Ten Construction Industry Trends to Watch in 2023

Tree Map Showing the Effects of Top Construction Industry Trends

Based on Construction Innovation Map, the TreeMap below depicts the effects of the top 10 trends in construction. Businesses prefer a collaborative approach that makes the entire construction lifecycle more transparent. To this end, businesses are turning towards cloud-based BIM applications and management software. Businesses often employ construction robots to expedite their projects by increasing precision during each stage of development. Furthermore, using the Internet of Things (IoT) and technology based on reality, like augmented and VR (AR/VR), ensures workers’ safety while connecting job sites. Modern building materials boast enhanced properties that are compatible with today’s construction techniques, such as flexibility and sustainability in design. Technology has also revolutionized construction monitoring and inspections, making it simpler for site planners and supervisors. 3D Printing automates the construction process while decreasing manual labor requirements and offering greater flexibility.

1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Planning and designing buildings requires input from multiple parties, such as builders, engineers, architects, clients, and more. With the traditional approach, it can be challenging to observe changes in real-time since everyone has unique documents. This leads to different models of identical models and creates confusion. Modern BIM software tools help address this problem by offering a central database and enabling everyone to work from an integrated model that is shared. 5D BIM can also account for time and cost overlays, but 6D BIM provides energy budgeting. These tools detect conflicts during early stages and improve workflow efficiency; when combined with A.R. or V.R. technology, building information modeling becomes faster in virtual?environments.

VisualLive Provides Immersive BIM Visualization

A US-based startup named VisualLive is pioneering immersive BIM visualizations for construction sites. Their work can be seen on their website. Cloud computing allows the company to load large BIM files onto HoloLens mobile devices and wearables, preserving all geometry, textures, and materials. A download plugin creates a unique Q.R. code for each model within BIM, which is then scanned by the mobile application to overlay on real construction sites. With this software, planners of construction can identify mistakes in design before construction begins – saving both time and money in the process!

BIMCRONE Develops Cutting-Edge BIM Software

Turkish startup BIMCRONE has developed cutting-edge BIM software which enables all construction parties to report, manage and monitor their projects in real-time on one platform. It provides preconstruction tools such as rev management and group collaboration with clash detection capabilities; during construction, BIMCRONE facilitates collaboration, delay analysis, asset management monitoring of field changes management field monitoring general project management along with post-construction solutions like asset tracking availability monitoring, financial transactions.

2. Construction Robotics

Construction is one of the most laborious fields. It entails numerous tedious and time-consuming tasks that could be simplified using automation and robotics technology. Construction robots can reduce the chance of human error and fatigue-induced losses. For instance, collaborative robotics automate welding, bricklaying, painting, rebar tying, and many other repetitive tasks with remarkable accuracy. Robotics solutions automate heavy equipment and fleets used for excavation, transport, and load-lifting concrete work and demolition. This improves worker safety and drastically reduces operating time. Robots in construction increase?project?efficiency by decreasing labor requirements while providing security when performing hazardous or delicate work.

Advanced Construction Robotics Creates Rebar Tying Robots

Based in the U.S., Advanced Construction Robotics is a company that creates robots to automate rebar installation. TyBot and IronBot solutions from the company enable tedious, difficult tasks such as rebar installation through computer vision and artificial intelligence. TyBot automates calibration and mapping by auto-locating, auto-positioning, and connecting up to 110 rebar junctions per hour. IronBot takes away the burden of the heavy lifting by placing 5000-pound bundles of a transverse and longitudinal bar on a belt, saving scheduling time while reducing injury risks since no pre-mapping, programming, or calibration is needed. These solutions from the startup increase worker productivity while ensuring workers remain safe.

3. Construction Project Management

Digital project management, one of the hottest trends in?construction, utilizes cloud-based software to meet time, quality, and cost goals. Project management has already set forth principles that guide each phase of construction. At the outset, project managers utilize AI-based algorithms that estimate project feasibility. Once approved, the manager sets milestones and distributes resources through enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Cloud-based applications provide transparency while allowing massive storage of data. Managers also utilize this software to monitor project outcomes, assess risks and uncover issues. At the end of the project management process, managers draw up Blockchain-based Smart Contracts to guarantee compliance with legal obligations and prevent fraud in the financial sector. This digital construction project management reduces waste, increases worker efficiency, and guarantees project completion on schedule.

Etch Facilitates Construction Payroll Management

English startup Etch, based in the U.K., uses blockchain technology for payroll management related to construction projects. By leveraging smart contracts on this platform, Etch reduces the time between job completion and payment by expediting payments. Employees’ Etch wallets receive funds, which are then transferred to an Etch credit card. Etch cards are widely accepted and do not require opening an account with a bank. Etch can also make payroll easier for employers by automating employees’ payroll processes based on their job duties, ensuring timely payment of wages. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to sign forms manually, follow tax regulations strictly, and verify duplicates – making managing cash flow more efficient for construction firms.

Constru: Real-time Project Management Software

Israeli startup?Constru?is offering real-time project mahttps://www.constru.ai/nagement software. It utilizes robotics and computer vision to enhance visibility on construction sites. Their platform uses virtual engineers to watch each job during each stage of construction, using an algorithm that detects objects with context information and then compares them against anticipated data to monitor project development. Furthermore, the platform gives an overview of project schedules, budget overruns, and risks for the future – giving project managers all the clarity needed for all ongoing initiatives. With Constru’s platform, they simplify construction processes, gain data-driven insight, and gain clarity across their ongoing initiatives.

6. Innovative Building Materials

As construction moves towards eco-friendly and modular methods, modern building materials aid these efforts. A range of innovative and sustainable options have replaced traditional materials like basalt or 3D-printed concrete, providing builders with sustainable options that last. Materials made of living organisms are becoming more sought-after, such as self-healing cement made from bacteria. Furthermore, eco-friendly materials like bioplastics, mycelium-based composites, and bio-foam are part of this industry trend. Next in line are novel materials such as graphene, aerogel carbon composites, spider silk hydrodynamics, nanomaterials, and hydrodynamics. These substances tend to be lighter in weight and offer greater water-holding capacity. Innovative aluminum and wood materials such as bamboo, cross-laminated lumber, transparent woods, and aluminum foams have greater strength and biodegradability. Startups are exploring new environmentally sustainable materials that are strong, low maintenance, and energy efficient.

Graphenglass Develops Carbon-Based Building Materials from Graphene

Spanish startup Graphenglass has developed carbon-based building materials made of graphene—their products for architecture range from solar protection component assembly and wind facades. Compact graphene, featuring features like hydrophobicity, flame retardance, color uniformity for outdoor exposure, mechanical strength, and stopping microorganism spread, makes Graphenglass ideal for use in extreme conditions. This benefits owners and builders and the environment by increasing building energy efficiency through this solution Graphenglass provides!

N.Z. Future Forest Products Offers Engineered Wood

New Zealand-based N.Z Future Forest Products has developed modular timber solutions for construction companies. Their cross-laminated CLT wood (CLT) and glue laminated timber (GLT) are used in modular structures due to their added characteristics such as strength, durability, and stability, plus seismic resilience, thermal properties, humidity management, and vapor diffusion; the flexibility to design flexible structures is another benefit that N.Z. Future Forest Products hopes to replace carbon-intensive concrete with eco-friendly wood materials in concrete structures instead.

4. Offsite Construction

Offsite construction, oneof the fastest-growing trends in the construction industry, allows you to manufacture and fabricate building components inside factories. Traditional construction projects often experience increased costs due to weather-related delays, creating contingency fees and needing extra man-hours on-site. Furthermore, this process creates massive amounts of material waste. Offsite construction revolutionizes the construction process regarding sustainability, worker safety, and efficiency. It utilizes new materials as well as 3D printing technology, and innovative assembling methods. The initial phase of offsite construction is volumetric, which involves pod and modular units. This technique can create large 3D structures like rooms or houses. Panelized construction, also known as panelized Building, involves factories producing flat panels for floors, walls, and roof panes. Modern commercial buildings use this method to construct sections and supporting elements; therefore, startups offer modular solutions that can replace traditional construction methods.

Mechanical Modular Solutions (MMS)

An Irish startup, manufactures prefabricated buildings. MMS specializes in prefabrication as well as offsite construction projects. PODular Technology is Updated Regularly

The company uses volumetric construction methods to construct modules such as medium/low voltage switchgear systems, batteries for room control projection spaces, and substations to supply electrical needs. MMS also constructs hot water rooms with low temperatures (LTHW) and rooms for cooling pumps and methods that connect buildings to mechanical infrastructure. MMS creates biohazard labs and other modular spaces in the laboratory used in biotech and pharmaceutical research.

Guerdon provides Modular Construction Technology.

Guerdon is a US-based startup that creates large offsite modular systems suitable for constructing large-scale projects and multifamily housing developments. Guerdon designs and manufactures IBC/IRC code products through factory-built modular construction technology. Their extensive portfolio includes multifamily modular townhomes, apartments, offices, schools, senior housing projects, and military barracks – to name a few. Guerdon uses climate-control settings and adheres to industry standards for building codes, all while producing building components at its facility. To expedite the process and reduce costs, they construct foundations – a sustainable solution that guarantees the same high quality.

Weston Robot Develops Autonomous Heavy Equipment

Singaporean company Weston Robot manufactures automated heavy equipment for logistics, load-lifting monitoring, inspection, and disinfection. The company creates various solutions, such as back-support exoskeletons that reduce strain when lifting large objects. They also design shoulder exoskeletons that enable workers to complete chest-to-ceiling tasks for extended periods. Furthermore, Weston Robot offers leg support exoskeletons which reduce strain on the quadriceps near your knee joints. The company also provides UGV Hunters for outdoor use and rough Terrain Bunker Robots, making delivery and cleaning tasks easier to automate. Weston Robot increases productivity by replacing energy-intensive tasks with autonomous robots.

6. Construction Monitoring

Due to the global reach and volume of construction projects, manual monitoring can be challenging. On many construction sites, some areas are inaccessible by human agents but need a regular inspection for quality assurance. 6. Environmental Monitoring

Due to globalization and globalization, environmental monitoring plays a significant role in successful project execution. Construction firms are turning to technology for better monitoring of their projects. The monitoring effectiveness depends on the quality of the process – from a light auditor process (CM1) to quality assurance (Q.A.). Advanced inspection and monitoring techniques employ drone-based surveillance, LIDAR sensors, thermal cameras, and more for construction worker monitoring. Construction worker surveillance utilizes high-definition (H.D.) cameras and A.I. facial recognition technologies to boost productivity. Robots can identify faults and structural failures more accurately through embedded sensors than manual inspection; hence, startups provide products or services designed to increase construction monitoring efficiency.

A.I. Clearing: Drone-Based Monitoring

American startup A.I. Clearing, based in the U.S., utilizes artificial intelligence (A.I.) to track and monitor construction projects digitally. AI-Heart, the company’s SaaS software, is an advanced 4D geospatial analytical system based on drone-generated data and other equipment. Through drone monitoring, the company produces automatic visual reports of site conditions to reduce monitoring time and identify any discrepancies at an early stage. A.I. or geographic information systems (GIS)-based analytics can automate infrastructure monitoring, saving supervision costs and minimizing litigation risks. Furthermore, this system offers transparency into all processes since they are managed within a project database.

Holoarch Creates Building Inspection Robots

Israeli startup Holoarch develops hardware and cloud-based solutions to assist with the indoor inspection of construction sites. Holobot, its robotic solution, acts like an autonomous drone that scans sites for errors and reports them to inspection authorities. Utilizing super-high resolution LIDAR cloud data collected by Holobot even in GPS denial zones, the information is sent directly to A.I. servers for analysis and detection of mistakes. Holobot not only reduces costs associated with monitoring but also increases the speed of inspections while improving the quality and speed of assessments.

7. Construction Worker Safety

Safety for workers has often been disregarded in the construction industry as companies look to cut costs. But today, more and more construction sites adhere to safety protocols for employees. Furthermore, immersive technology can prevent accidents on the job; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) serves as an emergency aid. Construction firms use A.I. algorithms to recognize dangers and take appropriate safety measures accordingly. V.R. technology empowers field workers to perform dangerous tasks by offering immersive training that reduces the chance of injury, while A.R. allows fabricators to scan objects easily. Employers utilize PPE embedded in IoT sensors for employee safety. Sensors detect signals such as vibrations and heart rate, temperature, steps taken, etc., and transmit the data for further analysis. With this cutting-edge safety technology, supervisors can remotely monitor their employees’ health and productivity. It not only benefits workers and employers but also reduces financial and physical losses too.

KairosXR provides immersive training tools.

KairosXR, a US-based startup, provides interactive tools for construction professionals. They convert 2D classes into enhanced reality (X.R.)-based occupational 3D applications by uploading virtual models onto their content management system on the web (CMS) so users can replicate real-world settings. KairosXR also offers online safety training through V.R. to prepare supervisors and managers before projects begin and identify associated risks.

IoSite Creates Smart Watches for Construction Workers

A US-based startup, IoSite, has developed an all-channel multi-stakeholder construction management platform that utilizes IoT to create smartwatches based on remote monitoring of health and well-being for workers. Connecting smartwatches, smartphones, and laptops offers increased access and security at work sites. The company aims to enhance overall efficiency by creating an infrastructure connected via wearable technology. The smartwatch monitors workers’ health and provides real-time updates on work progress to supervisors when they check in or check out. Furthermore, it sends emergency alerts for safety when working remotely.

8. Green Building

Sustainability is at the forefront of many emerging trends in construction. Finding sustainable processes or materials for Building can be expensive and time-consuming. Green Building is an increasingly popular concept that emphasizes environmental considerations throughout all stages of construction, from pre-planning to project closure and decommissioning. Green buildings promote efficient use of resources and energy, reduce waste generated during construction, and allow structures to achieve net zero carbon emission levels. Certain certifications can make buildings sustainable or environmentally friendly based on these criteria. One of the most sought-after certifications for green construction is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), offered by the U.S. Green Building Council. As more advanced materials are used in construction that meet LEED certification criteria, sustainable buildings will become standard practice; startups are exploring solutions for green buildings.

Effective Building Provides Green Building Materials Database

Israeli startup Effective Building has launched a database to assist construction companies with creating green buildings. Their platform collects technical and functional information on certified products, allowing users to sort materials based on technical characteristics. This simplifies selecting materials for green construction projects while increasing speed in material selection. Effective Building’s mission is to make green Building more affordable and accessible to everyone involved in Building–from beginners to experts–at no extra cost.

Cove offers Data Analytics to Support Green Building Implementation.

US-based startup Cove offers a SaaS data analytics platform for energy, daylight, cost, carbon, and water analysis. Engineers, architects, contractors, and developers can use this software to create models based on data they can use when designing structures. Automating the performance modeling process reduces time and costs for construction firms. The startup provides AI-based analysis throughout a project, providing specific data that can help those involved make informed decisions regarding design, investments, and other resources. Furthermore, its platform-independent workflow enables various departments and processes to collaborate digitally within one shared workspace.

9. 3D Printing

Cnstruction 3D printing also referred to as additive manufacturing in construction, is an eco-friendly and effective technique for Building. Construction printers can print complete structures or just prefabricated components. 3D Printing is a robot-based method that creates the layout layer by layer using advanced construction materials compatible with BIM (Building Information Modeling). It offers flexibility without needing forms, and the three primary methods utilized to print are extrusion, power bonds, or additive weld. Comparatively, 3D construction printing generates less waste and uses fewer resources for labor than traditional brick construction techniques. It’s an automated, programmed process that reduces human error and increases efficiency. Many startups manufacture 3D printers or provide printing services for small or large-scale projects.

Twente Additive Manufacturing Offers 3-D Building Printers.

Dutch startup Twente Additive Manufacturing manufactures 3D printing machines. It provides architectural designs and then evaluates them internally using the finite element method. The company utilizes various 3D printing techniques, such as gantry, delta, boom, swing-arm, and boom. They provide 3D printers with various axes and designs tailored to the project requirements. The startup offers lab and entry-level printers for small-scale production in indoor environments. Furthermore, it provides mid-sized and mobile printers suitable for producing small to medium parts as well as big-scale 3D printers that can handle 24-hour production of massive single-element creations.

3D Build Systems Unlocks 3D Concrete Printing

A US-based company called 3D Build Systems has developed concrete printing robots to produce durable, scalable, and custom structures using concrete mix. Targeting skilled workforce veterans, retirement, and markets with efficient and cost-effective solutions, 3D printing technology is designed to meet the requirements of large-scale construction and instant housing projects. The company’s robotic system drastically reduces construction time by printing walls within 12-24 hours. They are compatible with any 3D modeling program and can print up to 7 meters long. As a result, they provide low-cost yet well-constructed housing built using 3D printing technology and robotics.

10. Connected Construction Site

Construction projects have many moving parts, so coordinating all these elements is essential to their success. One way of ensuring smooth operations is by connecting construction sites. By creating structured workflows and integrating information at each stage of construction work, accurate data is constantly accessible to all stakeholders. Connected construction sites link people, processes, technology, and information together through A.R. V.R. A.I. robots and other wearables. IoT technologies combined with A.I. enable automated logistics that improve safety for construction workers and inventory efficiency to reduce waste and associated costs. Computer vision provides instant support and guidance from construction sites back to the central office, enabling managers to make quicker decisions based on current information. These solutions enable managers to make better-informed decisions faster based on current information.

SafeAI provides Construction Automation.

SafeAI, a US-based startup, retrofits equipment to automate construction tasks. Its SafeAI Autonomous Platform uses A.I. and task-specific autonomous vehicles to create fleets tailored to every need. The startup provides a kit that turns heavy equipment into autonomous robots, which boosts efficiency in operational fields – it even automates heavy truck loaders and dozers without replacing existing equipment!

ViiBE Offers AR Calling Software for Construction Sites

French startup ViiBE has developed video assistance software tailored specifically for Construction field operations, helping reduce travel time on-site and providing on-call direction, diagnostics, and resolution. Through AR, communication between specialists in the field and remote offices within a similar environment improves communication efficiency, reducing machine downtime while increasing productivity levels.

Discover all Construction Technologies and Startups

These Top 10 Industry Trends dramatically enhance efficiency, workers’ safety, and construction speed by employing sustainable methods. Explore these innovations now! Robots that collaborate, autonomous equipment for drone-based inspections and construction, and laser-based terrain mapping can reduce labor costs and enhance precision. Companies utilize advanced materials, such as self-healing cement, engineered wood, and nanomaterials for modular construction and 3D Printing—these aid in cutting down on construction times and keeping within budget. Furthermore, IoT-based products like smart helmets, wearables, and vests enable remote monitoring of workers while improving worker safety.

It is essential to note that the?Construction Industry Trends & Startups discussed in this report only scratch the surface of our extensive research. Modern operations, as well as green construction, will forever alter how industries operate today. Recognizing opportunities and technologies you can implement into your company early will give your business a competitive advantage.