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March 4, 2022

The Future of Construction Is Digital and Diverse

Construction worker with tablet

If you look at the average construction site today, it’s much like a construction site from 50 years ago. You’ll see machines large and small along with skilled craftspeople working to create a bespoke structure from standard materials. It’s a slow process, errors are common, and roughly a third of all the raw materials end up as waste.

But if you look closely, you might see clues that construction is changing. Perhaps it’s someone walking around with an iPad connected to the cloud instead of paper documentation. Maybe someone is laser scanning the job site—or perhaps a small autonomous robot is doing that job. You might see more women doing skilled work. Progress might be faster since there are fewer clashes to resolve and less rework. Perhaps components are arriving at the site ready for installation, such as MEP modules or even complete rooms—and less waste is being hauled to the landfill as a result.

All of these changes indicate that the construction industry is at an inflection point. The digitization that began transforming other industries decades ago has finally taken hold in construction, enabled by mobile and cloud technologies, innovations ranging from AI to robotics, and new approaches like DfMA that can improve efficiency and safety.

Construction workers are becoming technology workers. The possibility of connected construction is becoming a reality. And the construction site of the future could look very different than the construction site of the past. Get ready for what’s ahead with this related learning:

Digital transformation

The increased adoption of digital technologies is affecting every aspect of construction, from bidding to building. To say that this is fundamentally altering how the construction industry operates is no exaggeration. Business owners can improve outcomes by adopting new processes and strategies.

  • Hear Lee Ramsey of Morgan Sindall discuss the need to build new skills and cultivate the culture of tomorrow’s construction site today.
  • Explore key factors in the digitization of construction and learn how to best share information between the job site and the common data environment.
  • Discover the importance of bringing data to the center of your process as soon as possible with practical examples from the team at Saipem.
  • Find out how Wills Bros implemented BIM 360 on three major projects as part of their digital transformation journey. Their story makes a great case for taking the leap.
     

Automation

Automation is a major factor in the digital transformation of construction and the movement towards industrialized construction. Whether it be on or off the job site, automation will drive the future of the industry.

Reimagining the workforce

The construction workforce is changing, bringing greater equity and inclusion. Women in Construction Week, which runs March 6-12 this year, is highlighting and celebrating women in the industry and raising awareness of their accomplishments.

“There has long been a culture of construction being only for men,” says Crissy Ingram, executive director of the National Association of Women in Construction. “If we can get women who have worked past that barrier out of the shadows and into the spotlight, they can show other women—no matter their age or background—that there are countless opportunities for them in the industry.”

  • We can solve the labor shortage in construction through more inclusive hiring—and also boost the bottom line, according to Dr. Giovanna Brasfield.
  • Construction, academia, and government need to come together to affect transformational change in the industry. This panel discussion offers a road map to help stakeholders work together to shift thinking, behaviors, and processes—and ensure future workers are ready for the digital future.
  • Discover some specific steps you can take to become an ally in the AEC industry and help make it more diverse, inclusive, and equitable for all.
     

Explore more construction learning anytime.

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