The Top 27 Emerging Construction Technology Trends to Watch in 2022

Technology is having a greater than ever impact on the building sector. An amazing range of initiatives are assisting in the improvement of a sector that influences how every human on Earth can live their lives, from cloud-based collaboration and the development of digital twins to robots, super-materials, wearable technology, pollution-eating buildings, and even artificial intelligence (AI). The top 27 new trends in civil engineering and construction are listed below for 2022 and beyond.

Emerging Trends in Construction Technology and Civil Engineering Impacting the Construction Industry

Emerging construction technology isn’t just a fad or a fun new toy. There are real, practical applications and benefits to modernizing your current processes.

Construction companies want to remain competitive and not be left behind, and they are finding ways to integrate new approaches into their strategy and workflows. These cutting-edge technologies in construction are drastically changing how the industry operates and how future projects will be performed. Below is the list of the top emerging trends in civil engineering.

Recent Construction Technology Trends

The following are the top civil engineering construction technology trends in 2022 and beyond.

• Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• Cloud And Mobile Technology
• Drones Or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Reality
• 3D Printing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Robotics
• Exoskeletons
• The Connected Jobsite
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Advanced Materials
• The Intelligent Built Environment
• Machine Learning
• Prefabrications
• Predictive Analytics
• Construction Software and Data Ecosystem
• Self-Healing Concrete
• Advance Uses Of GPS
• New Effective Scanning Solutions
• Timber Constructions
• Wearable Technology
• Smart Building
• Modular Construction And 3D Printed Dwellings
• Smart Homes
• Connected Homes
• Home Analytics
  

1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Increased prefabrication, modularization, and eco-friendliness. BIM is similar to CAD (computer-aided design) but not the same. It is software for 3D design to model what will be built digitally. But its capabilities don’t stop there: “It doesn’t just create a visually appealing 3D model of the building, it also creates numerous layers of metadata and renders them within a collaborative workflow,” writes Engineering.com. It captures things in a way that paper just can’t.

One of the top trending construction technologies in 2022. 30 to 35% of builders are currently using BIM/CAD software. In civil engineering, BIM, this construction technology provides space for better collaboration. Each person and expertise area can add their piece to the same model instead of breaking it out onto multiple versions of a 2D paper drawing.

The model evolves immediately as people contribute, streamlining the process and increasing efficiency. BIM also helps with problem-solving in a project’s design and planning stages by automating clash detection and providing a complete picture of the project.

2. Cloud & Mobile Technology

Mobile technology isn’t just for games anymore. Apps are becoming more of the norm in actual construction. The increased portability of tablets and smartphones allows for more excellent communication and the ability to work from anywhere. Integrating this technology into your current processes can be much simpler and require a smaller upfront investment while still providing significant benefits and boosting the productivity of your daily operations.

Mobile technology can help save time and keep the project moving forward faster by providing real-time monitoring, updates, and information between the job site and the office.

Companies can easily access the latest revisions to plans or report a problem to the project manager off-site. One of the best construction technologies in civil engineering.

A few years ago, most people either didn’t know or couldn’t explain a cloud operating system. Today, this is no longer the case. Most mobile devices can leverage cloud technology from anywhere, at any time.

There are many significant advantages to this, including storing almost limitless amounts of information that you can then instantly share with a button. This is much less expensive too – about one-tenth of what sharing old technologies costs.

Since the cloud-based business phone system is accessible anywhere, you have an internet connection. You can expect it to become a mandatory part of the construction industry in the future, especially if you want to remain competitive.

3. Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – also known as “drones” – are set to become increasingly common on construction projects throughout 2022. From undertaking inspections ensuring that operatives are kept out of harm’s way to surveying vast land areas in just a few minutes, the continued rise of UAVs will considerably improve safety and productivity in construction.

Matured from one around feasibility to consider the steps needed for a successful implementation – safety, approvals, privacy, the need for relevant legislation, and the urgent demand for specialist skillsets all on the agenda.

Drones are the most widely used emerging construction technology. They can conduct site surveys more quickly and accurately than a crew on the ground and are cheaper than aerial imaging. Their high-resolution cameras and collected data can create interactive 3D or topographical maps and models and take volume measurements.

Another benefit of using drones is inspecting hard-to-reach places such as bridges or tall buildings safely. You can also monitor progress on a job site and see how people work.

Many construction sites are already heavily dependent on the use of drones. These drones are very beneficial in that they save a lot of time. For instance, surveyors can survey an entire site in just a few minutes, whereas it’d take them several weeks or months in the past.

This will also save construction companies a lot of money. As drone technology continues rapidly developing in the accuracy and precision of its readings, even less human involvement will be necessary.

Many companies were hesitant to use drones because they still needed a controller in the past. Still, today, as technology grows much more efficiently, more construction companies willingly and openly embrace this technology.

4. Virtual Reality (VR) – Construction Technology

Virtual reality (VR) technology is often used in conjunction with BIM to help better understand complex projects. Think of the potential: you create a building design with BIM and then can use VR actually to walk around it. Pretty cool, right?

One of the best emerging trends in construction and civil engineering. Having a complete grasp on the project before it begins allows you to avoid significant changes and expensive change orders mid-way through. Once completed, this will give your team or the client an even more realistic idea of the project.

While virtual reality (VR) has traditionally enabled project teams and stakeholders to step inside their proposed schemes before construction works commence, the technology is finding countless new applications across the industry as of 2022.

5. Augmented reality (AR)

Construction World says that although virtual reality has been an emerging trend over the past few years, it’s quickly growing outdated – especially when compared to augmented reality uses and benefits. This is the ability to visualize the natural world through a camera lens. It’s something that’s bound to open many new opportunities for the construction industry, even though it’ll come with a cost.

Those companies who can afford to start using it now will revolutionize how they project and build things. This trend will grow much more significantly in the next few years.

One of the best emerging trends in civil engineering. Many people believe that instead of using safety goggles, we’ll start planning and plotting sites before even breaking ground. Augmented Reality (AR) will play a huge role in construction. AR is one of the best trending construction technologies in 2022.

6. 3D Printing – Construction Technology

3D printing as a construction technology has the potential to change material sourcing. For prefabrication, materials for a project can be printed and then transported to the job site, ready for use immediately. This can allow companies to get materials faster and streamline the process by removing extra steps in the middle.

According to the U.K. Green Building Council, around 15% of materials delivered to construction sites end up in landfills. The American Institute of Architects believes that building-related waste makes up between 25% to 40% of America’s solid-waste stream, reports Fortune.

3D printing will even be possible to print materials right on-site, reduce waste, and save transportation and storage costs.

7. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The construction industry is already seeing the implementation of artificial intelligence on the job site using robotics for tasks like bricklaying and autonomous equipment that can operate and complete tasks without human interaction. One of the best emerging trends in civil engineering.

AI can benefit construction projects through increased safety, improving workflows, and getting jobs done faster and better. It can also identify when information or pieces are missing, ask questions, and use the data it collects.

8. Robotics – Construction Technology Trends

Rapidly moving from science fiction to reality, robots begin to enter construction in several areas.

From autonomous rovers that can increase the efficiency and detail of site inspections to mechanical arms that automate highly repetitive tasks like brick-laying and tying rebar, the robotic revolution looks set to gather a significant pace in 2022. One of the best emerging trends in civil engineering.

Robotics is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Industries like healthcare are already investing a lot of money in them. As these robots grow even more precise and accurate, they’ll become a commanding force in the construction industry. Construction technology in civil engineering.

In the beginning, the cost of robotics will be high, but it will still be well worth it to at least pay attention to this technology. Eventually, we may witness robots being able to do things like lay bricks and tie rebar, and we may even see them complete most of the current man-operated construction projects in the coming years.

9. Exoskeleton

Exoskeletons are wearable devices that work in tandem with the user. The opposite of an exoskeleton device would be an autonomous robot that works instead of the operator.  

Exoskeletons are placed on the user’s body and act as amplifiers that augment, reinforce or restore human performance. Initially developed for military use and patient mobility and rehabilitation, exoskeletons are now beginning to appear on construction sites.

Helping to protect workers from manual handling injuries and the risk of hand-arm vibration, these mechanical suits that “augment” with human operatives can also deliver considerable gains in productivity.

Already being rapidly adopted across manufacturing, live trials on construction sites in the past year have generated results to drive the development and uptake of exoskeletons in the construction sector during 2022.

10. The connected Jobsite

Related job sites use cloud technology to make information about almost every aspect of their operation available to all the relevant parties, regardless of whether those parties are on-site or elsewhere. From putting design, information streamed from a single point of truth into the palms of operatives to information by geolocation, remote site monitoring, personnel location tracking, live mark-ups.

The seamless transfer of as-built information-connected job sites improve communication, productivity, and safety for everyone involved in a project. One of the best emerging trends in civil engineering. One of the best construction technologies.

With the intuitive technology supporting these sites advancing and now more widely available than ever before, connected job sites were expected to become more commonplace in 2019. Meanwhile, developments continue to be made in connecting people and consolidating systems through digital mapping engines containing and visualizing construction data.

Mapping design and construction data onto a real-world job site, Atlas uses geo-location to present project information from multiple systems relevant to your physical location, making traditional folder structures obsolete and streamlining any access-critical process like snagging inspection more.

11. Autonomous Vehicles

While autonomous vehicles continue to make headlines in the consumer space.

As with the field of robotics, the automation of construction plants – particularly concerning highly repetitive tasks – could significantly improve productivity while creating a safer work environment and helping to address the industry’s shortfall in labor. One of the best emerging trends in civil engineering.

At their Electric Site in Sweden, Volvo Construction Equipment trialed autonomous electric vehicles in conjunction with electric human-operated excavators to deliver a 40% improvement in efficiency compared to a traditional set-up. The manufacturer’s other concept vehicles include semi-autonomous electric excavators that can learn the careful movements required to achieve grading or highly accurate leveling.

The combined use of autonomous technology and electric power enables work to occur around the clock without breaks or the disruptive noise levels that traditionally prevent such working.

Meanwhile, Volvo’s Trucks business has developed a concept fleet of fully autonomous electric vehicles that can help combat pollution, noise, and congestion in our cities by reducing emissions, planning optimum routes, and responding to real-time traffic situations.

12. Advanced Materials – Construction Technology Trends

With growing awareness of construction’s impact on our environment, technological advances bring numerous new material innovations to the fore.

The recycling of hard-to-dispose-of waste products has seen a significant increase, particularly concerning plastics. Recent developments have seen incorporating waste plastic into roadways and even its use as a material for 3D printing new building components or structures—one of the best emerging trends in civil engineering. CO2 is another by-product being re-purposed to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.

At this project in Atlanta, CO2 was injected into the concrete mix used in the building’s structure.

This carbon dioxide becomes trapped inside the concrete as it cures, while chemical reactions within the mix form limestone nanoparticles that increase the overall compressive strength of the final material.

Staying with one of the construction’s most popular materials, “self-healing concrete” is mixed with calcite-precipitating bacteria. These bacteria germinate when water enters the cracks in decaying concrete, filling the emerging air gaps.

Other areas to watch include the continued rise of “kinetic paving” that harvests energy from the footsteps of pedestrians to generate electricity, “4D-printed structures” that can re-shape or self-assemble over time under how different elements of their composition respond in differing conditions, and “smog-eating buildings” coated in photo-catalytic titanium dioxide that reacts with light to neutralize pollutants in the air of some of the world’s most congested cities.

13. The Intelligent Built Environment

The construction industry shapes our world affects how almost every person on earth can live their lives, and enables most other businesses and service sectors to operate. In that context, ensuring that the built environment is operating as effectively as possible is critical to the sustainability and successful development of the human race. One of the best emerging trends in civil engineering.

Construction technology in civil engineering. By harnessing the data from the digitally enabled built assets we are now creating, our homes, offices. In turn, cities can operate more innovative, more efficient, helpful, and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the data arising can assess trends and inform the design of future buildings, infrastructure projects, and even large-scale city-wide master plans. Best Construction technology to look for in 2022.

With the effective development of our urban environments on the agenda of countless governments and authorities worldwide, we expect to see the importance of this area increase significantly in 2019.

14. Machine Learning

Machine learning is the study of computer algorithms that improve automatically through experience. It is considered a subset of artificial intelligence Machine learning is an application of artificial intelligence (AI) that provides systems the ability to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed automatically.

Machine learning focuses on developing computer programs that can access data and use it to learn for themselves.

Machine learning in construction helps improve safety, productivity, quality, and other essential measures. Machine learning improvises the design and planning, allowing the men on the team to spend their time refining their expertise and creativity.

15. Prefabrication – Construction Technology Trends

Prefabrication is hardly an innovation in itself. The construction industry has been using prefabrication in various applications for decades. However, new technologies are making the benefits of prefabrication easier to access and changing how the construction industry integrates prefab into the process.

For instance, ManufactOn provides a mobile technology with complete visibility into the prefabrication process. Anyone involved in the project can see what is being manufactured, where it is in the process, and when it will be delivered.

New integration with BIM 360 Docs will allow it to view that information in one workflow from beginning to end of the design and build process.

16. Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is about making risk management much more accessible. In 2017, BIM 360 Project IQ ran beta tests with leading-edge companies to see how much we could help them manage their risk using predictive analytics.

Construction technology in civil engineering. Project IQ analyzes data from subcontractors, materials suppliers, design plans, and the site to examine risk factors based on historical data. It provides a dashboard where GCs can identify which elements of their project are the highest risk and need attention and allows them to drill down to see the reasons for the risk assessment.

Project IQ learns from past data and how the GC interacts with its information to continuously provide better and more accurate risk assessments.

17. Construction software and data ecosystem

Real-time collaboration software is already regarded as an essential component of the entire building process. Nevertheless, its impact on the sector is expected to increase substantially shortly. Data has played an integral role in this paradigm shift in construction.

18. Self-healing concrete – Construction Technology

Many industry experts believe we’ll start seeing self-healing concrete used on roads, buildings, and homes. Construction technology in civil engineering.

Since concrete is the most widely produced and consumed material in the construction industry (being used to create buildings, roads, and bridges), many believe that by 2030 we’ll be using about 5 billion metric tons per year. Part of this is due to the urban boom experienced in China and India today. Currently, the United States already makes up 8% of the total global emissions in this area – a number also slated to rise.

19. Advanced uses for GPS

Construction World says while GPS tracking solutions aren’t anything new, they’re now being used in more creative and resourceful ways, including:

Surveying has been dramatically improved because crews no longer need to use traditional surveying equipment. Data for prospective project sites can be quickly and accurately collected.

Today, each of their vehicles is equipped with a trackable device via computers and smartphones. Project managers are also using GPS in fleet management. This lets everyone know where vehicles always are. It’s easier to find lost or stolen equipment because managers can now generate maps that pinpoint the exact location of any of these items.

20. Laser Scanning in Construction (3D building scanning)

Scanning is now creating many cost-effective solutions over the past few years. These have helped the construction industry fully understand what stages specific projects are.

Laser scanning is a technology that is increasingly being used in the construction industry. It allows for the creation of 3D models of buildings, which can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, they can be used to create virtual tours of buildings, or to plan construction projects. Laser scanning can also be used to create as-built drawings, which can be used to compare the actual building with the original plans.

21. Timber Construction – Construction Technology

Sustainability and environmental benefits will increase in timber buildings. It is as robust as other materials, but we are constrained as far as the height we can go.

Timber buildings are sustainable; they have excellent benefits to our feelings of well-being. Being inside a timber building makes people work better in the average workday. They become more collaborative, communicate more, and are in a better mood. It contributes to our health and happiness.

22. Wearable technology

While many people may think this is only common sense, it shouldn’t go unmentioned that wearable technology (e.g., Fitbit’s, 3D glasses, Google Glass, armbands that can communicate with coaches on the sidelines) will become an emerging trend that’s useful in keeping workers safe. Construction technology in civil engineering.

Construction technology of the future. This will help keep workers from constantly looking down at their instructions because now they can talk to one another via this technology. Additionally, it can help track where workers are if there’s an accident. This is bound to become mandatory at some point in the future.

This will have considerable benefits in terms of OH&S. While wearable tech is being used in some places, it may not be enormous until beyond 2019. Things are moving pretty quickly, though.

23. Smart Buildings – Construction Technology Trends

Construction technology in civil engineering. I think we will see a rise in “smarts within a building” next year. More intelligent buildings equate to better lighting control, better energy efficiency, and proper air-conditioning control. We might start using higher-performance glazing not to introduce so much solar load inside the building.

24. Modular Construction and 3D Printed Dwellings

Modular construction is rising, but it faces a PR problem—people don’t necessarily find it appealing. One modular home looks the same as another. 3D-printed dwellings, however, are growing in popularity in the Netherlands. construction technology in civil engineering.

25. Smart Homes – Construction Technology Trends

We have seen hundreds of IoT (internet of things) devices designed specifically for homes to make them brighter and friendlier in the past few years. One of the best construction technologies to watch.

Voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home, can help you play music, ask questions, make calls, and control all lights and appliances in your home. Being a form of AI, these devices will continually self-improve, learn more about our needs, and connect to more devices at home.

26. Connected Homes

One of the emerging trends in construction technology. Like computers/servers connected in a network to form the internet, solar-powered homes will create an interconnected cell-powered network, thus generating and managing power and energy more efficiently. Builders will need to employ IT and networking engineers to design and set up the technology to power smart homes and cities.

27. Home Analytics – Construction Technology

If you have a website, you most likely have analytics set up to measure and monitor traffic and user behavior on your site. We will start to see more analytics applications in residential and commercial buildings shortly. The best construction techniques in civil engineering. This way, we will get real-time insights into the traffic and behavior of visitors, allowing the intelligent building to make adjustments to its features.

That could include turning off lights where there are no people, adjusting temperatures, closing shutters for the facades facing the sun, or opening lanes for the carpark exits instead of just one when everyone is leaving the office for home. One of the best emerging trends in civil engineering.

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