By Allison Scott, Director, Customer Experience & Industry Advocacy​,  Autodesk

Allison Scott

• AI brings risk and human interactions to the forefront

  The conversation of AI in construction has obviously heated up. Where not too long ago we were talking about data analytics as the next frontier, and BIM before that, now the industry is hot on more automation. The opportunity for AI to impact construction is vast, especially as a seasoned workforce with deep institutional knowledge retires and an emerging workforce needs to augment their experience with assistive technology. However, major risks such as inaccurate decision-making can have ripple effects to people and projects if firms don’t put good guardrails in place. We will start to see more firms take on the challenge of better data hygiene and governance models that inform how AI is leveraged. Insurance companies and those in the legal profession will also start ramping up on the implications for AI in construction, especially as regulation such as the UK Safety Act enforces a “golden thread of data” that pushes more collaboration and data management. Technology companies serving AEC will accelerate ML/AI capabilities to both legacy technologies and new, and a fresh wave of startups will jump on the train. However, as AI permeates every tool, even in our day-to-day lives, we’ll see that human interactions and customer service will become a premium. This is a challenge for our industry that still relies on people to solve problems that, in most cases, AI is not primed for yet. Construction firms should ensure they’re developing strong relationships with technology partners to make sure their voices are heard on what real-world problems AI can help solve, and how.

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By Campbell Yule, Founder/CEO, Codesign

AI building on trouble-free construction in 2024.

Campbell Yule

Reducing human involvement in hazardous activities and increasing efficiency is the goal, but when can we get there?

In case you’re unaware, since 2008, the construction industry has experienced more deaths than any other industry. Construction accounts for 21% of all deaths among U.S. workers.

Here’s the good news. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning will significantly impact safety, and early analytics indicate it will reduce construction accidents by up to 20%. In 2024, Artificial Intelligence for the building industry will exceed $1 billion. Bill Gates said, “AI will be the most transformative innovation any of us will see in our lifetimes, so one must be knowledgeable about the technology, its benefits, and its risks.” Touché.

AI will impact how projects are planned, designed, managed, and executed. AI-driven technologies enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability. For the architect, it helps from the start — in the earliest part of the conceptual stage.

1. Innovative Design
AI optimizes design. It uses algorithms that explore multiple conceptual options based on inputs such as areas, massings, sun studies, carbon, context, and material implications — increasing creativity with more cost-effective and sustainable buildings.

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By Jimmy Tam, CEO, Peer Software

Jimmy Tam

Globalization of talent, post-COVID remote/back-to-office work trends, and an accelerating pace of mergers and acquisitions is powering a “hybridization” of our business culture and technology.

This has led to the emergence of remote teams that are highly productive and can work on projects around the clock across multiple time zones leading to faster project completion and improved time-to-market potential. But how can you best support these teams to maximize their performance?

Modern Distributed File Systems Emerge to Fuel Productivity

In 2024, the evolution of file sharing and collaboration tools for designers and engineers plays a leading role in enhancing team productivity and will be influenced by various factors including technological breakthroughs, market demands, and industry-specific needs.

This is where modern distributed file systems come into the picture to provide an optimal architecture for file sharing and collaboration productivity. In a distributed file system, files are stored across multiple servers or nodes that are geographically distributed and close to remote project teams. Each team member can access a local copy of the files, regardless of their location, resulting in faster file access and reduced latency. When changes are being made to a file by one end-user, other users are prevented from making an edit at the same time to prevent version conflicts. Committed file changes are then synchronized across all the nodes in real-time, ensuring that all team members have the latest version of the file. This eliminates version control issues, as the distributed file system becomes the single source of truth for all project files, and all changes are tracked and recorded.

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By Jay Vaishnav, COO, QeCAD

Jai Vaishnav

Advanced Spectacles Transforming the AEC Industry: A Glimpse into 2024

The AEC industry is undergoing a radical transformation driven by the technological advancements. As we stand on the cusp of 2024, several trends are emerging and reshaping the landscape of AEC industry as a whole. When we think about the digital construction services like CAD Drafting, BIM and Rendering services, the industry finds itself at the crossroads of innovation and foresight.

The technological landscape is ablaze with the advancements that promises to redefine the way we plan, design, visualize, and construct the world around us. In this exploration of the AEC industry’s tomorrow, let me take the opportunity to take you through the captivating realms of Cloud Collaboration, IoT for Smart Buildings, Artificial Intelligence in Design, Project Sustainability, and the immersive frontiers of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

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By Clive Jordan  Co-Founder at Plannerly

Clive Jordan

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By Shanthi Rajan, CEO and Founder, Linarc

Shanthi Rajan

With the end of the year approaching, we must consider what is to come for AEC in the next 12 months. The AEC industry is at the cusp of technological advancement that will completely transform how we design, build, and experience the spaces around us. The tech is here and its growth is exponential. Here are some predictions based around the thesis of tech maturation and how it will affect the AEC sector in the year ahead.

1. Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML):

The synergy between AI and AEC is set to reach new heights in 2024. AI and ML algorithms will be pivotal in design optimization, project management, and risk assessment. AI can sift through vast amounts of data to predict potential challenges and outcomes in construction projects. By analyzing past project data, these tools can forecast scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation issues, enabling proactive planning. These technologies will empower architects and engineers to analyze vast datasets, leading to more efficient decision-making and innovative design solutions. From generative design to predictive maintenance, the AEC sector is poised to leverage the power of intelligent algorithms.

2. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in Design and Visualization:

AR and VR technologies are set to become integral tools in the AEC toolbox, offering immersive experiences for stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. Design reviews, client presentations, and on-site training will be revolutionized by these technologies, providing a more intuitive and interactive understanding of complex architectural and engineering concepts, as well providing insight into what a project is to come. AR and VR will enable all stakeholders to envision what a project will look like in its various stages.

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 By Brian Burke, CEO and Founder,  Plans4Less

Brian Burke

The year ahead for residential and commercial construction professionals will be choppy as they navigate higher interest rates, a softer housing market, increasing inflation, jumpy material costs and a firmer recession taking hold.

The ConTech professionals we speak with have a universal desire to streamline workflows, reduce the number of touch-points and limit headcounts on each and every process. They basically want to do ”more done with less”. Re-engineer as many work flows to make them fast, easy, accurate and reliable. Done right the first time. On time and on budget. Control what they can control as the outside environment is fraught with the headwinds we have been discussing.

2023 Plans4Less Outlook:

1.  Federal Reserve Headwinds:
The Fed says, at their 1/4/22 Meeting, that they see rates remaining high for “sometime” – while taking the target range for the benchmark fed funds rate to 4.25%-4.5%, its highest level in 15 years. What does this mean for home buyers? Well, the Fed’s fight against inflation has caused mortgage demand to plunge 13.25% to end 2022 – and that trend should be in place for “some time”. Demand for refinancing, which is a super-sensitive indicator, is down 87% from the same period in 2021 – and that trend, yes, should be in place for “some time”. As the Irish say, “may the wind always be at your back.” In this case, the Fed has made the wind go squarely in the face of the construction market for 2023.

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By Yves Padrines, CEO, Nemetschek Group

Yves Padrines

Nemetschek Group expects significant increase in demand for digitalization in 2023

Software provider predicts that digitalization will be the key enabler for a sustainable growth across the AEC/O industry

The Nemetschek Group, one of the leading software providers for the construction and media industries, has urged the construction sector to further its drive to digitalization in order to navigate the many challenges currently facing the sector.

Although 2022 was again a strong year for the Munich-based company, which has been a forerunner of digital transformation for the AEC/O industry, challenges in this industry still remain. According to Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group, the industry as a whole must quickly accelerate its embracing of digital tools to drive vital improvements in efficiency and sustainability within the sector.

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By Martin Holmgren, General Manager, Trimble-Building Construction

Martin Holmgren

Focus on Complex Projects Requires High Accuracy for Construction Execution and QA/QC 

The cost of capital increased throughout 2022, leading to longer decision times for both new projects and capital investment into new technologies. Parts of the construction industry are more heavily impacted by this, primarily residential and retail construction where we expect a slowdown in 2023 and 2024. 

On the flip side, we see an opportunity for continued strong interest and investment into other areas of construction that are incentivized by the $1.2 Trillion infrastructure bill and the $280 Billion CHIPS and Science Act. These initiatives are driving building construction investment into areas like infrastructure, hospitals, and semiconductor processing facilities but we are also seeing strong economic indicators for areas related to electrical cars, batteries, and even if there is a bit of a slowdown, we see a continued strong investment in data center construction. 

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