions made it an area that a nation with vision can look into for sustainable development.
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