The Civil Engineering Contractor September 2018 | Page 24

TECHNOLOGY
Coming soon:
the automated
construction site
By Eamonn Ryan
While the business world is
abuzz with talk of Industry
4.0, the engineering and
construction (E&C) industry
has long been perceived as
a laggard. The construction
and mining industry has only
recently truly realised the need
to follow suit to remain relevant,
safe, profitable, and efficient.
Drones give a quick view
of what is happening on a
construction site, saving time
and money.
22 - CEC September 2018
Y
ou can be certain that the
high-tech age has truly
arrived when Zimbabwe
inaugurates its own space agency.
In early July, Emmerson Mnangagwa
hailed the launch of the Zimbabwe
National Geospatial and Space
Agency (Zingsa) as a “milestone”.
Zingsa will deploy earth observation
satellites, global navigation satellite
systems, unmanned aerial vehicles,
and geospatial and space technologies.
Mnangagwa said in Harare, about
the launch, that this would assist
improved infrastructure construction
and management, among other uses
such as better farming, mineral
exploration, wildlife conservation,
and disease surveillance.
The construction industry is
welcoming a new helping hand:
artificial intelligence (AI). As
the years go by, more and more
advanced forms of technology are
making their way into our jobsites,
offering a wealth of efficiency and
information at the blink of an eye.
Zimbabwe’s ambition aside, Africa is
far behind in embracing Industry 4.0.
As developed countries welcome
autonomous cars, trucks, and
container ships onto their roads and