Construction Technology and Innovation - Essay Example

This paper explores the various modern forms and types of construction in use in the UK. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of these forms of construction are enumerated for the benefit of the adopters and future adopters of these forms of communication. Modern Building Form Concrete is one of the most important materials used in the construction industry. Hence, many changes in construction forms and types definitely touch on concrete (Egan, 2002). Consequently, the concrete industry has really achieved considerable change in recent times with regards to modern methods of construction (MMC) (Council of Mortgage Lenders, 2013).

Although all of these new construction methods have their unique advantages, they are generally beneficial in that they not only reduce construction time but also promote sustainability in structures and the industry at large (Hecker & Weinstein, 2005). Notably, these modern concrete styles help owners and constructors save costs. The first modern type of construction used in the UK is the Precast Flat Panel System. In this system, wall and floor units are built in a factory, away from the construction site (Hinze & Haas, 1997).

These units are then ferried to construction sites and erected to create the desired structures. One area in which this form of construction is applicable and largely used is in repetitive cellular projects (Pushkar et al., 2005). The panels in this respect could be services, doors, windows, walls or finishes to structures. An example of an application of this form of construction is in the building of envelope panels with factory-fitted insulation and decorative cladding, which also acts as a load-bearing element (Miles, 1985).

An advantage of this form of construction is that it offers factory quality and accuracy besides ensuring speed during the erection of units on-site (Gambatese, 2003). The image below shows a crane lifting a precast flat panel at a construction site (Retrieved from http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hfl/innovator/issue08.cfm). Another modern construction method closely related to the Precast Flat Panel System is the 3D Volumetric Construction. This method, also referred to as modular construction, entails the construction of 3D units in a factory and then transporting them to the construction site (Gianino, 2005).

Unlike the Precast Flat Panel System, the 3D Volumetric Construction units or modules may be transported to the site in assembled and finished forms or as basic structures. In other cases, the units are brought with internal and external finishes and services installed (Kitson, 2013). In such a case, all that is done on-site is the assembling of these units to form the desired structure. Being based on factory, conditions, this method of construction has the advantage of creating service-intensive structures, characterized by high-level replication.

In addition, this method allows for the rapid assembly of units on-site (Atkinson, 2008). Consequent to these advantages, this method is highly desirable for urgent projects. Its other benefits are inherent in the use of concrete and include thermal mass, fire resistance and sound resistance. It also offers speed in on-site erection in addition to factory quality and accuracy (Hegazy, 2002). The image below illustrates a building being constructed using the 3D Volumetric construction meth