Just as other sectors have seen vast change in recent decades as new technologies have been adopted, so too will construction. The industry may be behind in terms of stepping into future technologies, but according to McKinsey’s report ‘The Next Normal in Construction’ this is about to change. It’s predicted that the next five to 20 years will see transformation across the sector that will cause it to be largely unrecognisable from the industry we have today. One of the driving changes that will touch almost every aspect of construction is digital technology.

The idea of virtual and digital techniques being used to change such a physical industry can seem incongruous. Yet, as we dig deeper into the different techniques, technologies and methods that are set to turn many an Engineering and Construction (E&C) business on its head, the question becomes, why hasn’t this happened already? In some cases the answer is price, in others mobility and simply human inertia.

Today, many of these barriers are being broken down – the cost of technology is falling, solutions are becoming lighter and digital is ever more ubiquitous. The global pandemic has also changed our expectations of space, project management and how digital resources can be used. All of these factors are converging and speeding the evolution of construction. Below we take a look at the various areas that are already seeing major digital transformation.

Starting at ground level

Projects often over run on time and budget due to surprises found in the ground when foundations are being laid. Differences between actual conditions and survey estimates can impact everything from design to project scope. Technologies such as LiDAR, 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry can vastly improve initial survey evaluations. This information can then be easily integrated with tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) to enhance the design and build stages of a project.

In many cases, two surveying technologies are used in the early stages of a project. For example, Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) and Photogrammetry may be used in conjunction to create detailed, accurate data for larger sites. LiDAR may be used with GPS to generate above and below ground 3D imagery that can then be supplemented with GPS positioning overlays that include distance measurements and accurate mapping detail.

Surveying technology has drastically reduced in cost over recent years making them even more accessible to E&C firms. These faster and cheaper options for accurately surveying building sites are increasing the reliability of project timelines and budget estimates.

End to end project management

Integrated systems that allow for real-time views of the construction process including design, cost and schedules is long overdue for the sector. Aerospace companies have used computer aided 3D modelling since the 70s. As a result the development of planes improved while associated costs reduced.

Next generation 5D BIM has the potential to transform projects from conception stage right through to delivery and can even enhance the usability and sustainability of buildings when finished and ‘live’. The five dimensional representation of a project includes both the 3D spatial design characteristics along with cost and scheduling. This enables risks to be identified earlier (and therefore mitigated) and better decisions to be made through the life of the design and construction. A study from 2014 found that adoption of BIM delivered a positive return on investment for 75% of E&C businesses. Shorter project cycles, less paperwork and lower material costs were also reported.

Paperless processes

Managing processes with a paper trail is time consuming and inefficient. Information is delayed an not easily accessed by all who need it. Things get lost, elements of a project fall behind as a consequence. What’s more analysis of data is near impossible and no-one that’s involved can be 100% sure that they have a full, true picture of what is going on. Digital collaboration tools are the solution to this headache.

Digitizing workflows cuts administrative time, ensures important documentation doesn’t get lost and everyone has access to everything that is needed to complete their parts of a project. Reports can easily be generated to see where productivity can be improved, how and where materials have been procured and more. Systems can be integrated with mobile apps that enable crews to be connected to the main system to support their collaboration with the project too. Increasing reliability of high-speed broadband connectivity and user-friendly interfaces are supporting wider adoption of this digital solution for project management.

This level of digitization alone could easily transform the way project managers, tradespeople and operators interact. Everything from tracking materials, logging time on site, productivity and incident reporting, scheduling, dispatches and more can be managed quickly, easily and securely with the very real benefits of delivering projects on time, within budget and with higher levels of transparency than has ever before been possible.

Using built spaces

Our expectations of space and our behaviour within built spaces have changed drastically in recent years. More so since the advent of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns we saw across the world. More and more often, people are expecting their built environment to respond to their needs – sustainability, adaptability and usability are driving the integration of technologies within building.

The Internet of Things (IoT), sensors and wireless technologies are enabling our buildings and the assets within them to become ‘smart’. From a construction point of view, this enables machinery to ‘talk’ to one another – even order raw materials when supplies are getting low or alert an operator that it is time for servicing.

From a finished building perspective, this can allow data to be gathered on how a building is being used and allow for resources to be used more effectively – lights can be turned off when the building senses there is no one in a room, blinds can be automatically lowered to reduce ambient heat when the sun shines into a conference room. A building’s systems can be recreated in a digital twin so the facilities manager can proactively respond to the repair and maintenance of a building assets such as lifts, HVAC, plumbing and electrics.

Digitisation is coming to construction and is set to transform it quickly to improve efficiencies and enable it to answer new demands from consumers. How buildings are designed, constructed and used will drastically change in the coming two decades. Digital technology is at the heart of many of these changes. Those who adopt early will place themselves to become leaders in the new era of construction that is already dawning.