We've come a long way since the days when we lived in caves built for us by nature. We're the ones who build now, and in the last 40 years alone, our technological innovations have revolutionized construction in spectacular fashion.
1. Mechanization
Of course, we've been building for just over 40 years now, but the radical impact of mechanization on construction cannot be underestimated. The arrival of hydraulic and pneumatic devices in the mid-to-late 19th century led to the earthmoving and other machinery now commonplace in industry, massively reducing the time and manpower required on major projects.
In the early 20th century, the impact of mechanization increased with the development of equipment capable of performing more complex functions, such as aerial work platforms, concrete mixers, cranes and power tools. This period also saw the emergence of the internal combustion engine, and with it the replacement of shovels, wheelbarrows and draught animals by devices heralding forklifts, tractors and bulldozers.
2. CAD
In the European Middle Ages, architects, draughtsmen, stonemasons and builders created some of the most magnificent buildings using design and construction methods that were truly astonishing for their time.
These methods remained unchanged for centuries. Towards the end of the 20th century, however, came the advent of Computer-Aided Design (CAD), which irreversibly changed construction: for the first time, incompatibilities became visible as early as the design phase.
Previously, separate systems, electrical conduits and high-voltage AC cable ducts, for example, competed for the same physical space, leaving architects and builders at a loss with their two-dimensional plans and sectional views.