This past year has been an interesting year for sure, to say the least. In 2022, the industry got off to a strong start but along the way, several issues began to arise, including rising costs and labour shortages. But the construction industry is continuously changing and developing, coming from once relying on pen and paper to now embracing everything technology has to offer. We believe 2023 will only further the development across the sector. Here are a couple of trends to keep an eye on this year.
Smart Cities
A smart city is defined as a regional area that uses information and communication technologies (ICT) to increase operational efficiency, share data with the public and improve both the quality of government services and citizen welfare.
Smart cities are used to improve the city’s day-to-day operations, such as public transportation, power and water supply, and sanitation systems. Using the real-time data and insights government can then make an informed decision on rectifying any issues the cities face. As these urban development’s become more common the nature of construction projects will also become more complex. The IDC expects that investments in smart cities by 2024 will grow to $203 billion.
Development of Sustainable/Green Building
The construction industry’s involvement in the current climate issue is no secret, and it is at a state of emergency. The construction industry uses 32% of the world’s natural resources and is responsible for 39% of carbon emissions globally. a McKinsey study reported that 90% of construction industry respondents believe that a change toward environmental sustainability is on the horizon.
Sustainable or green building can be defined as the reduction of the industry’s impact on the environment. Sustainable construction methods can include using renewable and recyclable materials, making a conscious effort to reduce onsite waste, reducing the energy consumption of the finished building, and much more.
Modular and Prefabricated Building
Modular construction basically involves building at least 60-90% of the construction or structure before bringing it to the site. Whereas prefabrication is when certain components of a structure are built or manufactured off-site and then fixed to the building. As of 2020, the global modular construction market was worth about $82.3 billion, and this only has plans to grow exponentially. This hugely benefits industries such as healthcare, hotels, as well as multifamily residential structures and much more.
Drone Technology in The Construction Industry
Once seen as a novelty item, drones are now responsible for huge cuts on costs for major construction projects. It is reported that using drones to measure stockpiles of building materials in real time has resulted in a 61% increase in measurement accuracy. Incorporating drones into the construction industry has improved safety standards by 55%.
Finding Ways to Overcome the Labour Shortage
The construction industry has struggled with labour shortage issues for the past several years, but it grew increasingly more and more concerning as 2022 went on. Construction companies are struggling to get the manpower required to complete projects in an efficient time frame and to the quality standards expected. This causes friction between organizations and their clients. So, the industry must adapt and find new ways around this problem. The implementation of high-tech equipment, automation, or other building innovations is now becoming the norm for aiding firms to complete projects without a large labour force.
Digital Twins, and the Metaverse
Digital twins, also known as data twins, are emerging as essential tools in construction and the built environment. Digital twins are created by collecting and analyzing real-world information about the building or structure using technologies such as 3D laser scanners, drones, sensors, cameras, and other IoT-related devices. Fun fact, the first data twin was used in 1970 during NASA’s Apollo 13 mission.
The Metaverse is basically like a virtual parallel universe. You enter it with a VR headset ideally however you can also access it via your desktop or smartphone. In relation to the construction industry, many believe factors such as profit potential, public demand and ease of communication have many believing it is the way forward for the sector.
Omnia Machinery are industry expert in used construction equipment and a trusted machinery trader. We stock a wide variety of quality used construction equipment to suit many different jobs such as cranes, road equipment, quarry, earthmoving, piling, drilling, and underground mining. We provide our customers with all information and pictures with their quotation before any sale is agreed upon. From inspections to shipping, we are here to support you through every step of the transaction and keep you informed throughout the whole process enabling you to purchase in confidence. Contact us today with your machinery requirements.