Roofers and other roofing professionals should expect new technologies to transform the industry over the coming years, whether that be products, tools or software updates – it is vital to stay abreast of innovations so as to remain ahead of competition and remain ahead of curve.
Solar panels are an effective way to lower both your electricity bill and help the environment, while green roofs bring additional advantages such as better insulation and decreasing urban heat island effects.
Solar panels
Solar technology continues to advance rapidly, with innovations focused on energy efficiency, environmental impact, longevity and lowering costs. Rooftop technologies appear especially promising with advances in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and solar shingles making their mark on roofing technology’s future.
BIPV systems can be easily installed on roofs without compromising energy efficiency, saving homeowners money over time and offering the ability to customize roof aesthetics for greater visual appeal.
Insolight panels, which utilize hexagonal lenses that concentrate sunlight onto specific spots on a silicon layer of the panel, could significantly boost solar cell efficiency by 30%.
Building-integrated solar tech is another new solar innovation, enabling you to incorporate solar production directly into the architecture of a building such as your home or office. This form of solar panel technology offers an excellent alternative to traditional rooftop panels and is suitable for both residential and commercial uses.
Green roofs
The industry is experiencing a transformation, shifting away from traditional roofing techniques towards digitally built solutions that create safer and more profitable roofing jobs that require fewer people for completion.
Green roofs can reduce energy use, increase biodiversity and wildlife habitat, provide insulation, combat urban heat island effect and help decrease stormwater runoff.
Green roofs require special layers of roofing materials not typically found on traditional roofs. A green roof system must include waterproof membrane, drainage and filter layers, growing medium, support elements for vegetation growth as well as vapor control, thermal insulation and structural roof support to be considered a green roof.
Vegetative roof covers typically consist of low-growing grasses, wildflowers or mountain vegetation such as mosses – helping the roof remain 30-40% cooler by absorbing excess heat from the sun while simultaneously decreasing heat transfer from roof to building by 72%.
Drones
Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in numerous industries. Their versatility ranges from lightweight models with cameras for filming, to robust UAVs that transport heavy medical supplies.
An essential component of any drone is its gyroscope. Gyros allow the drone to maintain its direction as it travels through the air, guaranteeing a smooth flying experience.
Drones also utilize GPS systems that assist them in navigating and detecting obstacles across landscapes and terrain. High-end GNSS systems use satellite constellations for precise navigation.
Drones can serve a number of functions, from military surveillance to surveying an area. Businesses also utilize drones as delivery vehicles when reaching remote regions by hand is too far.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise to transform how we view and approach roofing. AI could assist us with decision-making, increase efficiency and safeguard safety.
AI can be utilized to automate repetitive tasks and take full advantage of available data, as well as enhance human performance.
Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development is using AI and aerial imagery to detect collapsing roofs. Their model analyzes building code enforcement data as well as aerial imagery to detect dark black pixels that might indicate roof damage.
The city is currently making adjustments to their tool in order to detect more damage and detect structures at risk of collapsing which are nearby vacant properties.
Artificial Intelligence can be utilized to advance various aspects of roofing technology, including drone inspections and predictive maintenance. AI allows roofers to perform inspections more quickly and accurately – saving both time and money in inspection costs.
