Chief Executive Officer at Bluebeam.
The pace of technology adoption in construction is advancing, but the industry remains a laggard in digital adoption compared to other traditional physical or infrastructure-intensive industries. Yet with new macroeconomic trends cornering the construction sector, there’s an opportunity for further transformation. The success of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools has also caught the industry’s attention in an effort to meet profitability, efficiency and sustainability goals.
The entrance of these cutting-edge technologies couldn’t come at a better time for construction, which faces a bevy of critical challenges. In the U.S., this includes massive worker shortages amid skyrocketing demand thanks to billions of dollars of government and private investment for new roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure projects.
Additionally, there is the ever-changing commercial building market aiming to reimagine itself amid post-pandemic social trends, as well as a residential housing market desperately in need of more inventory.
All together, 2024 will be a crucial year for construction technology adoption. Here are three big trends I predict will take place in the next year that will help our industry move forward:
Responsible AI Use
More AI applications this year will emerge in construction. The architecture and design sector, in particular, is poised for major applications, especially with the rise of generative AI. Such an emergence of practical—and ethical—AI is likely to become more commonplace across construction.
As someone who has been involved in developing AI in other tech-focused sectors, I know the significance of ensuring that these tools are used responsibly.
Above all, AI tools need to be created using unbiased data. Consider facial recognition technology. If an AI dataset is trained on specific data, unfair biases will likely emerge, encouraging the technology, for instance, to target one specific group of people. Creating AI that avoids these types of outcomes is paramount to the technology’s continued development and adoption.
The Emergence Of Early Winners In Hardware
In 2024, material science innovations are poised to find the spotlight. With substantial research and development (R&D) investments from the federal government, physics and chemistry-focused technologies are set to introduce new, sustainable materials and methods. While widespread adoption may not occur in 2024, it will provide early indications on the long-term outlook.
Many startups are addressing the urgent need for alternatives to cement, a major contributor to the world’s annual CO2 emissions. Some of these ventures include:
- Carbon Limit, a climate technology company transforming concrete into a carbon capture and storage solution.
- MAA’VA, a company developing eco-friendly building materials as concrete alternatives.
- CarbiCrete, a Canadian company using steel slag instead of cement in its patented concrete block manufacturing.
- JuuNoo, a Belgian startup that manufactures reusable construction and building materials.
- Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, an Indian startup pioneering a 3D concrete printing technique, which facilitated the construction of India’s first 3D-printed house in just 21 days.
Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions that solve painful inefficiencies will also gain prominence beyond POCs. For example, startups such as Reconstruct can use cameras to provide real-time information about the progress on-site. What’s more, many IoT-based solutions have gone through pilots with leading construction industry firms in recent years.
Accelerated Industry Digitization
As the CEO of Bluebeam, I’ve witnessed the tremendous progress the construction industry is making with digital solutions. In the past decade alone, innovation in construction software has simplified countless once-arduous industry workflows, bolstering its ability to complete projects faster, which in turn maximizes its profitability and long-term return on investment.
Still, opportunity in this area abounds. Too many construction professionals remain reliant on paper. This leads to increased risk for errors, re-work and cost overruns. Moreover, the ongoing digitization of the industry is essential to making the industry more environmentally sustainable.
What’s more, the efficiencies gained through technology can lead to reducing construction waste. And less re-work due to improved document legibility and clarity saves money and reduces the industry’s carbon footprint.
Continuing these sustainability measures would be a massive accomplishment, one that would help transform the industry’s reputation as a primary contributor of carbon emissions to one that is maximizing the power of today’s technology to drastically reduce this negative affect on the environment.
Looking Ahead
It’s a fascinating time to be a technologist in the construction industry. It’s important for us all to collaborate on clear strategies based off the pain points and challenges those in our industry face. Just because we could disrupt the industry doesn’t mean we necessarily have to. We can find simple ways to incorporate technologies like AI into our existing solutions to make them even more efficient and useful. The industry has such potential for growth, and I am excited to be at the forefront of it with our industry partners and customers.
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