Although it seems like almost everyone knows someone in construction, the industry is facing a severe shortage of workers.
To meet labor demands in 2024, the construction sector will need to add approximately 501,000 new workers, beyond the usual hiring rate. Technology could help mitigate this shortage by boosting productivity and efficiency, allowing more work to be done with fewer workers. In 2021, 53.7% of construction companies reported having a process for testing and implementing new technologies. Yet, transitioning to a more streamlined approach isn't without challenges. How can SiteMap® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, and similar technologies make a difference?
Boosting Productivity
Technology holds significant promise for enhancing productivity. For example, McKinsey highlighted an engineering firm that attracted workers by integrating robotics into their operations. Additionally, a report described a heavy equipment manufacturer that utilized "cobots" to automate repetitive tasks, leading to a 40% increase in productivity and a 50% boost in resource efficiency. Another manufacturer featured in the report leveraged digital twins and remote controls, allowing employees to address issues from anywhere globally, which reduced vacancies by 25% and nearly doubled productivity.
Technology is poised to elevate productivity and rejuvenate the construction industry without overshadowing it. It promises to attract new talent and support existing workers, ushering in a new era of construction efficiency and management.
Here’s how technology like SiteMap® can contribute to this new era of construction:
- Streamlining Data Management: SiteMap® consolidates your 99.8% accurate GPRS data, along with self-provided sources and other GIS integrations, into a single, accessible platform. This streamlines data entry and retrieval, freeing up time for workers to focus on more critical tasks. While SiteMap® includes its own user-friendly GIS component, it also seamlessly integrates with your existing GIS software, enhancing data safety and security. With GPRS' 99.8% accuracy in GPR utility locating and concrete scanning across over 500,000 jobs, SiteMap® ensures that workers can easily access essential information, making their work more efficient.
- Enhancing Communication: Effective communication is vital for construction projects. SiteMap® offers tools that facilitate seamless communication and collaboration, ensuring that all stakeholders and team members are aligned. This reduces delays from miscommunications and helps keep projects on track. Additionally, SiteMap® allows you to print, save, or copy data, enabling you to share real-time subsurface information in any format that meets your needs.
- Optimizing Resource Allocation: SiteMap® offers detailed insights into project progress and resource utilization, allowing project managers to allocate resources more effectively. This ensures efficient use of labor and materials, reducing waste and boosting overall productivity. With a clear view of where issues are occurring, managers can strategically direct resources to the most critical areas, managing tasks with enhanced understanding and efficiency.
- Improving Safety: In 2022, the U.S. construction industry reported the highest number of fatal work-related accidents, with 1,092 deaths. Additionally, there were 4.5 million medically consulted injuries among construction workers, the highest of any industry. Clearly, safety is a major concern in construction. SiteMap® addresses safety metrics and helps ensure compliance with regulations. By identifying potential hazards early, the platform aids in accident prevention and reduces downtime from safety incidents. Backed by GPRS, SiteMap® provides accurate data to make informed decisions about where to dig, bore, or scrape. Furthermore, joining GPRS’ JobSite Plus program enhances your safety benefits even more. As a GPRS Project Plus partner, GPRS becomes your sole provider for utility locating, concrete scanning, pipe inspection, 3D laser scanning, and creating advanced CAD drawings, maps, and models tailored to your project, guaranteeing safety, accuracy, and excellence throughout.
- Reducing Rework: Mistakes and rework are both costly and time-consuming. SiteMap® allows managers to engage in precise planning and monitoring, enabling early identification and correction of errors, which minimizes the need for rework. This not only saves valuable time but also conserves resources. With SiteMap®, you benefit from GPRS’ 99.8% accuracy in subsurface visualization, providing a comprehensive, instant snapshot—covering past, present, and future data—all securely stored in a centralized, accessible database.
- Supporting Remote Work: With the rise of remote work, SiteMap® enables project managers and stakeholders to track progress and make decisions without needing to be physically on-site. This flexibility not only helps attract a wider range of talent to the industry but also simplifies worksite management, allowing both managers and workers to monitor key areas from a distance.
As of May 2023, there were 336,000 job openings in the U.S. construction industry. Despite significant funding from the Biden Administration, many firms still face difficulties in finding the necessary labor, with about 80% of construction companies struggling to recruit workers. However, technology like SiteMap® offers powerful solutions to address this issue. By streamlining data management, enhancing communication, optimizing resource allocation, and improving safety, SiteMap® helps the construction industry achieve more with fewer workers. Sometimes, doing more with less is possible, especially with SiteMap® on your side—a platform that truly delivers.
Contact us today for more information on how technology can help address the construction labor shortage, and how SiteMap® can help you plan, design, manage, dig, and ultimately build better.
