expect more technology use and smart building construction, says report

The advent of offsite construction work, partly in response to an ongoing shortage of workers, can be expected to both continue and grow, notes a major industry publication.

Building Design + Construction is predicting that the industry is going to see more of what it calls “manufacturing-based operations,” with select owners demanding prefab work on projects.

Such offsite work is listed as one of the five most important trends in the national construction industry today, a list that also includes a growing infusion of venture capital and strategic funding for construction projects coming from such nontraditional sources as the tech industry.

The magazine is additionally forecasting a greater use of artificial intelligence in the industry, with needed information coming from such sources as cloud-based applications and mobile devices, providing crucial insights into projects.

On that same score, the industry will also see an increased need for data, although the question of who owns and controls that data may prove problematic.

Finally, says Building Design + Construction, “within seven years, the U.S. market will have a ‘smart certified’ designation,” with such projects becoming as prominent as green sustainability buildings are today.

The reason? “Because smart buildings are highly marketable, owner friendly, productivity focused and resource efficient,” says the publication.

By Garry Boulard