The building sector has been expanding at a steady rate since 2011. It’s indicative that global construction is anticipated to be worth up to $10.3 trillion by 2020. And that’s not all. In 2018, a global GDP growth of 3.6 percent is forecast for the industry.

It is evident that the future of construction looks very promising despite the productivity and the workforce challenges that the sector is battling against. This positive shift for the sector is the result of many different factors.

One of the most crucial parameters has, of course, to do with the advent of new technologies. Digital tools have already started transforming the way we build. The daily work on construction sites looks quite different than 10 years ago and it is anticipated to change even more in the near future.

With that in mind, what should be expected from 2018? Well, a new era emerges for construction, while technology will most probably gain even more ground. Here are some of the top upcoming construction trends.

1. Big data

Data is already playing a critical role in construction. Nevertheless, it is still regarded as an unexplored territory with great potential for the building sector. Being more of a traditional industry, construction had (and still has) many problems in both capturing and keeping proper track of the collected data. That’s something that has to change in order for the sector to boost productivity and become better in learning from its own mistakes. In other words, a better exploitation of the gathered data will eventually lead to a more insightful construction industry.

Regarding the ways in which big data is anticipated to help the building sector, they could be summed up in the following:

• Designing a project. During the initial phase of the project, big data could provide valuable help in regards to examining the impact of the building on its surroundings. Historical data could point out any potential project or environmental risks and pave the way for a smooth construction process. The construction of the Brown School of Engineering in the US is a very good example of that.
• Optimizing the building process. Big data can optimize the construction process in a number of ways. The use of weather, business, traffic, geolocation and many other types of data can be a great ally in the effort to identify the optimal period for the completion of a project task.
• Monitoring the building operation. Big data can also help with monitoring the ‘journey’ of the project after its completion. Sensors included in the structures of a building can provide valuable feedback regarding its condition and even be used as a basis for scheduling maintenance tasks when that’s necessary.

2. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is already taking over the sector with the ambition to open up the construction industry. Just recently, the UK government introduced the BIM Level 2 mandate in an effort to empower collaboration between the numerous construction agents. It’s true that its implementation hasn’t proceeded perfectly yet, but the message has been sent. BIM has remarkable potential for the building industry, as it can contribute to construction in a plethora of ways.

From the real-time transfer of information to cost and facilities management, BIM is expected to revolutionize the project process and simplify the communication between the different parties. 5D BIM is an excellent example, as it introduces briefer project cycles and contributes to financial and time savings. Based on the NBS National BIM Report 2017, 78 percent of the participants in the research perceived BIM as the future when it comes to project information. On top of that, 70 percent believe that BIM will eventually contribute to serious cost reductions in the upcoming years, while 60 percent are of the opinion that BIM will accelerate successful project completion.

3. Construction software

At the moment, construction is by far one of the least digitized industries. More analytically, the total IT spend in construction is below 1 percent. Nonetheless, construction agents have started realizing the critical role that project management software can play during the building process.

Construction software is seen as a valuable tool instead of a luxury, due to its multiple contributions to the progress of the project. Real-time communication, straightforward access to project data and increased accountability are only a few of the benefits that building software can have for a construction project.

According to the 8th Global Project Management Survey, in 2016 poor project management planning resulted in just 53 percent of construction projects completed on budget and only 49 percent completed on time. These numbers emphatically show that the construction sector is bleeding time and money and that a shift to a more digital-friendly future is the only way forward for the industry. Mark Farmer’s ‘Modernize or Die’ report, which was published a few months ago, supports this view and underlines the importance of digital tools, such as construction software, for a more accountable and transparent building process.

4. Robotics in construction

Robotics are gaining more ground in construction day by day. The need for faster completion of repetitive tasks in combination with the arrival of cutting-edge technology has transformed the daily routine on a construction site. Masonry construction robots and smart helmets are already considered active components of the building process. It’s evident, then, that robotics can have multiple benefits for the progress of a project. In the long run, it’s a faster, cheaper and safer way to work on site.

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are also expected to become indispensable for the building industry in the near future. One of the strongest benefits that both VR and AR can provide is virtual walkthroughs, which can be used for selling a property or for detecting costly building clashes or safety bottlenecks during the design and modeling phase. Safety training is another indispensable way to use VR. AR can provide a great overview of the project’s outcome based on the available data and can add a new dimension to the way construction agents are using BIM technology.

5. New labor workforce needs

It’s no news that the construction industry is under extreme pressure when it comes to the skilled labor shortage. However, the advent of new technologies is expected to change things and redefine the needs of the sector. More specifically, the replacement of many manual workers by robots will most probably create a demand for a new type of workforce in construction. Knowledge workers are the future of the industry and they will need to be technologically savvy and able to adjust and thrive in a highly digitized environment.

It goes without saying that this new emerging reality provides a unique opportunity for construction to redefine its profile in the market. Simply put, the global building sector can become an appealing option for a young and highly competent workforce, as it will be able to provide a promising long-term career inextricably connected with technology and robotic solutions. Such change can be a great boost for the industry in its endeavor to embrace automation and come one step closer to a more efficient and transparent future.

All in all, it is clear that the construction industry is changing. It is becoming more versatile, more technology-oriented and more digitized. This transformation will offer many solutions in terms of improving efficiency and productivity on the jobsite.