The Future of Construction

Learn about the new trends in roofing and construction
Hebrews 3:4 – For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Want to be at the forefront of construction trends going forward?
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Futures Group & Council can help, since they have put together ten ways that the construction industry is changing.

Increased regulations on carbon-based fuels are driving adoption of alternative energy solutions. Further promotion of alternative power sources is likely to add to the difficulty in building out fleets of buildings, with new restrictions and mandates. Case in point: The U.S. target of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution from 2005 levels by more than 50% by 2030. The recently finalized GHG emissions rules by the Environmental Protection Agency are set to drastically impact light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks from model years 2023-2026. The EPA has also addressed plans for a variety of rules related to heavy-duty trucks, aimed at reducing GHG emissions even more. With an accelerated transition toward renewables, new and upgraded infrastructure will be even more critical.

Proverbs 24:27 – Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

The EPA has also addressed plans for a variety of rules related to heavy-duty trucks, aimed at reducing GHG emissions even more
With an accelerated transition toward renewables, new and upgraded infrastructure will be even more critical. Data from the Climate & Energy Solutions Center shows renewables increased by 42% between 2010 and 2020. Alongside that, data from the US Energy Information Administration shows renewable sources account for about 12% of US energy use.

Project owners are already starting to issue net-zero promises for new buildings and infrastructure
This would require alternate materials and construction processes. Contractors will help with the effort, providing more efficient equipment and operations, and existing buildings will require additional means to achieve sustainable design. New construction equipment will become increasingly electrically powered, in step with the continued efforts at decarbonization. As these new products prove to be reliable, construction companies will expand further into electrification to comply with regulatory and societal expectations, as well as reduce operational costs.

Luke 6:46-49 – And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?   (Read More…)

Connectivity is leading to transformations on the worksite. Decision-making and efficiency at work sites in the building industry will be enhanced by the expansion of digital connectivity. The report states that, “Real-time visibility of machinery utilization, diagnostic information, and productivity helps construction fleets enhance asset management, lower fuel usage, improve safety, and enhance preventive maintenance schedules.

With omnipresent connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI) has potential applications on work sites
Which allows the AI to scale up and enhance its capabilities to analyze data and problem-solve. Autonomous devices and components will be of greater benefit and prominence in connected jobsites. While the construction industry has been historically slow to embrace technology innovations when compared with others, many operations and tasks demonstrate potential utility from automation. In recent years, AI and related machine learning technologies development has been an important focus for the federal government. In 2021, the administration is investing approximately $6 billion into autonomous R&D. This is the starting point of next steps towards building autonomy.

Luke 14:28 – For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Sensors are improving both efficiency and safety. The move from single devices to an array of sensors for tracking and reporting on personnel and equipment will help to increase efficiency and safety on both the work site and the office. Some construction companies are already using wearable devices, like watches and helmets. Such devices will continue to be improved “to track workers movements in order to detect falls, breaches to safety zones, exposure to heat, noise, and hazardous gases, and workers body temperature and heart rate,” according to the report.

These devices will work in tandem to provide an integrated picture of workers safety. McKinsey & Company released a report that said that almost 41% of workers in the U.S. construction industry are expected to retire by 2031. The “super funded and researched people’s” say that new technologies will help rewrite the construction industry’s outdated narrative, which, in turn, provides companies with greater opportunities to attract younger workers with a wider variety of skill sets. To prepare for this workforce transition, the construction industry should use implementation of new technologies as a strength, marketing themselves to those with appropriate skill sets.

Philippians 4:19 – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Jobs like machine learning technicians, autonomous fleet managers, and IoT architects
Will find themselves landing at similar positions to project estimators, heavy equipment operators, and superintendents. Construction companies will adopt new ways to access equipment and technologies via software-as-a-service and equipment-as-a-service. Companies can pay for what they use, eliminating all the costs associated with maintaining it. This streamlines processes and keeps them up-to-date with the latest and best software and hardware at an affordable price.

The data from construction work will show their worth. The construction value chain gathers and stores data that seems infinite, from sources like building information modeling, parts databases, enterprise resource planning systems, estimation software, IoT devices, and operator data. Because it is being collected so quickly, new ways of monetizing that data are going to arise.

Cybersecurity is becoming a core part of business strategy
Cybersecurity is becoming more and more critical, even in industries that historically were not the main targets of cybercrime. Studies have shown that about 74% of construction companies are unprepared to handle a cyberattack, even as connected devices are being used more and more at work sites and offices. These provide cybercriminals a seemingly infinite choice of entry points from which to launch attacks.

Proverbs 14:1-12 – Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.   (Read More…)

The building trades are in the middle of a radical shift. For mature economies as well as growing ones, the construction sector provides an essential link to other sectors for economic growth. In the future, the industry is expected to contribute to solving ongoing climate challenges, shaping a city’s vision, and solving energy-related problems.

Another issue where the technology is poised to make a difference is that of security. I frequently discuss the ways in which building jobs can be dangerous at my site, LeverInjuryLaw.com, and it seems like the trends going forward could reduce some of those hazards. To answer the question of what construction will look like in the future, it is important to take a look at various technologies already available to the industry.

The acceptance of building information modeling (BIM) is growing
It provides a collaborative means of working with contractors, architects, surveyors, and engineers to reduce wasteful costs. It also allows a building owner to make smart decisions before, during, and after the building is built. To make sure it is more than just theory, in April 2016, the British building industry became the first user of BMI, and it is likely to become the norm for all public sector construction projects. Robots are being used to fill a gap in the technology in construction, providing skills, driving down costs, and accelerating the pace of projects. A recent Bank of America report stated the overall world market for robots and AI is expected to hit $99 billion by 2020, and that construction will be the main industry affected by the technology.

Nehemiah 4:1-23 – But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.   (Read More…)

Today, manual labor is being replaced by faster machines such as robots in the construction industry. They are being used because of their cost-saving characteristics, but also because of the safety considerations.

One such example is an Australian-designed robot called Hadrian. Hadrian was reported to have brought to the finish line the construction of 15,000 brick houses within two days. Using a robot such as Hadrian is touted as a breakthrough due to its effectiveness, with lower costs and higher quality levels compared with hand-laying methods.

The Big Data concept refers to the vast amount of information stored in the past, and continues to be stored up-to-date
The data has the potential for being used in a sustainable way in the future, thereby increasing efficiencies, in construction as well as in other sectors. The sources of Big Data could be computers, machines, sensors, or any other devices that produce data. In the case of building, in particular, data is built upon already existing plans and records for every building that has ever been built.

The steady input from various sources, like cranes, excavators, and the materials supply chain, all contribute to a larger body of data. The idea behind leveraging the big data is based on getting better insights into a industry, at the same time making better, more rational decisions within the building industry. This would aid in gaining access to more data and analyzing it appropriately in order to derive conclusions tailored for real-world construction and construction.

Isaiah 58:12 – And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

The building industry deals with large volumes of data (heterogeneous) which is expected to grow exponentially as the ever-updated technologies such as sensors are developed. The recent arrival of Big Data has helped the construction site to gain an abundance of information that has transformed the building process.

This technology will be used in monitoring and measuring asset performance for a given lifecycle. The Internet of Things will enable building machines, equipment, materials, as well as structures, to connect with one central platform. This will increase the capture of key data that can contribute towards improving the parameters for productivity.

This is the concept that is expected to benefit smart cities and towns. The Internet of Things is believed to enable building companies to learn from data, while at the same time adapting to future designs which will reduce costs.

Also, it would enable anticipatory repairs and maintenance at the building sites, helping avoid potential threats in the future. From the majority of these advances, we can infer that the construction of the future is going to be characterized by the use of more advanced building technologies and increased site efficiency. These technological advances will greatly reduce the number of injuries during construction, while also leading to more impressive structures for the public. It will also further aid energy conservation and address certain climate challenges.

Proverbs 24:3 – Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: