The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how the construction industry conducts business since last year, affecting everything from planning and finishing projects to hiring staff and meeting clients. The consequences of the pandemic will impact numerous industry trends in the future.
New technology continues to transform the construction site, increasing project win rates and profit margins. Because of trends and movements, the positions of industry experts and front-line employees are changing.
The 7 Latest Constructional Trends in 2022
Harnessing the latest construction trends will be valuable for any construction firm as the industry becomes more fierce & competitive. To stay competitive, keep reading about the top 7 construction industry trends in 2022.
Digital Transformation
According to the consulting firm McKinsey, forward-thinking construction companies are embracing digitalisation to offer user-friendly tools that enable efficient collaboration to keep projects on track and within budget.
Popular construction market trends have seen a rise in remote project management tools as a result of the pandemic. These innovations will boost industry productivity and contribute to resolving the critical housing shortage crisis.
Large-scale digitization is expected to result in annual cost savings of 13%—21% in the design, engineering, and construction phases, and 10%-17% in the operations phase by 2025. A digital transformation is no longer an option, but rather a necessary step in ensuring the industry’s long-term viability.
Drones
Over the past few years, drone usage has significantly surged by 239% in the construction sector. Because of its data collection and aerial viewing capabilities, construction sites can now be safely monitored remotely without any hassle.
Drone imagery, whether video or photos, can particularly assist construction companies in tracking progress and providing real-time updates. Additionally, it helps construction companies and their clients exchange information more effectively thanks to its visual aids.
Robotics and Automation
Automation and robotics can increase quality and consistency in the construction industry. For example, using demolition robots as opposed to hiring a crew makes it safer, more affordable, and quicker to destroy concrete and structural elements.
Key areas where automation and technology are progressing include remote operation, heavy lifting, and repetitive tasks. The demand for the integration of robotics will increase as construction companies seek to automate more tasks.
Modularity
15–25% of all new buildings will be modular by 2030. In the construction industry, recent trends like modularization and off-site prefabrication are becoming more popular.
This significantly lessens waste generation and construction site disruption. Investors and real estate developers are using this technology to quickly construct factories for their companies.
It’s no surprise that the global modular construction market is expected to top $84.4 billion this year.
Building Construction with 3D Printing
A 3D-printed home can now be built in less than 24 hours, despite the fact that the technology is still in its initial stages. 3D printing has progressed from a trendy buzzword to a technological force influencing future building trends. A few advantages of 3D printing are as follows:
- Cost savings: Production can be 70% faster and construction waste can be 60% less.
- Scalable: The price for a square metre of 3D printing is just $27.
- Sustainable: Uses solar energy, which reduces CO2 emissions.
- Design adaptability: capable of quickly producing distinctive facades and curved walls for mass production.
A Stagnant Workforce
The construction industry is expected to face a skills shortage crisis by 2030, owing largely to the adoption of robotics and the reduced crew size caused by automation.
Businesses that develop new robotics and automation skill sets can slow the job loss rate. The digital transformation can stabilise the workforce and produce more skilled workers by utilising better tools and young talented workers.
AR (Augmented Reality)
By the end of the decade, the market for AR is anticipated to be worth more than $1.2 trillion, up from about $37 billion in 2019. AR means efficient project staging, which enables buyers and tenants to get an overview of the entire project.
Augmented reality (AR) makes it easier for architects and developers to use wearable technology to create 3D visualisations for future projects of the building’s surroundings.
Conclusion
The labour markets and cost trends in the construction sector are constantly undergoing rapid change as a result of supply and demand. Long-term forecasts, however, point to the expansion of an industry that is more efficient and environmentally friendly.
