2022, after a turbulent time of changing expectations and adjusting forecasts, will be the year that the Construction industry will reemerge and grow. Construction costs are on the rise, and there is a labor shortage. This forces the industry to come up with new innovative ideas to compete.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the construction industry conducts business. From hiring workers and closing down projects to scheduling, it has affected everything. The fallout of the pandemic will affect many industry trends in the future. The construction site is changing as new technology improves the ability to win jobs and increases profit margins. Trends and movements are changing the roles of frontline workers and industry professionals.
Construction firms will benefit from these trends as the construction industry grows more competitive and changes. Here are ten construction trends you must watch in 2022.
Table Of Contents
- Protective Equipment
- Efficient Technologies
- Growing Demand for Laborers
- Mobile Access to Remote Worksites and Remote Worksites
- Material costs on the rise
- Green Building
- Modular Construction
- Construction Management Software
- Focusing on Residential Projects
- Smart Cities
- Protective Equipment
COVID-19 has had a major impact on the construction industry. State regulations have been updated to emphasize cleanliness and safety. The COVID-19 pandemic has also increased the influence of unions in construction projects, which could add cost and time.
In the industry, machines are also being developed that can identify common safety concerns and eliminate them one by one. Wearable innovation is making its way to job sites with work boots that are connected to Wi-Fi to alert others when a person falls. Robots are being used to build scaffolding and lay bricks. Headsets are able to reduce sound pollution and keep workers aware of their surroundings.
Robots are replacing certain human workers. These robots do not “replace” humans; they change the jobs that humans perform. In most cases, these robots augment human decision-making, such as deciphering data and converting it into actionable insights, and create room for higher-level, different jobs.
The use of 3D printers is increasing, which has led to a decrease in transportation risks. Environmental sensors that detect heat, noise, and wind on construction sites provide warnings for evacuation in an emergency.
- Efficient Technology
This year, technology will be the biggest differentiator in the construction industry. Specifically, innovations that can increase efficiency. Has also expanded its reliance on technology in construction due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Here are some tech types that will continue to grow in popularity until 2022.
Smart Contracts
Blockchain technology can improve relationships in the construction sector. It’s an important component of a faster and more secure workflow, which allows for enhanced productivity.
Smart Contracts provide all the organizations involved in a project with a common system for doing business. They can buy, track, and pay for services. Smart contacts can be used as a single tracking system, allowing firms to avoid having to deal with multiple parties for contracts and deliverables. Instead, smart contacts will enable them to set rules and deadlines and have the blockchain enforce those. This system will allow for quicker closeouts, improved security, better tracking of projects, and an automated supply chain.
Construction Drones
Drone usage in the construction industry is one of the fastest-growing trends. The use has increased by 239% per year. This technology is not limited to aerial photography in real estate or commercial endeavors.
Drones can map large areas quickly and efficiently over a long distance, producing useful aerial heat maps or thermal images. Drone software is able to provide real-time data for quick decision-making.
Construction’s biggest liability is still personal safety and equipment damage. Drones are able to perform tasks in lieu of humans, preventing injuries. For example, they can scale supertall buildings. Drones are a great tool for on-site security. They can reduce labor costs, minimize theft risk, and keep projects on track and on time.
Future uses will include tracking equipment depreciation and incorporating AI for organizing moving construction machinery.
Augmented Reality (AR).
The Automated Measuring of Buildings
Simulating architectural and structural changes is now affordable and fast.
Safety training and Hazard Simulations
Building Information Modeling
Building Information Modeling Technology helps industry leaders to stand out by improving efficiency. BIM allows users to create computer renderings of buildings and utility systems. This ease of sharing and managing models can lead to better prefabrication, which leads to a more accurate and on-time completion. Autodesk describes this as “an intelligent, 3D model-based system to help professionals manage building and infrastructure.”
According to Financials Online, the top BIM software available in 2022 includes:
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- Autodesk BIM360
- Trimble Connect
- Archived
- Navisworks
- Revit
- BIMx
- The Need for More Laborers
The demand for construction labor has increased dramatically in recent years. Although robots can help fill in the gaps, quality labor is costly and highly competitive.
We will still need workers who are more educated to interpret and manage the data generated by this new technology. Women are filling more competitive roles. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 10.9% of the construction industry’s jobs are held by women, while hiring trends indicate a 94% increase in female-owned firms in the industry from 2007 to 2018. Additionally, 30% of companies in construction promoted a woman to a senior role in 2018.
In addition, the industry targets Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2010) in its recruitment efforts. In the past, negative perceptions about trade schools have been detrimental to efforts to recruit new talent for construction. The COVID-19 epidemic caused a change in attitudes towards alternative education and increased positive attitudes toward trade schools. This allowed construction firms to showcase the career growth opportunities in their industry as well as the abundance of new technology.
- Remote Worksite and Mobile Access
Construction industry mobile applications allow for unprecedented access to the work site, including real-time checks, accountability on-site, and accurate measurements using a camera from a smartphone.
COVID-19 required that teams collaborate even without access to physical materials, space, or other teammates. The AECOM has developed a technology that allows public approval meetings to be held virtually so that projects can move forward even without physical gatherings. There are also other mobile apps on the market, such as AirMeasure for measuring and asset management software Infotycoon. Without complete mobile connectivity, businesses will suffer in terms of productivity and sales.