Top 24 Tech Predictions

Reprint Granted From:
constructionexec.com

Big data, BIM, augmented reality, drones…what else does 2015 hold for construction technology? Ten construction technology experts offer their predictions of what to expect this year.

SASHA REED, VP STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, BLUEBEAM SOFTWARE INC.

Apps. Smaller construction firms will find themselves leveraging apps to fill gaps in existing platform technologies through more affordable tech solutions and readily available smart phones.

Drone Mania. More firms will outsource or internally develop drone flight programs in order to track site progress. The future of Quadcopters on the jobsite will expand beyond tracking progress to troubleshooting issues and conducting site inspections safely from the ground. They also will expand the construction firm’s BIM capabilities by leveraging model data and schedule information to consistently and dynamically collect site progress photos while creating new model information through photogrammetry.

Data Integration and the Push Toward Software Integration From Some of the Major AEC Technology Companies. Integration of separate technologies to build out end-to-end workflows from design to build to manage will be the focus for most major technology companies. As more data is created and gathered, the industry will be less tolerant of data loss through integration limitations. The major tech players are taking notice of this trend and developing solutions accordingly.

LAUREN HASEGAWA, CO-FOUNDER, BRIDGIT

Augmented Reality and Wearables to Make BIM More Accessible. The use of augmented reality technologies, such as Google Glass, has the potential to make BIM more accessible onsite. Using GPS already present in most augmented reality technologies, users could sync location data to a BIM model and see the 3-D virtual view of the construction overlaid on the real-world view of the jobsite. Areas to watch are:

- technologies that make BIM data easier to manipulate for non-BIM experts; and

- new forms of AR displays better suited for the construction industry, such as heads up display (HUD) projection and smart glass that can be installed directly into machinery windshields.

 

Big Data Is Getting Bigger. The combination of faster mobile computing, an increase in the amount of software being used onsite and the growing Internet of Things (IoT) in construction is leading the way to increased big data opportunities. Faster mobile computing means tasks that previously were not possible on mobile are becoming a reality (e.g., the ability to load a ground-up BIM model in a few seconds from a smartphone or tablet). An increase in use cases for mobile technology in construction is leading to more mobile-first software being developed and used onsite. With IoT, every tool on the jobsite will be “smart,” giving contractors the ability to track who last used a piece of equipment, to when it should be scheduled for maintenance.

The Tech Industry Is Paying Attention to Construction. Anytime Google makes a significant investment in an industry, it is a sign of the innovation to come. In 2014, Flux Metro emerged from Google X (Google’s semi-secret research facility) with $8 million in investment. Targeted to developers, Flux Metro uses machine learning to interpret city building codes and save months of research. This play by Google, coupled with the handful of successful construction-focused startups that emerged in the past year, signify that the industry is on the brink of an innovation explosion.

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