August 29, 2026
by Arnie Gess, president of Construction Links Network
Construction technology is moving beyond experimentation and into everyday execution. This week, we’re seeing AI enter construction contract workflows, fabrication technology reshape data center delivery, drones expand their role on jobsites, and connected platforms improve equipment and project controls.
What stands out isn’t any single technology, it’s how quickly digital tools are becoming part of the way construction businesses operate. This edition of ConTech Weekly brings together the developments, data and ideas worth watching as that transformation accelerates.
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Equipment that’s difficult to locate. Rentals sitting idle. Pickup requests with no clear status. On a busy jobsite, even small gaps in information can cost time and money.
“Why are my construction labor hours always over budget?” Ever asked that on a job that was supposed to make money? Here’s why — and how to stop it for good.
When forecasting, time and materials billing, and work mobilization each run on separate tools, reporting fragments and decisions slow down. Bringing these three functions inside a single ERP creates a shared data foundation that lifts forecast accuracy, speeds billing, and puts crews and equipment to work faster. See how one database supports connected planning, faster invoicing, and cleaner reporting across the project lifecycle.
Capacity, power, and speed to market dominate most conversations about data centers because they’re the numbers everyone sees first. What gets less attention is the reality of delivering one of these facilities over several years while designs evolve, priorities change, and dozens of organizations work toward the same goal.
Commercial UAV Expo 2026 will bring more than 3,700 drone industry professionals and 240+ exhibitors to Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, September 1–3. Attendees from all 50 U.S. states and around the world will gather as major regulatory and trade developments reshape commercial drone operations, procurement and technology investment.
Geo Week has opened applications for its 2027 GEO Empower Event Scholarship, an initiative designed to support university students interested in using geospatial, surveying, mapping and 3D technologies to create positive social and environmental impact.
Command Alkon has appointed Tim Oakes as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), expanding his leadership across the company’s technology, engineering, product and platform strategy for the heavy building materials industry. Oakes joined Command Alkon in 2025 following its acquisition of Digital Fleet, where he served as President and CEO, and most recently led the company’s global fleet strategy and integrated fleet technology portfolio. As CTO, he will focus on aligning engineering execution with long-term product development and delivering technology that improves customer and operational outcomes. Oakes brings extensive experience in software engineering, technical product management and technology leadership, including previous roles with Groupon and Orbitz. His appointment comes as Command Alkon continues advancing software, fleet management and connected digital solutions for construction materials producers. Oakes was also recognized with a 2026 Supply & Demand Chain Executive Pros to Know Award for industry leadership.
Stratus has released its 2026 State of MEP Report: Data Center Edition, highlighting how prefabrication, fabrication capacity and connected technology are reshaping MEP data center construction. According to the report, 82% of contractors performing data center work expect their revenue share from the sector to grow over the next two years, while data center projects average an 88% prefabrication rate. Shop capacity has emerged as the leading barrier to scaling prefab, with 68% of contractors citing shop space as their top constraint and 82% planning or recently completing expansions. Technology is also becoming increasingly important: 77% consider real-time production visibility very important or critical, while 63% identify technology and automation as a leading source of future efficiency gains. To support contractors managing fabrication at scale, Stratus has introduced Modules, which helps coordinate modular assemblies across models and trades, and Enhanced Divisions, designed to streamline package routing and assignments across multiple fabrication shops. The findings suggest connected BIM-to-shop-to-field workflows will be increasingly important as contractors compete for growing data center demand.
BNi Building News and eConverge have launched BNi Reference, a new nationwide digital subscription service providing construction professionals with searchable access to trusted BNi construction cost data and reference materials on phones, tablets and desktop computers. Designed for contractors, estimators, facility managers, architects, engineers, consultants, owners and other industry professionals, BNi Reference transforms selected construction cost books into a portable digital resource for use in the office or field. The initial release includes BNi Electrical, Facilities Manager’s, General Construction, Mechanical-Electrical, Public Works and Remodeling cost books, with individual subscriptions starting at $14.99 per month. Users can research construction costs, products, building systems, construction methods, maintenance alternatives and project budgets from a searchable platform. Subscribers also receive access to eConverge Community, featuring construction articles, industry news, educational content, technical references, product information and videos.
The Government of Saskatchewan has launched a new Data Centre Framework to guide future data centre development, attract private investment and support the province’s growing role in Canadian AI infrastructure. Six principles will guide project assessments, including Canadian ownership, Canadian data and AI sovereignty, Saskatchewan job creation and partnerships, industry experience, self-supplied power generation and a centralized provincial intake process. New data centre proponents will be required to provide their own power, helping protect Saskatchewan’s electricity system and existing customers while supporting large-scale development. Indigenous partnerships, participation and equity are also encouraged. The framework arrives as Saskatchewan evaluates more than 30 data centre development applications. Bell Canada is already constructing a 300-megawatt data centre project in the RM of Sherwood, which the province says could generate more than 1,600 jobs, $12 billion in economic activity and approximately $720 million in provincial revenue. Developers will remain responsible for applicable environmental reviews and approvals.
China State Construction International is expanding its investment in AI-powered construction technology, focusing on Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) and Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) to improve productivity, quality and sustainability. Through its C-SMART Smart Construction Platform, the company integrates AI into modular production, inspections, drawing analysis and high-risk work monitoring. According to project data, its MiC technology can reduce construction schedules by 50% to 75%, cut construction waste by 70% to 80% and lower module factory defect rates by approximately 80%. AI façade inspection has also reduced inspection of a 20-storey building from 12–15 days to four hours with more than 95% accuracy. The company is expanding MiC internationally after receiving in-principle pre-approval from Dubai Municipality. Its BIPV initiatives combine AI-enabled BIM, digital construction management and photovoltaic technology, including 35,000 square metres of solar panels at Shenzhen Qianhai Snow World that generate more than 6.3 million kWh annually and reduce carbon emissions by 5,200 tonnes per year.
A new Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Drone Usage report provides insight into how contractors are adopting drone technology, with 36.1% of surveyed ABC contractor members reporting they fly drones. Based on a May 2026 survey, the report found drones are most commonly used for construction site progress monitoring (80.8%), marketing and media (77.5%), inspections (50%) and aerial mapping (37.5%). Investment varies, although 62% of respondents reported spending between $1,000 and $10,000 on drone technology. DJI accounted for 97.1% of respondents’ primary drones. Despite growing applications across construction jobsites, adoption barriers remain, led by regulatory and compliance challenges (53.5%), training and staffing (43.4%) and limited use cases (37.4%). Nearly 75% of contractors surveyed operate in the commercial construction sector. ABC says drones can help contractors improve project monitoring, inspections, safety and efficiency, while calling for streamlined regulatory compliance and encouraging construction companies to explore additional applications for drone technology.
AIA Contract Documents (ACD) has launched a new AI Assistant and enhanced contract editing experience designed to streamline construction contracting workflows for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. The in-app AI Assistant provides on-demand contract guidance throughout the contracting process, while the upgraded editor aims to help project teams move more efficiently from standardized templates to signed agreements. ACD, which offers more than 300 standardized contract documents, says additional AI capabilities are being developed to help customers assess project risk, reduce disputes and complete contract-related tasks more efficiently. The company also appointed Arijit “AJ” Saha as Chief Technology Officer to lead its technology and AI strategy. Saha brings more than 23 years of engineering, data, AI and cloud technology experience. More than 45,000 companies use ACD to create over 1.2 million contracts annually, representing approximately $100 billion in contract value each year.
