Imagine it: a building coming together like a set of LEGO bricks — quickly, efficiently, with much less waste. That is the idea behind modular construction, an innovative approach to how civil engineers create everything from homes to hospitals.

Rather than building piece by piece at the site, engineers today erect big pieces - modules in factories and transport them to the construction site for assembly like building blocks. Such a method makes construction much faster; what would take a year to complete sometimes can be done in a few months. For example, units that make up the apartment complex are constructed off-site, shipped over and stacked up in no time.

Modular construction is not only fast but also happens to be greener. As buildings are constructed in the factory, engineers can perfectly measure materials, reduce waste, and make everything in a controlled environment such that quality would be more and less energy wasted. Plus, whatever is constructed is absolutely up for fit-together purposes with less need for last-minute fixes and adjustments on site.

This approach is especially useful for inaccessible sites or when every day counts. Think about how in remote settings, a typical construction site might be hard to establish or too slow to establish, whereas modular construction allows teams to bring in prefabricated sections, which can stand up emergency housing or healthcare facilities quickly when they're needed most.

As technologies advance, civil engineers can make modular construction more flexible and efficient. New materials and techniques, such as 3D printing, are being used in experimenting for adaptable and sustainable structures. Building smarter and faster can fulfill some of the changing needs of communities as they build with minimum social impacts.