Digitalisation in construction: what will construction look like in 2024?
The construction and infrastructure sectors are industries that are constantly changing and face major challenges. Consider, for example, the large staff shortages in the sector. But there is also the call for sustainability, energy efficiency and climate-neutral construction, which is needed to tackle climate change.
More and more parties within the construction industry are now convinced that using smart digital solutions is the way to successfully tackle the issues and challenges of the future. Digital technologies create the potential to increase the sector’s productivity and innovate at a faster pace.
Read all about digitalisation in construction here.
Digital tools
Many construction companies have already started the digital transformation process that is radically changing many sectors and our daily lives. Almost all construction companies work with laptops or tablets on the construction site, and for monitoring the performance of buildings and infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT) is now daily business. Although IoT is now a familiar term in the construction industry, the integration of smart sensors and devices continues to grow. Sensors are used to collect data on energy consumption, air quality and other important factors affecting building performance. Advanced home automation systems provide greater energy efficiency and increased comfort.
Use of construction data
More digitisation leads to more data, which is a good thing. Data provides insight and overview, making it easier to adjust project schedules and make more timely adjustments. Moreover, data is essential to improve building efficiency. By generating real-time data, including with the help of sensors, bottlenecks or problems are detected and solved earlier. This way, you achieve a more efficient construction process and lower failure costs. Data analysis also provides good insight into patterns and trends. This allows you to improve your process, but also your sustainability. Good data analysis also allows you to identify failure costs and thus increase your margins.
The big challenge – one that many parties within the construction industry still struggle with – is extracting the right insights from the mountain of static and dynamic data.
The potential for valuable information from which the construction industry can draw is greater than ever. Previously, the information landscape consisted mainly of static data (data that does not change over time such as materials used or the construction method of a structure). Nowadays, construction companies have a wealth of dynamic data at their disposal. Think, for instance, of information on energy efficiency or the crack load of a structure due to gradual degradation of the material and construction.
The big challenge – one that many parties within the construction industry still struggle with – is extracting the right insights from the mountain of static and dynamic data. And this is easier than you think, if you use the right tools. Tools that are smart enough to recognise where your valuable information is and help you improve your processes. Targeting the right information shows you whether you are currently working efficiently, tells you where you can still make gains and enables you to apply predictive analysis to the behaviour and sustainability of structures.
DMS, CDE or collaboration platform
All that available data naturally needs to be stored safely somewhere, where it can be easily retrieved and easily used. Most professional builders work with a document management system for this purpose. Digitisation of processes ensures greater efficiency, savings in time and money and better cooperation between construction partners in the chain. Via the DMS, the parties involved can easily cooperate, always ensuring up-to-date information. The end result: higher quality of the completed construction work.
Companies that are subject to ESG reporting requirements, or whose accountability is requested by partners in the chain, also benefit from a user-friendly system to record all working methods and building information.
Read all about document management in construction here.
A watertight system recording all results delivered and all materials used is essential for every builder. But besides a document management system (DMS) or common data environment (CDE) to demonstrate the various reports and achievements, there are various techniques and tools to make the construction process better, easier and/or more efficient. Examples include:
By using machine learning and AI, these digital twins can predict problems and identify optimisation opportunities before they occur in the physical world
Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Predictive Digital Twins
BIM remains an essential pillar for project management in the construction industry. Notable players in this are the so-called Predictive Digital Twins. These advanced systems combine BIM data with real-time sensors and advanced analytics to provide predictive insight into the behaviour and performance of buildings throughout their lifecycle. By using machine learning and AI, these digital twins can predict problems and identify optimisation opportunities before they occur in the physical world, resulting in more efficient maintenance, energy savings and a better user experience. To learn more about BIM, read the blog What is BIM?
AR, VR and 3D
Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D printing, have long since ceased to be phenomena that only appear in James Bond films. All these things are also increasingly found on construction sites. AR and VR are ideal tools for designs and visualisations. AR and VR can contribute to a better understanding of the construction process and help solve complex construction problems. 3D printing is increasingly common for fabricating elements and parts. Again, the end result is faster construction time and lower costs.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prominent in the construction industry, with applications ranging from optimising project planning and management to improving site safety and (partially) automating tasks such as inspection and quality control. This makes AI a useful tool for optimising construction processes. An additional advantage; AI is self-learning and thus gets smarter and smarter in use.
Drones
Drones remain a valuable tool for the construction industry, albeit with increasingly sophisticated applications. Besides taking aerial photographs to monitor project progress, drones are increasingly being used for tasks such as inspections at height, creating 3D models of construction sites and performing thermographic analysis to identify energy losses.
The construction companies that manage to take these digital steps quickly and efficiently have a competitive advantage over the rest.
Towards a data-driven construction industry
Although digitalisation is now taking firm root in the construction sector too, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Especially in the field of data-driven working and the integration of data and digital systems, there is still much to be gained. The construction companies that manage to take these digital steps quickly and efficiently have a competitive advantage over the rest. Implementing new technologies in the construction industry can help make the construction process more efficient and sustainable. Moreover, these technologies can help reduce costs and improve the quality of buildings and infrastructure.