Construction Technology

Construction technology in general can be defined as an act or process of constructing, or building, a product, commonly known as a structure, by incorporating different methods, materials, and equipment. Construction technology has undergone a relatively slow rate of transformation over the years as compared to other areas of engineering and technology; however, it has considerably evolved over the centuries through both experience and structured research.

Many factors are involved in the design of a house; these can be divided into three major categories: biophysical (weather conditions and other environmental and geographic factors), sociopsychological (culture and heritage, current and anticipated needs of individuals and their families, and domestic, political, and economic policies), and technological (level of technology and development, and availability of contemporary building resources). Construction technology for housing has evolved with its methods and products in different eras, from log cabins to modern energy efficient homes.

[Page 93]Historically, human beings either have occupied naturally available enclosed spaces, such as caves, or have built structures to define and enclose space. Early construction methods utilized locally available materials, such as sticks and stones. Both the mass of these materials and friction between two adjacent members were essential when these were piled on top of one another to construct a wall. Later, amalgamation of organic material and water was used to seal cracks or to provide a proper bond between stones or sticks to hold them together.

Construction technology has seen many modifications in the use of techniques and materials. Most of these evolutionary modifications were made by substituting one material for another, and subsequent alterations were made in construction techniques and skill sets of resources. For instance, substitutes for wood siding are available in the form of nonorganic vinyl and aluminum exterior siding. Moreover, many up-to-the-minute materials, such as the introduction of aluminum as a structural member, have also been introduced, giving new directions to construction technology. All these innovations and substitutions have been launched effectively, fulfilling basic requirements of consumers and contractors.

Traditional systems, such as fireplaces and other aids to maintain temperature and air quality inside a house, were replaced by new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Although principles of this system were known and used even during the Roman times, the advancement in technology in the 1950s resulted in another advance for HVAC systems and the resulting effect on buildings, cities, and human comfort. Initially, HVAC systems were run by then vastly available and relatively inexpensive fossil fuels. These fuels were subsequently replaced by electric systems, such as motors and compressors. In modern years, the energy efficiency of these systems and depletion of fossil fuels and their adverse environmental effects and unsustainable nature have propagated the green housing movements and inspired various technologies to construct energy-efficient green houses.