The construction sector is poised for rebuilding and regrowth. Still, rising construction costs and labor shortages will challenge business leaders to become more creative while still turning a profit. However, new construction innovations and trends are emerging to resolve the issues and speed up the rate of change in the industry.
Read on the rest of this blog to discover and learn some of the most significant trends in the construction sector that will remain significant today and for the next three years.
1. The Virtual Construction Market
The construction sector is increasingly adopting a range of new technologies. Most of these technologies are often involved with visualization and virtual designs, and they range from construction scheduling software to Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Research describes contractors’ increasing use of virtual environments – making visualization much easier in construction structures even before the structures are built in the physical world. Such virtual environments can be easily accessed via mobile devices, desktops, and virtual reality hardware.
2. Modular and Prefabrication Change How Structures Are Built
Modular construction usually involves the construction of at least 50-60% of the building and other structures before bringing it to the site. On the other hand, prefabrication, while basically part of the modular construction, usually occurs when some components of the structure are manufactured or assembled off-site.
As of 2020, the global modular construction market is worth more than 80 billion, and it is expected to grow to 100 billion by 2025. While it has been relatively small compared to the construction market, the modular industry has experienced increasing growth in the last couple of years.
3. Smart cities change the way construction company operates
The rise of smart cities is one of the largest trends affecting the construction sector. A smart city is a mere city that is fully integrated with IoT or the Internet of Things. The buildings and infrastructures all assist in collecting data to run things more efficiently.
As of today, there are also more construction industry participants who have started using the tech advancements like the Internet of Things in their building materials. And as this technology is used over time, it will most likely change how the construction sector operates.
4. Green buildings help lessen environmental issues
Green building typically involves constructing sustainable buildings using an environmentally sustainable design process. As the government and even the regulatory bodies worldwide focus more on the significant factors in every industry, more engineering and construction firms are implementing green building methods.
As of the present, the green building revolution is doing very well in the residential building market. In addition, energy efficiency has become widely regarded as the top ideal practice of contractors and home builders in enhancing green home performances.
5. Use of space
The many things that have happened previously have pushed many construction companies to shift to remote workplaces. Many reconsidered the many options on how they can bring their people together. Still, onsite workspaces do not seem to be gone for good. While remote work has been increasingly adopted, the office market has rebounded.
Hybrid work models have been introduced now to the sector and are proven to reduce commuting times for many workers. With less time spent on public transport, many individuals find it convenient. The need for functional home+ and office spaces might drive construction expansion projects in future years.
6. Collaboration Technologies
Collaboration is getting a surge in popularity regarding communication and coordination between office and field teams. Most firms today use file-sharing sites like Dropbox to communicate and collaborate with partners, while others are taking advantage of project collaboration software. Still, 90% of business owners feel they need more consistent collaboration with the contractors.
One particular tool that helps construction firms manage field-to-office miscommunication problems is construction management software. By replacing paper-based documents with automated workflows and digital construction forms, construction teams can communicate consistently and manage control over the field. No wonder there is an increasing improvement in construction management upon deploying the tool. In addition, redundancies are further reduced, and inefficient processes are fixed and are already streamlined.
7. Construction Robots
While construction robotics is still a way off from truly and completely taking over the construction industry, several proposals and designs are already on the table. The sector considers many ways to deal with the ongoing labor shortage and the need for social distancing.
There are three major types of robots today positioned to help reshape the labor of the industry. Here they are as follows:
- Collaborative robots: These robots can be used on the job site to lessen the burden of a human companion by carrying equipment and heavy tools.
- Factory robots: Factory robots can repeatedly and effectively perform a single job, such as simple manufacturing tasks.
- Fully autonomous robots: These robots are quite similar to science fiction, and they are capable of scanning the environment and performing difficult tasks independently.
8. Eco-friendly landscapes
We are now noticing an increasing interest in maximizing garden space in one of the biggest cities like New York. You will come to notice the amazing backyards people have. With self-care becoming a priority for many people ever since the pandemic hits, many will look for ways to garden without affecting their existing square footage.
Vertical gardens are growing in popularity due to their energy-efficient nature, value, and space-saving benefits. There are amazing landscapes, too, that need little to no water to maintain, and such landscapes include native plants that are most likely to flourish and survive without even the need for fertilizers.
9. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI or Artificial Intelligence is the ability of technologies to make many decisions depending on human inputs. At the same time, machine learning is the capacity to learn from previous experiences and big data analysis. Both of these techs have the biggest implications for construction, where intelligent and efficient decision-making has notable effects on safety and productivity.
Take a closer look below at some of the ways machine learning and AI are already reshaping the construction sector:
- Decreased costs: By assessing previous projects, machine learning software can determine inefficiencies and propose more effective timelines
- Improved safety: By taking advantage of machine learning processes, the software can analyze onsite photos and determine risks and safety violations.
- Better designs: Because machine learning software tools can learn over time, it will improve building design aspects by exploring numerous variations.
AI and Machine learning will soon tremendously affect every aspect of your construction projects, from production planning to project closeout. In addition, both of these technologies are enhancing novel methods of building, which are a growing part of the construction sector.
10. Increased safety measures
Safety is a very big concern in the construction sector, with 20% of workplace fatalities occurring in construction. Many construction workers suddenly die on the job due to falling, being struck by a sharp object, being caught in hazards, and electrocution.
A new trend in construction technologies and better safety equipment like IoT devices and wearables help reduce injuries onsite. These techs can measure the worker’s biometric conditions and environment. So, if someone falls, the device can pin the user’s exact location.
11. Automation
Another emerging engineering industry trend is automation, which is set to increase efficiency on construction sites. Drones and self-driving vehicles performing repetitive tasks can help speed up construction and enhance productivity and accuracy without dislocating jobs.
As a matter of fact, automation leaves construction workers free to focus more on specialized tasks, while drones can take care of the other tasks, reducing waste and decreasing overhead.
12. Design-Build
Are you familiar with Design-build? Design-build refers to a scenario when a single construction firm takes on the responsibilities of the contractors, architects, and construction workers. The whole thing is seeing a significant increase in popularity. The single point of accountability allows for seamless and smooth communication, more organic teamwork, organized feedback, and faster product delivery.
Industry buy-in has been explicit, with 48 out of 50 states in the U.S. now using design-build for public construction projects.
Uncovering the Opportunities of Using Construction Technology
Investing in the latest construction techs is ultimately a smart business move. The key is to be updated on the latest trends mentioned above and find the right tools to help you reach your business goals. To start your digital transformation, you can make tweaks and changes in your overall project management.
A versatile project management software like Pro Crew Schedule makes the workflow simplified and seamless. It is a popular scheduling tool with everything you need to pull off construction projects effectively. All users can collaborate effectively using this all-in-one software, assign tasks, work on the latest activities, and coordinate efficiently across different devices.
Get started with a free demo to begin with your first-ever digital transformation.
