Over the past 10 years, about $10 billion has been invested in construction software development. Today, houses are assembled on a laptop screen, bricks from recycled toilets are used in construction, and villages appear thanks to 3D printers.
Experts from Intelvision software development company have highlighted the main trends in the construction sector that will remain popular in the next 10 years.
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Construction Market Overview
According to the international center of excellence for the practice and profession of ADR CIArb, the global construction market will grow by $8 trillion by 2030, driven by China, the U.S., and India.
Another new study, Global Construction 2030, forecasts that the volume of construction output will grow by 85% to $15.5 trillion worldwide by 2030, also showing China, the U.S., and India leading the way and accounting for 57% of all global growth. The implementation of software and innovative technologies covers all construction stages, from project initiation to the on-site activities and the complementation stage.
7 Construction Technologies
Virtual and Augmented Reality
With the $8 trillion forecast in the industry’s global growth by 2030, the use of VR and AR would surely be significant. Having mentioned the possibility of a 90% reduction in building costs when implemented in 2022, AR/VR technology has been seen in various remote site inspections. It also enables safety and collaboration among AEC personnel.
Drones
In 2023 and beyond, expect more AI-oriented drones. And this technology has much more tasks here than just aerial photography. For example, drones can be programmed to check and detect gas, water, and fire threats using special air quality sensors, and optical as well as infrared cameras.
In addition, construction theft costs US companies between $300 million and $1 billion a year, so drones can be used to reduce costs for this item.
Digital Twins
A digital twin is a digital representation of an intended or actual real-world physical product.It covers the lifecycle of an object and uses real-time data sent from the object’s sensors to model behavior and monitor operations. Digital twins in the construction sector carry out performance analysis considering occupants’ behaviors with the use of patterns and space.
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
BIM is a crucial tool for modern architectural, engineering, and building processes. It covers a wide range of dimensions and levels. BIM has been used on several projects that became famous. For example, John Sisk & Son applied BIM in the Quintain Wembley project in London through its Digital Project Delivery (DPD) approach.
3D Printing
The 3D printing market in the construction industry is projected to reach $58 million by 2024. The technology reduces production costs, logistics, personnel costs, and construction time. For example, the Californian company Mighty Buildings 3D printed the 65 m² Mighty Duo B house in just eight weeks. The company’s workers claim that projects using a 3D printer can be completed 75% faster than it would be with traditional construction approaches.
The lower price is another benefit of 3D printing in the industry. Construction 3D printer supplier Black Buffalo 3D claims that the device is 40% cheaper than, for example, a building with wood frames that are made on-site.
Smart cities
According to forecasts, the global smart city market will grow by 20.5% and reach $2.5 trillion by 2025. The Toyota Motor concern has announced Woven Smart City construction with an area of 708 thousand m², designed for two thousand people. It will be built in the city of Susono, a couple of hours drive from Tokyo.
Woven City will be equipped with thousands of sensors. They are even going to test unmanned vehicles for transporting passengers. The city will also have smart homes that automatically take out the garbage and restock refrigerators. Woven City itself will operate on solar and hydrogen energy. The construction began in February 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in 2024–2025.
Exoskeletons
Separate organizations are developing technologies that will enhance the skills of people, but not replace them with robots. For example, the biomechanical company Ottobock from Germany and the Swedish Hilti have released the EXO-O1 exoskeleton. It does not require a connection to a power source.
The exoskeleton is suitable for work performed above shoulder level. The weight from the arms is transferred to the hips through the forearm supports using mechanical cable tension. Testing has shown that with the EXO-O1, the load on the muscles is reduced by up to 47%.
Despite these evolutions, there are still challenges in fully implementing digital solutions in construction. Be the one to start innovating today to outperform your competitors and become the leader in your market.
