What Are the Biggest Construction Technology Trends?
The construction sector has a reputation for being slow when it comes to adopting new technology. However, as the benefits of digitization have seen more widespread recognition, that’s starting to change. Now, major construction technology trends are redefining the industry.
Tomorrow’s most successful firms will likely be those that capitalize on the most disruptive technologies today. Here are five of the most significant of these technology trends that could drive the industry forward over the next few years.
Photo by Engin Akyurt
1. Building Information Modeling
One of the most important construction technology trends today is building information modeling (BIM). BIM software lets architects create and share 3D digital models of projects, often with automated clash detection that highlights potential issues. This transparency and shareability can lead to substantial error reduction and time savings.
BIM itself isn’t necessarily new, but its popularity in the U.S. is fairly recent. As its benefits have become increasingly clear, its adoption has soared, with some states even mandating it for some projects to ensure quick, affordable completion. While BIM struggled to gain a foothold until a few years ago, it’s quickly becoming a standard across the industry.
As these trends continue, BIM use will expand beyond the design phase. Teams will use this software’s collaborative features and accessibility to share information across the construction phase, preventing rework. After completion, property managers will take BIM models to enable easier ongoing expansions and maintenance.
2. Modular Construction
Another quickly growing trend across the construction industry is modular building. This practice constructs individual rooms and building segments in factory environments before shipping them to work sites for final assembly. By handling the bulk of the project in controlled, easily automatable workplaces, teams can avoid many mistakes and delays.
Prefabricated buildings are often more affordable, thanks to their more efficient processes and lack of weather-related delays. Modular workflows also make it easier to manage bulk material orders, reducing resource costs, too.
Because modular construction reduces on-site time, it’s also safer and makes it easier to implement technologies like automation. These improvements may help attract and retain employees and mitigate the impact of labor shortages, which will be increasingly important for firms in the future.
3. The Internet of Things
The internet of things (IoT) has seen widespread adoption across many industries, and construction is no exception. Wireless interconnecting devices offer real-time insights and remote accessibility, making many construction processes more convenient.
The IoT’s use cases in construction are broad and varied, but all provide critical advantages. Smart measuring tools can scan work sites and send measurements to employees’ phones, saving hundreds of hours of manual work and travel. Connected vests and helmets can monitor workers’ heart rates and body temperatures, alerting them when they should take a break to prevent overexertion.
IoT sensors can also help construction teams keep track of their equipment’s maintenance needs to avoid breakdowns and reduce ongoing costs. As the technology develops, new use cases and benefits will emerge, too. IoT adoption will quickly become a necessity to remain competitive in the industry.
4. 3D Printing
Another one of today’s most significant construction technology trends is 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing. Because 3D printing is fast and precise, it’s ideal for producing custom or replacement parts and furniture. That’s particularly helpful for DIY-ers and maintenance teams performing ongoing care or expanding existing buildings.
More recent technological advances have even made it possible to 3D print entire buildings. Large-scale, concrete-extruding printers can help complete homes twice as quickly with 99% less waste and 20% lower costs than conventional processes.
While 3D printing isn’t ideal for every project, it represents a revolutionary step forward for affordable housing and custom infrastructure. These segments of the industry could see dramatically falling costs and expanding business opportunities as their additive manufacturing adoption rises.
5. Green Construction Technology
It’s difficult to talk about technology trends in any industry today and not mention sustainability. Eco-friendliness is becoming increasingly important to both businesses and consumers in a trend that will only grow as climate change becomes more apparent. As homeowners seek to make their homes more energy-efficient and organizations try to reduce their carbon footprints, sustainable building technologies will grow.
Time-saving technologies like BIM and 3D printing are part of this shift, as less time on the work site translates into fewer equipment-related emissions. A related and similarly important piece of the puzzle is zero-emissions construction equipment like electric bulldozers and hydrogen fuel cell generators. These machines are still in their infancy today but will become more affordable and accessible over time.
Technological advances in synthetic green building materials will also help the industry become more sustainable. Self-healing concrete, biomaterials, and similar novel materials will reduce buildings’ embodied carbon to meet tomorrow’s environmental needs.
Construction Technology Trends Will Reshape the Industry
These five construction technology trends are some of the fastest-growing and most disruptive shifts in the industry today. Firms that take advantage of them early could see significant growth in the future, while those that wait too long may struggle to compete in future markets.
Technologies like these are making construction safer, faster, more sustainable, and more cost-efficient. As they become standard across the industry, the sector’s reputation for delays, danger, and cost overruns will fade.
Author Bio: Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized. She is a journalist who covers the innovations impacting the construction and industrial sectors.
