The Future of Construction: 9 Ways the Industry Will Be Shaped By Technology
Change is the only constant in the construction industry. However, one of the biggest changes in the industry is the technology that is being used, and who will be using it. The next generation of builders will operate in a vastly different environment with automated software workflows, electronic contract signatures, drones managing remote job sites, and tablets and smartphones swarming the job site. Paper on the job site will soon be an unloved remnant of the past.
But as these project management processes evolve, so too must the construction professional.
So… What Exactly is Changing?
According to Richard E. Mayo, PH.D., P.E. in his paper Defining a Construction Education Research Agenda, “Technology is now the engine of change for the industry.” He outlines nine changes that will define the construction environment of the future, and ultimately, how they will affect what professionals must learn.
- A changed built environment where there are more standardized structures and building in nontraditional places
- A changed design process with most construction companies having design and engineering under the same roof
- A changed contractor selection process where the bid is no longer the determiner of who gets the job
- Changed construction materials ranging from 100,000 psi concrete to composites and reinforced polymers
- Changed contract administration with automatic work progress monitoring, and payments in real time
- A changed labor picture with unions and management partnering in recruiting and training
- A changed price structure where value to the customer and quality determines price
- A changed procurement process where constructors source from across the globe
- A changed view of infrastructure where repair and rehabilitation are more prominent than new construction
Education is the Answer
On-the-spot instruction via electronic devices, e-learning, simulation training, and learning within virtual reality environments could become commonplace in the construction industry. Education and training become key to advancing the next generation into efficient and advanced practices.
The international influences on construction businesses also mean employee’s need advanced training in cultural awareness, language, and the laws covering construction in other locales. With a vast array of learning opportunities available to the next generation of construction workers, lifelong learning will be the new norm for people who want to advance their careers.
Currently, the American Council for Construction Education helps focus the educational efforts for construction through accreditation programs and research. Industry associations like the Associated General Contractors of America, the Associated Builders and Contractors, and labor unions also help with the industry’s training needs. Meanwhile, states have their own colleges and initiatives for workforce training which often draw on federal programs.
At the federal level, education and training efforts often show up in the budget. President Obama’s 2017 proposed budget offers several initiatives for advancing education for workers, including:
An American Technical Training Fund to provide grants supporting evidence-based, tuition-free, job training programs for high-demand fields
A $2 billion Apprenticeship Training Fund to help more workers get job-relevant skills
Funding of $3 billion to set up more than 50 Talent Hotspots across the country to help recruit and train the workforce for local businesses
Investment of $5.5 billion to help over a million young people get work experience, skills, and develop networks that come from having a first job
$3 billion for WIOA grants to bring together employers, education and training providers, and workforce boards to train 0.5 million people and place them in jobs in high demand sectors
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