A look at the world of Construction Technology – by Arnie Gess, publisher of Construction Links Network

Technology is transforming every aspect of the construction industry, from design and planning to project management and execution. As new tools and techniques continue to emerge, it’s more important than ever for professionals in the field to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations. This blog series offers in-depth coverage of the most important developments in construction technology. Whether you’re interested in the latest software platforms, the newest building materials, or the cutting-edge research shaping the future of the industry, you’ll find it all here.

The construction industry is facing various challenges, including workforce shortages, rising costs of commodities, and global shortages of critical materials like cement, which could slow down infrastructure projects. The US Census Bureau revealed that manufacturing inventories amount to $2,471.6 billion, tying up a significant amount of capital. Lean manufacturing and industrialized construction (IC) aim to streamline processes and save costs in the millions. Monitoring the intersection of physical and digital worlds is crucial, such as linking physical toolboxes to digital inventories to combat theft. This article in Geo Week News discusses why digitization is deemed necessary to future-proof the industry, and three examples are provided on how it can improve process management, reduce waste, and enhance production output and quality.

B2W Software, a Trimble company and leading provider of heavy construction management software, has added extensive new alerts and notifications capabilities in the current release of its B2W Platform. The new features let contractors communicate automatically and in real time across the office, field and shop for further efficiency in resource scheduling, field performance tracking, and equipment maintenance workflows.

According to this article, experts estimate around 60% of buildings that will exist in 30 years’ time have yet to be built. This equals constructing a city the size of Stockholm every week until 2050. However, the construction sector currently doesn’t have the people or the skills to deliver the infrastructure and homes we need at the pace required. But what if we could offload some of the work to robots? Enter 3D concrete printing — an emerging technology that uses 3D printers to create all manner of structures, from bridges and sculptures to houses and even whole neighbourhoods.

We know we are supposed to switch the lights off when we leave a room, but what about the furnace, or the air-conditioning? According to Professor Seungjae Lee (CivMin), unnecessary heating and cooling of buildings wastes a lot of energy — but artificial intelligence (AI) could offer a better way forward. Lee’s latest research project, Grid-Interactive Smart Campus Buildings, is a three-year pilot project that aims to reduce U of T’s climate footprint by leveraging AI to optimize the heating and cooling systems in existing buildings. The project is carried out in partnership with Professor Chi-Guhn Lee (MIE) and is jointly funded by the Climate Positive Energy and Climate Positive Campus initiatives at U of T.

ITpipes, a leading provider of advanced pipeline inspection and asset management software integration solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lucas Lima as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Lima brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the technology industry, making him an invaluable addition to the ITpipes leadership team. Over the past decade, Lucas Lima has built a vast and diverse managerial experience, having driven business growth and delivered exceptional results in the software and technology, infrastructure, and governmental sectors. As COO, Lima will be responsible for overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations, executing strategic initiatives, and driving operational excellence across all aspects of ITpipes’ business.

The BuildClub has launched its 2-hour delivery service of building materials in Miami. The BuildClub is a Silicon Valley startup that offers same-day, on-site delivery of building materials – 7 days a week. Leveraging AI and Machine Learning technology, The BuildClub provides a disruptive alternative to home improvement stores and wholesale warehouses. The BuildClub’s mission is to liberate contractors and homeowners from the inefficiency of sourcing building supplies and materials. Providing a disruptive alternative to home improvement stores and wholesale houses, we offer same-day, on-site delivery, at the click of a button, and at a highly competitive price point. Since launching, BuildClub has been on the fast-track for growth, setting the stage for expansion into 15 additional cities in 2023.

QR Codes have been around since 1994 where they were first used to track automotive parts for assembling Toyota cars. Most recently, many people started to familiarize themselves with QR Codes by displaying menus in restaurants. Now, construction is starting to embrace QR technology due to ease of use, no account setup or training required. QR codes provide a way for people to quickly access a website or digital form. By clicking a QR code using a smartphone’s photo app, websites and forms automatically load for each person within their mobile browser. There is no need for special passwords or to download an app. It just works. That is one of the primary reasons why construction has embraced the technology.

Contruent, the SaaS company that develops industry-leading capital project management software, announced the hiring of Richard Humphrey as Chief Product Officer. Humphrey was most recently Vice President of Product Management for Bentley Systems, a developer of infrastructure engineering software platforms. Humphrey will lead our product roadmap and strategy, working closely with the Engineering Team to build innovative solutions that empower decision-makers to build our world’s infrastructure with precision and speed.

Bentley Systems, Incorporated recently announced the launch of iTwin Activate, a 20 week co-development program designed to accelerate early-stage startups in infrastructure engineering software. The program, which is organized in cohorts aligned to industry sectors, is managed by Bentley iTwin Ventures, a $100 million corporate venture capital fund that fosters innovation by co-investing in startups and emerging companies. The iTwin Activate program supports startups in scoping and building industry relevant solutions by leveraging or interoperating with Bentley technology through program and co-development funding, solutions architecture support, and access to Bentley executives for commercial insights.

This report predicts that the global construction estimating software market is expected to grow from $1.23 billion in 2022 to $1.34 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6%. Construction estimating software is a computer application that saves and transmits data and information relevant to the process of estimating building expenses. Construction estimating software is designed to make the work of construction estimators easier and their work more efficient which can range from simple spreadsheets to highly integrated estimating software. The construction estimating software market is expected to reach $1.87 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 8.6%.