Construction News Archive
Week of November 25, 2019
Robots for monitoring jobsite progress, mixed reality platform integrates with Autodesk, and more construction news
In a recent conference held by Procore in Canada, a panel of construction experts discussed the potential of technology in transforming the construction industry. Some panelists observed that using new tools and technologies can help construction companies extract and manage valuable business data from jobsites. Others cautioned that purchasing tools is not enough, companies should also invest in training employees on handling the enormous data produced by the new applications and tech. However, all panelists agreed on and stressed the need for greater collaboration between different teams and the use of office and onsite tools that can work together, instead of being siloed in separate packages.
Ontario-based visualization software solution provider Arvizio announced the integration of its MR Studio mixed reality platform with Autodesk’s BIM 360 and A360 applications. The integration will allow Arvizio users to import 3D models from the Autodesk applications and visualize them on VR headsets such as the Magic Leap and Microsoft HoloLens. While still an emerging technology, mixed reality could transform construction projects by becoming the much-needed bridge between disparate construction design tools and virtual reality devices. [Read more]
HoloBuilder, a construction management solution company, announced an integration partnership with Boston Dynamics—a robotics design company. The integration will allow users to train and control Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot for taking photographs at jobsites using HoloBuilder’s SpotWalk app. Construction companies looking to effectively capture jobsite progress, while improving productivity, might find the innovative technology useful. [Read more]
Week of November 18, 2019
Megaprojects increasing, influence of blockchain grows, and more construction news
With farm income tumbling, farmers are looking for other ways to boost revenues, and one way they’ve discovered is through the construction industry. As a result, authorities in Minnesota have attempted to connect farmers in the offseason with construction trades to help fill the gaps. It shows that there are unique areas construction managers can look for labor to deal with the labor shortage. [Read more]
There has been a growing trend toward megaprojects and energy-related developments in the construction industry. While the dollar value of construction starts in 2019 has so far matched 2018, energy-related developments of $1 billion or more have been a much larger part of U.S. starts, with mid-size and smaller projects down 15% so far this year.
Blockchain and the internet of things could have a big impact on the construction industry in the future. IoT enables the digitalization of assets and processes, while blockchain could help decentralize network management and streamline financing and payments, to name just a few potential benefits. [Read more]
Week of November 11, 2019
Canadian construction industry loses jobs, how AI can boost productivity, and more construction news
The ongoing construction labor shortage continues to be a vexing problem for the industry, but technology can help you deal with those staffing challenges. By using better human resources technology and outsourcing solutions, you automate a lot of administrative processes and can offer better benefits that will allow you to both find and keep workers. [Read more]
The Canadian construction industry had a rough month in Oct. shedding 21,300 jobs and decreasing overall employment in the industry to 1.46 million. As a result, the construction labor market is only slightly better off than this time a year ago. [Read more]
Technology is all around us, but construction firms are often at a loss on how to use it to their advantage. One thing construction managers should take advantage of is artificial intelligence, which is showing promise as a technology that can help managers spot problems before they happen and identify productivity opportunities. [Read more]
Week of October 28, 2019
The demand for construction workers grows, Girl Scouts take interest in the industry, and more construction news
The construction labor shortage continues unabated—55% of construction companies report that their biggest concern is the need for skilled labor, up from 53% last year. Many construction businesses feel that their only limitation to expansion is their ability to find workers, and it has caused them to shift their focus to retaining the workers they have in order to avoid losing them. [Read more]
The latest tech is important to a construction business, but it may not be in the form of a drone or prefabrication. Instead, firms should be gathering as much data as possible and then crunching the numbers to spot opportunities to make projects more efficient or look for new market opportunities. [Read more]
For construction firms looking to solve the vexing labor shortage crisis, it’s important to look to new areas to train the next generation—and the Girl Scouts in North Dakota may provide a clue on how to do that. A local organization put out a competition for more than 50 Girl Scouts in the state to create buildings using Legos as part of an initiative to encourage young girls to take interest in the historically male-dominated industry.
Week of October 21, 2019
Planning for a downturn, construction startup gets $14M for AI platform, and more construction news
Warning signs have appeared on the horizon for the construction industry, and as a result, contractors need to be prepared for a potential economic downturn. Contractors can take a number of steps to do so, including making sure that their funding sources are secure and their cash flow won’t dry up when crunch time arrives. Also, contractors should avoid the temptation to expand too quickly, and focus more on improving how they already do things.
When we think of construction, we think of plywood, steel, backhoes, and man-hours—but it’s important not to forget about developing the people who work for you in a way that goes beyond the nuts and bolts of construction. Soft skills need to become a bigger part of a construction manager’s job, which includes building happy and productive relationships with your workers. A big first step toward that end: better, more involved communication. [Read more]
OpenSpace, a San Francisco startup often described as the Google Street View of construction sites, just secured $14 million from investors. The money will go toward developing software that visually tracks construction projects, creating navigable 360-degree photos of construction sites. Construction managers can strap a camera to their hard hats to document the site as it develops, and the software organizes the photos using artificial intelligence. [Read more]
Week of October 14, 2019
Construction’s image problem, drones working for Microsoft, and more construction news
A new law in Pennsylvania will require construction industry employers in the state to verify an employee’s legal status to work in the United States via a federal database known as E-Verify. Construction firms that fail to check this risk having their business license suspended for a second violation. [Read more]
A report out of Missouri suggests that the construction industry may struggle to find workers for one reason that most may not think of: a poor image among younger workers. Despite advances over the last decade or two, most still see construction as a dirty, low-skilled position, and the industry may need to combat that stereotype and show it’s a high-tech world where workers can grow. [Read more]
Microsoft is totally rebuilding its campus on the outskirts of Seattle, and they’re using drone technology to help with the effort. It’s a big project, including the construction of 17 new buildings and the addition of features such as atriums and courtyards. Drone company Skycatch is recording the construction activity and feeding the data into building information models (BIM), allowing construction managers to have a constant view of the progress.
Week of October 7, 2019
How to prevent lawsuits, sustainability expectations rising, and more construction news
A new report claims that an increased adoption of project management software is causing a “data ownership battle” between contractors who use their own software workflows and the project owners they serve. The report highlights the challenges of a project owner and contractor working together when they have to different software systems, which causes higher costs and more risk.
Reducing the environmental impact of a construction project is an increasingly important priority, and construction managers must figure out ways to adapt and become more sustainable to please clients. But this demand doesn’t just come from clients: construction managers are feeling this pressure from the community, and labor shortages and millennial employees are driving firms to adopt environmental practices to attract these workers. [Read more]
[null-IMAGE_EMBED](https://software-advice.imgix.net/managed/other_pages/external-link-icon.png)
Technology has multiple benefits, but one you probably haven’t thought of is a lower risk of expensive lawsuits. A new study claims that the adoption of project management and data collection technology could improve scheduling, provide more accurate modeling, and collect data more efficiently, which are big factors in court. And simply by being more efficient, construction managers can avoid disputes to start with and lower the risk of a costly lawsuit.
Week of September 30, 2019
How tech is disrupting construction, tackling substance abuse in the industry, and more construction news
Construction managers need to pay attention to these six trends in their industry, ranging from the surging usage of drones to the growing importance of green construction practices. Some of these you’ve probably heard before, but some may come as a surprise—and give you ideas on how to give your next project a boost. [Read more]
More than just making the lives of construction managers easier, technology is actually changing the way the industry operates. Construction companies are competing like never before to go digital in order to gain an edge, and about 70% of companies now believe that those who don’t adopt digital tools will be in big trouble. [Read more]
Substance abuse remains a big problem nationwide, and it’s particularly acute in construction. In Boston, construction workers have some of the highest rates of opioid abuse, and unions in the construction industry are teaming up to figure out how to combat the problem.
Week of September 23, 2019
Construction goes green, automation surges, and more construction news
As concern for the environment grows every year, the construction industry is being challenged to find new and innovative ways to be more green. There are lots of interesting technologies in their early stages that could totally change the way we approach construction in the coming decades, such as solar glass, which would allow every window in a building to generate energy. [Read more]
The construction industry remains a stubbornly male profession, with women making up just 14.55 of the workforce. Even worse, just 2% of workers in skilled manual trades are female. A lack of women in the construction industry means half the population—and consequently all of their ideas on thinking and working—is shut out of participating in an industry that needs their skills. [Read more]
A lot has changed since the housing collapse a little more than a decade ago, especially in the construction industry, where automation is surging. Construction firms hope that automation can help them solve a whole raft of challenges they presently face, such as increasing competition and a shortage of skilled labor. [Read more]
Week of September 16, 2019
Bamboo is hot in Australia, the search for younger applicants, and more construction news
The construction industry has been undergoing a pretty unique recovery ever since the 2007-2008 crash and subsequent Great Recession. After the industry lost 1.5 million jobs from the financial crisis, firms have struggled to lure workers back even in the midst of good economic times, leading to a skilled labor shortage. The pain is most acute on the residential construction side.
Sustainable materials are becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry, and one particular material that is taking off in Australia is bamboo. Bamboo is desirable because it’s a renewable resource, it’s lightweight, and it’s flexible and strong. And, unlike timber, it takes just a few years for bamboo to grow to full strength.
With the skilled labor shortage challenging the construction industry, firms are looking for younger applicants that they can train with on-the-job experience. A local news crew examines a construction company in Oregon that is reaching out to applicants as young as 18 or 19 years old and putting them in apprenticeship programs, learning skills over the years and taking on more complex jobs.
Week of September 9, 2019
Problematic tax cheats, the U.K. construction industry is slumping, and more construction news
A new report argues that there are three main factors affecting construction managers today: the skilled labor shortage, mega-projects, and construction technology. Labor continues to be the biggest challenge, but mega-projects threaten to shake up midsize firms, and construction tech is the present—not the future—which means construction managers who are not jumping in with both feet are already behind. [Read more]
A new editorial raises the prospect that tax cheats could be an increasing drain on the economy. The writer alleges that “unscrupulous contractors” are keeping their employees off the books and ignoring safety requirements, to name just a few shady practices. The editorial argues that government task forces should get involved to crack down on these practices. [Read more]
The U.K.’s construction industry continues to struggle, with new work falling to its lowest level since 2009, according to a report. Concerns over a no-deal Brexit appear to be driving much of the uncertainty among construction firms, with the Oct. 31 deadline for a deal fast approaching. New orders dived from a market reading of 45.3 in July to just 45 in August, which was the lowest since March 2009, when the world was locked in a recession following the previous year’s financial crash.
Week of September 2, 2019
A surge in the modular market, construction starts are slow, and more construction news
The skilled labor shortage in construction just keeps getting worse, and now firms are turning to the U.S. government for help. A new survey from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk finds that 80% of firms are having difficulty filling positions, and AGC is asking federal officials to provide more funding for education programs and to allow more immigration. [Read more]
A new report claims that the worldwide modular construction market is projected to grow to $51.2 billion by the year 2025. The U.S. could have a growth momentum of 5.8% in the industry. China’s modular construction industry is projected to grow at an even faster pace of 9.7%, and could add $13.7 billion alone. [Read more]
A worrying new report shows that construction starts are slowing down in 7 of the 20 largest markets in the U.S., indicating that although the industry remains strong, some early warning signs should give firms pause. The report, from Dodge Data & Analytics, finds that a drop in demand for multi-family construction has been responsible for much of the decline in those markets.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking input from the industry on its respirable crystalline silica standard for construction, inviting comments through Oct. 15. OSHA wants to know how effective their attempts to limit worker exposure to respirable silica has been, and the agency wants to explore data that would help it determine whether revisions are needed.
Week of August 26, 2019
New hiring strategies, diversity problems, and more construction news
In recent months, all the signs have been great for the construction industry—but there are signs of worry with growing talk of a recession in the United States. Additionally, a report came out recently indicating that construction spending is slowing. All these indicators are things construction managers should be paying attention to as they make long-term plans. [Read more]
With the skilled labor shortage not going away anytime soon, the construction industry is trying out some new strategies to bring in more workers. Some are advocating that the government work together with construction firms to train as many workers as possible so they can be hired locally. [Read more]
Despite strides in the last few years, the construction industry still struggles with diversity, as white, middle-aged men continue to dominate. The problem is particularly pronounced when it comes to gender, with a UK industry survey finding that women made up just 13 percent of the construction workforce. [Read more]
3D printing has been a hot trend in construction in recent years, and nowhere is that more evident than in Dubai, which is planning to have a quarter of all new buildings constructed with 3D printing by 2030. It’s a microcosm of what could turn out to be a $550 billion industry by 2025, according to one consultancy. [Read more]
Week of August 19, 2019
Robot swarms, the future of mixed reality, and more construction news
The construction industry workforce is getting older, and firms are already struggling with a skilled labor shortage. So how does a company hold onto those skilled workers? One way is by mitigating injuries. Injuries can be a costly problem for companies with aging workers, so construction managers should take proactive steps to prevent them such as implementing rotating schedules and robust safety programs. [Read more]
We’ve long talked about drones as a new technology that construction managers should take advantage of, but what about swarms of drones? Teams in Europe are examining using drone swarms for situations such as if a bridge is destroyed in an earthquake and a temporary structure needs to be built quickly. While this is very nascent technology, it’s something to keep an eye on, as drone swarms one day could be quite useful to construction managers—particularly in difficult-to-reach areas and dangerous environments.
Virtual reality and augmented reality are common terms in construction, but mixed reality is one that should not be left out. Mixed-reality tech combines real-world objects with digital content overlays in real-time. This is similar to augmented reality, but mixed reality doesn’t just overlay virtual objects in the real world, it anchors them as well, allowing you to interact with both the real world and the virtual environment. It could transform the construction industry by helping workers understand the relationship of complex conditions throughout a construction project. [Read more]
A construction project management platform that already raised $6.2 million in a Series A back in March has just raised another $1.5 million in debt growth capital financing. Bridgit struck the deal with CIBC Innovation Banking as it expands to Bridgit Bench, a tool for resource planning just unveiled in the spring. The aggressive investment is a sign that this platform is one to watch. [Read more]
Week of August 12, 2019
Industry growth slows, the problem of construction waste, and more construction news
“Do it yourself” has been around for ages, but modern DIY is having an impact on the construction industry beyond what it did in the past. That’s because there’s more software options than ever before that can help even inexperienced people take on bigger and more complex projects. It also means people are often choosing to improve their homes rather than move to a new one, which has an impact on the housing market and new construction homes. [Read more]
The construction industry continues to be adding jobs, but there are signs for concern: growth in July was the slowest it has been in the last six years. The industry added 202,000 construction jobs, a 2.8 percent increase compared to July 2018. But that is a steep drop from 5 percent, a rate the industry enjoyed last year. It’s a sign that construction managers should not be overconfident in the strength of the market. [Read more]
An interesting new report finds that as the Australian construction industry has grown in the last two decades, so has its output of trash, creating questions of what to do with it all. The construction industry in Australia produced 20.4 million tons of trash in 2017 from construction and demolition. The country may soon have to take action to make producers more responsible for their waste and create innovative ways of reducing the accumulation of it. [Read more]
There’s more problems in the UK construction industry, which contracted for the third month in a row in July largely due to concerns about how Brexit will impact the industry. As a result, concern is growing among experts that this slowdown could have a spillover effect into other parts of the economy. Confidence in the sector is the lowest since 2012, and the lull could last for a while. [Read more]
Week of August 5, 2019
Bracing for a downturn, the future of the internet of things, and more construction news
Blockchain hasn’t really gained a foothold in construction yet, but that may be about to change. It has incredible power when it comes to recording and securing large amounts of numbers and transactions—vital for construction businesses that must manage and share a lot of data on complex projects, all while protecting it from unauthorized access. Blockchain has great potential to make construction projects much more efficient with all stakeholders on the same page. [Read more]
The numbers have been looking great for a while in the construction industry, but one new report suggests that firms are bracing for a downturn. Research from the Federation of Master Builders found that companies are reorganizing their workforce and tightening up on hiring, preferring to bring on subcontractors instead. However, the skilled labor shortage could be a factor as well, as firms may not be hiring simply because they can’t find the workers they need.
The internet of things (IoT) has been a big trend in technology, but IoT and sensors are really coming into their own in the construction industry in recent years. Specifically, they are collecting job site data more efficiently, which helps stakeholders follow the construction of a building in real time and make adjustments on the fly.
Construction firms are incorporating solar energy in new and interesting ways, and the technology is going to show up more and more in future buildings. It’s also helping firms get closer to a “zero-carbon” model—solar-powered buildings could be built by solar-powered construction firms, reducing net emissions to zero. [Read more]
Week of July 29, 2019
The future of eco-friendly construction, OSHA warns about opioids, and more construction news
Temperatures are rising during this summer of record-breaking heat waves, resulting in productivity at construction sites going way down. As temps surge into the triple digits, construction companies are monitoring the health of their workers, giving them more breaks, or altering their work hours—and that means a dip in productivity. Construction managers need to factor in the heat as they make their summer plans, and adjust their expected labor expenditures accordingly.
The construction industry is notoriously slow to adapt, but firms must start moving toward eco-friendly architecture in today’s environment in order to stay ahead of competitors—and to be more environmentally responsible. The construction industry is a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions. As a construction manager, you should be looking to sustainable materials and other green building practices. [Read more]
OSHA is sounding the alarm about suicides and opioid-related deaths in the construction industry. The industry had one of the highest fatality rates in 2017 and is responsible for around 19% of all fatalities in the workplace based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. A total of 25 fatalities could be attributed to self-inflicted intentional injuries in 2017. Construction managers should make resources available to workers who are dealing with severe depression or drug addiction. [Read more]
Week of July 22, 2019
Construction worker pay surges, the future of AI in construction, and more construction news
Construction software behemoth Procore has made its latest acquisition, taking on project management software company Honest Buildings Inc. “This acquisition will allow Procore to create the construction industry’s first full-stack platform,” the company said in a statement. The move is an indication of the growing importance of integrating financials with construction management software. [Read more]
The Associated General Contractors of America expressed concerns over surging construction worker wages caused by a continuing shortage of skilled labor. The group says there are “too many over-qualified baristas and not enough bricklayers,” and education and immigration reforms are needed to solve the problem. It’s a sign that the ongoing labor shortage is a long way from being solved, and construction managers should be looking at apprenticeship programs to avoid hiring at sky-high rates.
The construction industry continues to be “under-digitized,” and artificial intelligence represents an important new tool for construction firms who want to get out ahead of their competition. Despite a significant up-front investment, AI is a potential gold mine for companies seeking a competitive edge. AI can theorize plumbing and electrical work, for example, through Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, potentially saving time as well as costs in the initial stages of the project.
Considering starting your own job-training program to deal with the ongoing skilled construction labor shortage? You might learn a thing or two from a new program unveiled in Rhode Island. The Real Jobs Rhode Island Program would partner employers with state labor and community college leaders to create training programs. It’s worth reaching out to your local labor and community college organizations to see if they have similar programs you could tap into.
Week of July 15, 2019
Stable construction job growth, Brexit labor woes, and more construction news
A new report from Associated Builders and Contractors indicates that the industry is experiencing stable job growth after adding 21,000 new jobs in June. Nonresidential construction employment is particularly strong, with 14,900 jobs added in June. The unemployment rate stands at a strong 4% and the future looks bright despite worries about a downturn at some point. [Read more]
Drones are tempting construction managers with promises of improving stubbornly-stuck productivity levels among contractors. While drones themselves may not be a game-changer—at least not yet—they can be combined with software to analyze data and boost productivity on a construction project. If you haven’t started looking at ways to use drones (for example, to conduct a survey), you should start now because adoption levels are rising among your competitors. [Read more]
The construction industry in London is facing a skilled labor shortage similar to the U.S., and Brexit may be worsening this problem. Uncertainty about Brexit combined with an aging workforce may be causing issues for construction managers who are dealing with a “massive” skills gap. Construction managers should consider creating apprenticeship programs to deal with a labor skills gap.
Not all new technology in the construction industry is hardware: A report from Dodge Data & Analytics claims there’s been a significant change in the way that data is gathered on construction projects and analyzed by construction managers. The report found that 64% of respondents take advantage of new software tools to better gather and analyze data. Construction managers who want to stay competitive should take advantage of the data analysis tools available in today’s construction software.
Week of July 8, 2019
UK construction industry hammered, tech woes, and more construction news
Sand may seem like something we’ll never run out of, but as demand for sand and gravel rises worldwide, some shortages are being reported. This is important news for construction managers that need sand, particularly for roads and buildings that contain ferroconcrete (another name for reinforced concrete). The problem is not a lack of sand, but a lack of permissions to extract it as well as the difficulty in finding affordable ways to transport the heavy material long distances. [Read more]
Britain’s construction industry was hammered in June, recording its worst monthly performance in a decade. Concerns about how Brexit might disrupt the industry may be to blame, with many contractors taking a wait-and-see approach to commissioning projects. Construction managers should monitor the unfolding situation closely to learn how it may affect the global construction industry. [Read more]
A recent survey by the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) found that, in comparison to other industries, the construction industry as a whole has been slow to adopt technological advances—despite a high level of awareness about tech options among the construction companies surveyed. This represents a tremendous opportunity for construction managers willing to take risks and incorporate new technology such as automation and prefabrication, as firms that do so will have a leg up on their competitors.
Yet another recent survey found that the engineering and construction sector, worth $10 trillion globally per year, has been slow to adopt the latest innovations. In particular, the report highlights artificial intelligence as a major opportunity that construction firms just aren’t tapping into. The report points to image recognition, continuous design optimization, and project schedule optimization as key opportunities for construction managers. [Read more]
Week of July 1, 2019
Blockchain revolution, good economic outlook, and more construction news
Blockchain may finally be ready to make some serious inroads in the construction industry. As systems become more complex and with more money at stake than ever before, construction managers will need to avoid costly mistakes and may use blockchain-powered “smart” contracts to deal with project impacts in real time, like change orders or schedule adjustment. Blockchain can also be used in BIM modeling to improve coordination between stakeholders in designing a project. If you don’t know what the blockchain is, it’s time to bone up on it, because in the coming years it will be vital to your business. [Read more]
Rumors of a market downturn appear to be unfounded, at least according to the majority of contractors in the United States who say they are “highly confident” they will have enough new business opportunities in the next 12 months, according to second quarter data from the 2019 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index. That’s an 11% jump from the previous quarter, suggesting surging confidence in the construction industry in the underlying economic situation. [Read more]
A new report suggests that when it comes to phishing scams—when users are tricked into giving away vital data to malicious individuals or entities—no industry is more vulnerable than construction. The report, Phishing by Industry published by KnowBe4, found that employees in both the small and medium-sized business categories were most prone to fall victim to phishing. Construction managers may not think of their data in the same way that large IT firms do, but the reality is your data is also valuable and you need to take steps now to prevent phishing attacks in your business. [Read more]
The construction industry is facing a labor shortage, but there may be an additional problem with the workers they have: they’re getting older. A new report from the National Association of Home Builders found the median age of construction workers was 42 years old, which is a full year older than the national median. In some states, the median age is as high as 45 years old. It’s an indication that the labor problem for construction managers is complex and multifaceted, and every firm should be working on a plan to address it. [Read more]