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

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Discover the latest in construction innovation with Construction Links Network’s weekly Construction Technology Blog—your go-to source for insights on how tech is transforming the industry. Each week, we explore cutting-edge tools, software, materials, and trends shaping design, planning, project management, and on-site execution. Whether you’re a contractor, engineer, or industry leader, our blog delivers timely updates and expert perspectives to keep you informed and ahead in the fast-evolving world of construction technology.

Bentley Systems has announced new asset analytics capabilities within its Blyncsy platform, leveraging Google Maps Platform’s Imagery Insights to transform roadway condition detection and analysis. Revealed at Google Cloud Next 2025, this advancement integrates Google Street View’s global panoramic imagery with Google’s Vertex AI and Bentley’s AI-driven Blyncsy technology to deliver automated asset inspections. This partnership allows transportation departments and engineering firms to identify roadway issues faster, monitor infrastructure changes over time, and receive early alerts about potential hazards—improving safety and maintenance efficiency. The enhanced capabilities also support disaster recovery by enabling cost-effective, rapid damage assessments. Originating from a strategic alliance formed in October 2024, the collaboration combines Bentley’s infrastructure expertise with Google’s powerful geospatial and AI tools. Blyncsy, part of the Bentley Asset Analytics portfolio, exemplifies how AI and imagery can streamline asset management and accelerate decision-making in the transportation sector, with future expansion into other industries planned.

Alquist 3D and RIC Robotics have made history by completing a 5,000-square-foot, 16.5-foot-tall Walmart delivery warehouse extension in Huntsville, Alabama, in just seven days—including setup time—despite winter conditions. This marks a significant leap in commercial 3D construction, cutting the timeline from 45 days (in a similar Tennessee project) to just one week. Using two RIC-M1 Pro robots and only five workers, the project demonstrates how robotic 3D printing drastically reduces labor demands and construction time. RIC’s mobile 3D printers offer fast setup, agile modular design, and unprecedented scalability—now reaching print heights up to 32 feet. Compatible with widely available materials like Quikrete and Sika, these robots also offer precision, seamless layer transitions, and exceptional build stability.

One Click Contractor®, a leading sales enablement platform for residential contractors, has announced a strategic merger with 1 & Fund®, a trusted financing platform for the remodeling industry. This first-of-its-kind integration unites sales and financing into one streamlined solution—empowering contractors to present, estimate, close, and offer financing from a single platform. By embedding 1 & Fund’s patent-pending financing tools into One Click Contractor’s platform, the merger enhances how contractors sell and scale, delivering faster funding, greater efficiency, and a superior customer experience. The combined solution is designed to help contractors grow on their terms with unmatched automation and flexible financial options. Rollout of the unified platform will begin in phases throughout 2025, with new capabilities arriving as early as Q2.

viAct, a leading impact AI company focused on industrial safety and sustainability, has secured a US$7.3M Series A funding round led by Venturewave Capital, with participation from Singtel Innov8, Korea Investment Partners, and PolyU’s Entrepreneurship Fund. This investment will accelerate viAct’s global expansion, especially in the Middle East, and fuel advancements in AI-powered hazard prediction, compliance, and environmental monitoring. Since 2016, viAct has pioneered a holistic AI ecosystem that transforms traditional construction safety practices into predictive, real-time, and connected solutions. Unlike fragmented tools that only address isolated issues, viAct integrates proprietary computer vision technology to reduce workplace incidents, improve efficiency, and support sustainability goals. Backed by strong industry and government support, the company aims to redefine standards for safety and operational excellence in high-risk sectors. With a mission to connect critical workplaces and bridge policy with execution, viAct is at the forefront of reshaping industrial practices through intelligent automation and data-driven insights.

In a groundbreaking collaboration to combat increasingly severe wildfires, Strategic Natural Resource Group and FireSwarm Solutions Inc. have partnered to bring automated aerial fire suppression technology to Canada. This innovative initiative merges Strategic’s decade-long leadership in wildfire response with FireSwarm’s pioneering wildfire defense platform, which integrates ultra heavy-lift drones, real-time surveillance, and AI-driven swarm technology. The partnership aims to revolutionize early wildfire attack efforts—particularly during nighttime and in remote areas where traditional aircraft are ineffective—by focusing on deployment, distribution, and operator training across Canada. As BC’s largest Indigenous-owned resource consulting group, Strategic brings deep experience in emergency response, while FireSwarm, a BC-based startup, is pushing the boundaries of autonomous aerial firefighting. Field testing is underway throughout Canada in 2025, with full deployment expected in 2026. This collaboration marks a major leap forward in wildfire mitigation, offering enhanced safety for First Nations, communities, and emergency crews, and establishing a new standard in Canadian wildfire defense.

XYZ Reality has launched its next-generation construction delivery platform, setting a new standard in mission-critical project execution. Now central to its service offering, the web-based platform enhances efficiency, accuracy, and transparency across the construction lifecycle. By integrating real-time data, 4D BIM planning, quality tracking, and automated reporting into a unified interface, it enables teams to build right the first time—reducing costly errors, delays, and rework. Seamlessly syncing with XYZ Reality’s augmented reality system, the platform provides dynamic status updates, 360° site validation, and mobile compatibility for real-time field data collection. Key differentiators include instant on-site validation, true 4D integration, and a single source of truth that accelerates decisions and project timelines by up to six weeks. Strategic Advisor Brian Mattson praised the platform’s game-changing visibility, while CEO David Mitchell highlighted its role in eliminating guesswork through irrefutable, live data. With efficiency gains of up to 500% in certain activities, the XYZ Platform is redefining construction delivery by consolidating essential tools into one powerful solution—driving project success with precision and control.

Houzz Inc. has introduced two powerful AI-driven features to its Houzz Pro 3D Floor Plan tool, streamlining design workflows for home remodeling and construction professionals. The new capabilities—part of Houzz Pro’s AutoMate AI suite—allow users to instantly convert 2D floor plans into fully editable 3D Floor Plans, while also transforming product photos into 3D models for precise design customization. By automating time-consuming tasks, the updates help pros present visually compelling, client-ready designs faster, boosting efficiency and client confidence. AutoMate AI preserves key architectural details when converting 2D plans and supports integration with the Houzz Pro Clipper to create 3D models from vendor or custom images. These models can be placed directly into 3D Floor Plans, which clients can explore via dollhouse view, walkthroughs, or augmented reality using the mobile app. Native to the Houzz Pro platform, these tools integrate seamlessly with features like Selections, Client Dashboards, and Estimating—making it easier than ever to manage projects from concept to completion. Houzz Pro continues to redefine project management and design by offering cloud-based, AI-enhanced tools for everything from Takeoffs and Invoices to client presentations, helping pros deliver projects with speed, accuracy, and impact.

PTAG Inc. has entered into an agreement in principle to acquire 100% of Construct-X, a strategic move that unites two leaders in Advanced Work Packaging (AWP), Lean methodologies, and digital project execution. This acquisition marks a significant step toward reshaping how complex industrial and infrastructure projects are delivered, leveraging data-driven solutions and collaborative contracting to improve performance and predictability. Construct-X, based in Houston, brings deep expertise in digital execution and performance optimization for major industrial clients. PTAG, a global leader in collaborative project management, has long partnered with Construct-X to implement transformative delivery practices. Together, the combined entity will offer a future-ready suite of Advanced Project Delivery solutions for sectors including nuclear, energy, technology, and mining. The collaboration will be spotlighted at the Canadian Nuclear Association Conference, where both companies will share their unified vision for driving efficiency and innovation across capital projects worldwide. With this acquisition, PTAG and Construct-X are set to accelerate the adoption of industry-leading project execution strategies, reducing risk and enhancing business outcomes for clients.

SFW Construction, a trusted siding and home restoration expert in the Pacific Northwest, has introduced a free, easy-to-use JamesHardie Siding Material Calculator that simplifies the process of estimating siding needs for any home project. Designed with regional climate challenges in mind, the tool generates fast, accurate estimates based on a few basic inputs—wall dimensions, gables, windows, and doors—while correcting for common errors like overestimating or forgetting to subtract openings. Homeowners can compare materials, set rough budgets, or validate contractor quotes without the pressure of a sales pitch. With results broken down by popular JamesHardie siding products, including lap and panel options, the calculator empowers users to make informed decisions and start projects with clarity and confidence. Backed by over 15 years of local experience, SFW Construction built this tool to eliminate guesswork and improve planning, whether you’re tackling a small repair or a full exterior renovation. Results are downloadable as a PDF, making it easy to share with contractors or keep for reference. No sign-up is required—just smarter, stress-free project preparation.

Windsor-based tech startup Scelta, founded by David Mill in 2022, has earned national recognition as Mill was named one of The Peak’s “Emerging Leaders Under 40 to Watch.” Using his life savings and construction industry experience, Mill launched Scelta to streamline the development process with a centralized software solution. The company’s flagship product, Scelta 360, supports every stage of a project—from early design and marketing to buyer interaction and subcontractor coordination—using tools like 3D modeling, VR walkthroughs, and real-time communication portals. With over 1,000 users and $500 million in project involvement, Scelta is driving major efficiency gains for contractors. Now with 12 team members and rapid expansion into Toronto, London, and Seattle, the company expects 95% year-over-year growth. Scelta is also launching two new tools: Scelta Map, a public platform showcasing local development data, and a talent-matching portal built with local tech partner Picsume. These tools aim to boost community engagement and workforce alignment. Amid industry challenges such as tariffs, Scelta is adapting with more affordable and scalable tech solutions, reinforcing its commitment to innovation in real estate development.

Shawmut Design and Construction, a $2 billion firm overseeing over 150 active worksites daily, is leading the charge in leveraging AI to enhance job site safety across its operations. With approximately 30,000 workers under its watch, the Boston-based company uses artificial intelligence to predict and prevent safety incidents by analyzing weather data, staffing patterns, and site conditions. Since adopting AI in 2017—accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic—Shawmut has implemented features like GPS tracking, real-time alerts for social distancing, and fall protection compliance. While these innovations have significantly improved safety outcomes, they also raise ethical concerns regarding privacy and consent. Shawmut has responded by anonymizing data and focusing solely on safety applications. Despite current limitations in real-time data and regional regulation adaptability, the company is developing more advanced solutions, including digital job site mapping and dynamic policy updates. Shawmut’s approach reflects a growing trend in construction: using smart technology not just for efficiency, but as a proactive measure to safeguard workers. With 95% of industry data going unused and $1.8 trillion lost annually due to poor data quality, Shawmut aims to set a new standard in data-driven safety management.

CMiC, a leader in construction ERP solutions, has unveiled NEXUS, the industry’s first AI-powered construction ERP platform, set to revolutionize how construction teams manage data, workflows, and project outcomes. Built on advanced technologies including natural language processing, predictive analytics, and generative AI, NEXUS empowers users to make data-driven decisions, improve productivity, and enhance employee engagement. Key innovations include “Ask AI,” a GPT-4-powered tool that turns complex data analysis into natural language queries, and Daily Sentiment Analysis, which tracks project morale using insights from daily journals. Additional AI features include smart API integrations, automated workflows, anomaly detection, and data summarization. CMiC’s commitment to innovation is further underscored by its roadmap of upcoming features, including AI-driven drawing extraction. This launch marks the beginning of a multi-year rollout and will officially debut at CONNECT 2025. According to CMiC leadership, these advancements not only enhance core ERP functionality but also reflect a strategic focus on continuous improvement and customer feedback. As digital transformation accelerates in construction, CMiC is positioning itself as a frontrunner in shaping the future of AI-enabled project management.