By Roderick Bates, Director, Corporate Development,  Chaos

Roderick Bates

Building for climate change

“The topic of sustainability in architecture is not going away. A key driving factor is high energy prices, putting energy efficiency and insecurity top of the agenda. But beyond the pure performance concerns, architects now need to build for future changes in climate.

“This shifting climate has the potential to transform weather patterns in ways that could render buildings in the contemporary climate unsafe. This means the industry faces the challenge of designing buildings that are energy efficient and comfortable for the current climate, yet are also climate-resistant and able to provide protection under future conditions. For most firms, modelling future climate conditions are table stakes, but showing a proactive plan for how buildings will cope and can be adapted for their changing surroundings and purposes can help them take their designs to the next level.”

Renovation and retrofit

“We’re seeing a strong drive and interest in renovation, which is butting up against the fact that most older buildings were not initially designed to be resilient. For example, many office buildings have not been designed in order to be converted to another purpose. Zoning and code barriers are a major first obstacle. Zoning is already being addressed on a local level and grant funding is getting easier, but private funding continues to pose serious challenges – some firms are finding novel solutions to this, although not necessarily at affordable pricepoints.

Read the rest of AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Chaos

By Francisco Maranchello, COO of e-verse

Three Projections for the AEC Industry in 2024

After a year of interesting advancements due to the surge of AI in the AEC industry, expectations for 2024 are rising.

However, this market sector and its growing startup ecosystem still face many challenges.

1: AI, The Buzzword of the Day

As always, in the tech industry, there’s a buzzword. Like IoT in 2015, or blockchain in 2019, in 2023, that’s Artificial Intelligence.

“What’s interesting to me is that, although other industries have been impacted more by this technology so far, and that there have been interesting developments in our industry too, there are many opportunities yet to be explored.

Even though there are lots of smart people working on AI for image generation and full design automation, both areas intricately related to the AEC industry, there is still so much to be created” Francisco added, regarding AI specifically applied to the AEC industry.

Other industries like software or manufacturing have modularized their knowledge and designs, but AEC starts almost from scratch on every project in architecture.

We’ve recently seen increasing developments focused on leveraging BIM data to provide insights to users about their models, perform direct actions on those models, and use existing data to feed future designs, going from massing to, say, 70% of the design -not trying to automate everything, but going most of the way and leaving the rest of the creative part to humans-.

Hopefully, this trend will continue advancing as we see startups in this space like Skema grow.
Read the rest of AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – e-Verse

By Vectorworks Chief Executive Officer Dr. Biplab Sarkar

Dr. Biplab Sarkar

In the next few years, we can expect several significant shifts in the architecture and construction industry.

One of the most prominent trends will be the continuous increase in building reuse, rehabilitation, and historic preservation types of projects. This will be driven by a growing awareness of preserving our architectural heritage and reducing waste to move toward a more sustainable future.

A continued focus on low carbon emissions will also be a priority, with a new emphasis on wood construction as a strategy to reduce carbon. We expect to see more buildings designed to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, focusing on sustainable materials and construction practices.

Creating designs that are resilient to extreme weather events and rising sea levels is becoming increasingly important. Designs need to be flexible and adaptive to counteract the effects of climate change.

Another trend is a greater emphasis on improving occupant health and well-being through biophilic design and natural lighting. This will be especially important as more people become aware of our built environment’s impact on our mental and physical health.

Read the rest of AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Vectorworks

By Nathan Patton, Product Marketing Manager, Trimble

Nathan Patton

Construction Technology 2024 Outlook

While uncertainty around labor, supply chains and economic conditions persist, the global construction industry continues to work its way through economic instability – and the outlook for 2024 remains mostly optimistic. Spending should improve, in large part due to the realization of federal programs such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). In a recent press release, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) noted that profit margins and staffing levels remain high, factors that suggest growth over the next six months.

As we look ahead to 2024, we have identified six key areas that we think will help shape the construction industry, both for the coming year and into the future.

1)    Expanded Focus on Sustainability

According to Deloitte’s 2024 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook, sustainability continues to be a business imperative for the construction industry. We expect this to remain the case both in 2024 and well into the future.

Engineering and construction companies face a multidimensional challenge on this front as they adapt to evolving market trends, environmental regulations and meeting customer demands for greener buildings, while also preventing construction costs from accelerating too rapidly.

For years, sustainable construction focused primarily on reducing energy consumption during the operations phase of assets, with less emphasis on the construction process itself. While operational carbon emissions are of primary focus, the importance of more sustainable design methodologies and material considerations. As we look at the next year, we expect to see more manufacturers, producers and construction firms putting these principles to work, through advancements in concrete, cement and carbon capture, as an example.

Sustainable actions are making the way onto jobsites as well. This year, Saunders Construction, working closely with Trimble, demonstrated and dramatically improved its concrete cast-in-place practices while delivering sustainable outcomes for its One River North project in Denver, Colorado. With a progressive virtual design and construction approach, the Saunders team realized enhanced project predictability and operating margins, reduced rework and material waste and delivered better environmental outcomes for an ROI that is as eye-opening as the exterior walls of this impressive structure. The ROI of the entire virtual design and construction process was estimated at 1,164% for this project, with a total project cost savings of $505,000 and a total CO2 savings of 144,221 kg.

We expect sustainability to remain a top priority for the entire industry – from materials producers to subcontractors – throughout 2024 and for decades to come.

Read the rest of AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2024 – Trimble

By Jay Vaishnav, COO, QECAD

Jay Vaishnav

Trending Technological Gazing & Predictions in AEC

2023 has kick-started with digital innovation in many industries, and the AEC industry reflects the continued intersection of this digital transformation in the built world. The Digital Revolution is gaining momentum in the AEC sector by introducing advanced technologies and techniques and improvising how we design, construct and renovate the built structures.

Considering CAD and BIM services that have completely reshaped the industry with improved efficiency in the traditional designing and drafting process, there has been the introduction of many other tools and technology for scanning, surveying, mapping, modeling, and manufacturing. It is difficult to jot down everything among many, but a few major AEC trends can be embraced in 2023.

Read the rest of The AEC World Ahead in 2023 – QECAD

By Luc Wing, Architecture Solution Specialist, Microdesk

Automation, AI, Sustainability and Information Play Vital Roles for AEC in 2023

Luc Wing

As we enter 2023, the architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing (AEC+MFG) industries are undergoing significant changes as they adopt new technologies and practices to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and meet the increasing demand for sustainable buildings and products. The three key trends driving these changes are automation and artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and the realization of the “I” in Building Information Modeling (BIM).

Companies are looking for ways to optimize processes, eliminate manual and labor-intensive tasks, improve data precision, and increase control over the project delivery lifecycle. Automation and AI are growing best practices in AEC to help meet those objectives. The adoption of automation technologies can bring benefits ranging from cost savings and improved quality to greater accuracy and increased competitiveness in the global market. Development of automation tools that are usable and “out-of-the-box” create advantages over software that requires specialized knowledge to create and utilize them. With easily understood automation tools, everyday users will have simplified access to software applications and other technologies that allow them to take advantage of the automation’s capabilities. Ultimately, automation technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way buildings, products, and systems are designed, built, and maintained, bringing significant benefits to businesses and consumers alike.

Read the rest of AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2023 – Microdesk

BY David Mitchell, Founder & CEO, XYZ Reality

David Mitchell

2022 was a tough year for construction, rising energy and material costs alongside labor shortages have thrown the industry into turmoil. This challenging period has prompted a refreshed focus on efficiency and productivity. In an industry with traditionally low-profit margins, now faced with recession and the ongoing climate crisis, leading contractors are turning their eyes to advanced technology as a savior in 2023.

We have seen a growth in the adoption of cutting-edge construction technology, such as Augmented Reality (AR), in recent years to revamp building methods. Importantly, continuously evolving BIM techniques and digital twin technology are improving the capabilities of AR and vice versa in a maturing digital ecosystem, upgrading conventional monitoring methods. We anticipate this is a key trend that will continue and grow in the year to come.

Read the rest of AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2023 – XYZ Reality

By Todd Johnstone, CEO, Allbridge

Todd Johnstone

New Survey: The Top PropTech Considerations to Integrate into Hotel Construction and Renovation

The US hospitality industry is making a slow but steady comeback from the pandemic, but it’s having to meet the new expectations of today’s clientele. As guests return, they do so with expectations that hotels have changed. The bar has been set higher–particularly when it comes to the technology available to them when and where they stay. In response, the AEC industry is working with hoteliers to integrate PropTech into new hotel builds and renovations.

It is critical to understand how travelers’ demands are driving changes in hospitality infrastructure. The following conclusions are drawn from a survey of decision-makers in the hospitality industry to better understand priorities that sit at the intersection of PropTech and customer satisfaction.

1. Convenience and Smart Tech are Top Priorities

Respondents signaled that tech amenities were among their highest priorities–particularly due to the rise in contactless technology necessitated by the pandemic, and the increasing integration of smart devices in our daily lives.

Guests expect convenience technologies to be present throughout their travel experiences. For example, guests expect ease of movement–aided by mobile keys, keyless entry, or concierge kiosks. They also expect access to seamless WiFi connectivity throughout hotel properties. Not only do these types of technologies help save guests’ time and increase their satisfaction, but they can also add a layer of security to properties.

Integrating contactless connection points throughout a hotel not only streamlines guests’ experiences on-site but also increases peace of mind for COVID-weary travelers and employees alike. Driven by the ubiquity of home smart devices and homesharing platforms, like Airbnb and VRBO, hoteliers are finding that guests are seeking the comforts of home during their stays. Providing in-room smart devices or home assistants can further help guests move comfortably through their daily activities.

Read the rest of AECCafe Industry Predictions for 2023 – Allbridge