AEM presented 10 top trends for the future of building construction, among them alternative power, the electrification of compact equipment, autonomous machinery and sensors for increased safety. Referencing recent aviation fuel regulations plans, the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) ban on small engines on new equipment starting in 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new greenhouse gas emissions rules for 2023–2026 passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks and the EPA's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty trucks starting with 2027 models, the AEM whitepaper asserts that construction companies will see their fleets change over the next decade, as well. Major corporations continue to invest in renewable energy like biofuels, solar and wind power, as construction companies and large contractors commit to net-zero impact pledges for new buildings and infrastructure. The United States' commitment to cutting carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 will spur "the electrification of many segments of the compact construction equipment market" over the next 10 years, according to AEM. Thanks to the advanced 5G network and cloud systems, equipment tracking will allow real-time visibility into productivity and maintenance on a Jobsite, so operators and contractors can make sure they queue properly and have the most efficient job flow they can.

What are the foundational technologies today on which we are building tomorrow? That was the question Michael Hainsworth, executive producer of Futurithmic, co-host of the Geeks & Beats podcast and former BNN senior anchor and CTV news reporter, asked the audience at a talk billed Future Forward: Three Technologies That Will Change Our World Forever. The presentation was part of the CanaData construction forecasts conference held recently in Toronto. "You look at 5G wireless, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), these are going to be three key technologies for your industry not for the next 10 years, not for the next 20 years, this is the future forever," explained Hainsworth. "These fundamental technologies are going to give us things that today we can't even predict."

The potential applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in construction are vast, and for early adopters, these technologies are already helping to make jobsites safer, more efficient and more productive. Requests for information, open issues and change orders are standard in the construction industry. Machine learning is like a smart assistant that can scrutinize this mountain of data, learn from it and then alert project managers about the critical items that need their attention. This type of AI is also being used to track the real-time interactions of workers, machinery and objects on the jobsite and alert supervisors of potential safety issues, construction errors and productivity issues. What are some of the top benefits of using AI and machine learning in the construction industry?

The term "artificial intelligence" means a lot of different things to people. Understandable, since it's so difficult to confine its definition to a single example as AI can take many different forms. Even in construction, artificial intelligence applications range from a formless networked virtual computer-dwelling brain that crunches mountains of data, to an array of data-collecting sensors, to real-live physical robots autonomously laying bricks. It's still early to predict how AI will affect the industry long term. However, its impact on the industry is already undeniable.

In spite of recovering major ground after the Great Recession, the construction industry is still facing troubling skilled labor shortages, with a lack of qualified candidates stepping up to take over the positions once held by industry veterans nearing retirement age. The construction industry lost 2.3 million jobs between 2006-2011, and today there are a million fewer residential construction jobs than before 2006, according to Tradesmen International. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows nearly 200,000 unfilled construction industry jobs nationwide. This gap between available positions and skilled workers ready to fill them puts added pressure on developers, contractors and owners. Even in the face of a worker shortage, construction is booming.

We are entering the era of robotics and AI (artificial intelligence), where machines can help make decisions about work being done on construction jobsites, while also taking some of the back-breaking tasks off workers. A historically labor-intensive industry, robotics offer an opportunity to help automate projects and heighten productivity. New research points to growth in construction robotics specifically. Tractica suggests that the market will reach $226 million worldwide by 2025, with a growing number of construction companies leveraging robots to solve labor shortages and speed up construction tasks. The largest market in terms of unit shipments will be for robot assistants used on construction sites, followed by infrastructure robots, structure robots, and finishing robots.

The construction industry is booming--particularly heavy/highway projects. At the same time, construction is facing a skilled labor shortage that is requiring projects to be managed more effectively. There are many ways to improve this efficiency through leveraging new technology--including these three ways to enhance operations using project-management software, estimating technology, and more. Create Efficiencies in Estimating Perhaps one area to heighten efficiencies in the year ahead is in estimating. Too often, estimators are still using spreadsheets to create estimates and proposals--but this can be time consuming and can create inaccuracies.

AI can help contractors track progress, spot dangerous behaviors and prevent accidents. AI will one day completely transform the jobsite -- construction equipment will leverage machine learning to become more and more adept at performing complex tasks autonomously. In the meantime, though, here are three ways AI is changing construction now, at least for large contractors with deep pockets. Nothing throws off a schedule like a construction deficiency that's discovered when the work is almost completed. AI systems can help contractors keep a closer eye on all parts of a project throughout the construction process so they can make any necessary corrections right away.

Over the past couple years, it has become super easy to capture photos and videos on jobsites; now with Smartvid.io

Imagine a jobsite tool that only improves with time. Imagine a tool that records each and every change order, every bit of rework and every safety incident. Not only does that tool record it, but it also files it away for future projects. Imagine a tool that learns from the past to improve your company's future. Through artificial intelligence and machine learning, several software providers in the construction industry are building technology to do all of the above.