What is Architectural Technology: Professionals in the AEC industry know the issues affecting the built environment. It is a common fact that the construction industry is the largest consumer of building materials and is responsible for 40% of all CO2 emissions.

What is Architectural Technology?

Given the importance of using technology in the digital age, Architectural Technology has evolved into a field of study that examines how technology and design work together. A relatively new discipline deals with the anatomy and physiology of structures and their formation and function. Architectural engineering is a great discipline in itself. Currently, innovations such as building information modeling (BIM), computer-aided design, robotics, building performance analysis, and artificial intelligence dominate the discipline

Construction work is also a large waste generator and can benefit greatly from circular design principles. About three-quarters of all construction projects are often over budget, and about half the money spent on buildings goes to payments. The digitization of the construction process is related to productivity, performance, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency. Several research topics are in progress, exploring the future where technology complements the design process.

In a fast-moving world with diverse challenges, technology, and digitization are looking for important solutions. At the intersection of design, engineering, and science, architectural technology aims to automate and streamline the design process to accelerate construction, aid in management, and ensure the high performance of materials, systems, and buildings.

The Power of Technology in Architecture

Architecture must evolve. Without new technology, designers would not be able to meet the more complex needs of the industry. Technological advances in architecture have guided the path of architects since ancient civilizations began to work stone. With intelligent technology that can search through data at lightning speed, this fact is truer than ever.

Beginning with Vitruvius, we have seen in theory and practice how technology improves the way we design buildings. Our art will never stop evolving. And as we evolve as designers, there will always be work for us. There are many benefits to using advanced technology to strengthen and support the building structure. As technology keeps improving, we can think smarter and transfer the ideas of the human mind to the screen or 3D print. We can:

• Communicate an idea easily: Whether you’re building your team, acquiring clients, or communicating with real estate professionals, it’s easier to help someone accept your idea when you have a real vision that you can help make a reality. Customers and buyers can use a virtual reality headset to follow ongoing construction plans or touch a 3D print of their new home. The interactive experience helps connect people to the finished product like never before.
• Reduce Project Costs: Using technologies like virtual reality or 3D printing can help customers identify areas they want to change before construction begins. The earlier you spot the changes, the easier and more cost-effective the process will be for everyone involved.
• Improve collaboration: Technological advances like Building Information Modeling (BIM) help keep everyone involved in a project on the same page at every step. Engineers, designers, and architects can use a BIM system to ensure their specific plans match before cutting or welding.

Read on to learn about seven architectural technologies and how they’re transforming the industry.

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

By simplifying the entire construction process, BIM enables engineers, architects, contractors, and clients to work in a common ecosystem. BIM tracks projects throughout their lifecycle, from planning and design to construction and beyond. It encourages collaboration through a centralized communication and reporting system, so there are fewer errors and inaccuracies. BIM also allows architects to access data in multiple iterations, from spreadsheets to 3D visualizations.

Animations and Offers

Gone are the days when you only saw a floor plan and photos of a building. Animation and 3D rendering have changed the game, allowing architects to create and design a space that looks like the finished product even before the proverbial first brick is laid. Thanks to the 3D digital rendering, customers can see how the space will look at scale with textures, lighting, and colors before the construction process begins.

In addition to 3D rendering, architects can harness the power of animation to create virtual tours that allow clients to explore multiple spaces. Architectural renderings and animations help clients visualize themselves in space and provide a visual stage to bring the space to life with texture and color.

The Internet of Things Architectural Technology

The Internet of Things (IoT) means traditionally connecting “stupid things” to the Internet. If you own a home, chances are you already have IoT technology. For example, smart thermostats, video doorbells, and personal assistants like Alexa are already commonplace in many homes. And now the IoT is driving trends across the design and construction ecosystem. like this:

• Adding Sensors to Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BIM creates an intelligent 3D model of the building and manages the entire construction process. This allows all programs to be updated at the same time, so no one is left out of the process. How does the IoT come about? Buildings can now have sensors to measure things like energy use, temperature trends, foot traffic, and more. The sensors will collect data and we can examine this data together with BIM programs to develop future buildings.

• Make the world a greener place

40% of CO2 emissions come from buildings. This percentage exceeds both the transport and civil sectors. Therefore, it is important to find ways to make our buildings more environmentally friendly. Designing a building with IoT in mind can help us reduce waste because we don’t have to rely on people to turn off appliances and HVAC systems, which will have a significant impact on energy use.

It is important that the ability to design buildings that move and change according to people’s habits and climate already exists. And with the Internet of Things, we can monitor our buildings more closely than ever before.

• Transform prefabrication

As RFID technology becomes more popular, ready-made designs are becoming popular again. It will be much easier for companies to track parts along the supply chain. This easy tracking simplifies the linking process. Knowing this can help you as a designer prepare for the precast revolution that will transcend consumer housing. Even if you, as an architect, assume that it will have a positive effect on the design, it will undoubtedly reduce construction waste.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Planning and designing a building is about more than just writing with pencil and paper. Architects have to sift through lots of data to design and construct buildings. As an emerging technology, AI is useful for architects as it helps them tap into data reservoirs and assists them in analysis that helps measure various aspects of construction.

Generative Design Architectural Technology

The generative design harnesses the power of AI to create a variety of design options based on a set of algorithms. With generative design, architects can create multiple designs from a single idea or a set of requirements, such as budget, materials, and construction techniques. Like smart architecture technology, generative design can learn from each design to become more accurate and precise.

3D printing Architectural Technology

Another example of artist technology is 3D printing. The most common application of 3D printing is for small machine parts. Architects use 3D printing to create prototypes of buildings that are still in the development and design phase. Save time and labor creating models, especially when the customer makes updates or changes to the plans. Thanks to advanced printing technology, the models are of high quality and you can customize them in a variety of materials and colors. In addition, architects have already started using 3D printing to create scale buildings at high speed and at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction. After the revision, if a client or team member requests an edit

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality allows people to virtually interact with space in 3D. Although the technology is popular in gaming and social media applications, architects can also use virtual reality to show 3D renderings of their designs. While visual tours will continue to be popular, allowing customers to walk through the premises – even with a VR headset – can make a big difference in the planning and design phase, saving money and time on small changes.

With just the push of a button and the darkness of a headset, everyone from project team members to clients can explore the building in question, taking a closer look at the floors, ceilings, and the entire building plan to get the picture. This not only arouses more interest in the project than a classic 2D image but also offers more room for change requests or change proposals before the project starts.

With a low startup cost, VR can give you a competitive edge, enable real-time changes, and benefit from an impressed customer.

Digital Sketchbooks

Although technology is changing the construction industry, that doesn’t mean painting is outdated. Instead, technology has adapted to the needs of architects to use portable drawing tools and provide digital sketchbooks that make it easy to store and organize designs. Digital sketchbooks also make it easy to show and send drafts to colleagues and clients for discussion and approval.

Designblendz Is at the Forefront of Architecture Technologies

Using the latest software and technology, Designblendz creates photorealistic architecture. Renderings and virtual tours. Contact our team today to learn more about our services.