2020 Construction Trends to Watch

Big moves are already underway in the world of construction. In 2020, construction isn’t going to slow down. In fact, things will progress more than we have even realized three months into the year. Movers and shakers in the construction industry are already starting to get things rolling. As things start evolving, we already see the possibilities and how these changes could forever impact the future of construction.

However, if we are going to revolutionize the way the industry does business, then it is up to us as individual firms to reinvent how we construct. That means taking a look at the baseline models, fine-tuning the details, and trying new methods until we find the perfect recipe that future generations can follow.

Already, Wollam Construction is looking at how we can improve standardized procedures to fit the new world better. From technological breakthroughs to more efficient monitoring techniques, advancements in the construction industry are leading the way in how we develop future city construction.

Forget the industry’s long-standing tradition of resisting new practices, some of the most progressive technologies are already making significant strides in your backyard. Let’s look at the 2020 construction trends hitting the radar and how our team at Wollam expects them to modernize the industry.

Building Information Monitoring (BIM)

BIM is 3D-monitoring technology that allows designers to virtually build, visualize, coordinate, and troubleshoot a project long before a shovel hits the ground. Today, design teams and architects face higher demands, including environmental, budgetary, and other limitations. Now construction firms can create interactive designs with less re-work and higher efficiency thanks to BIM, virtual reality, and augmented reality technologies.

A few of the advantages of using these forward-thinking technologies in construction is that it provides designers and architects with the tools they need to solve most of your problems at the start of the project rather than finding them half-way through. This is huge in terms of saving time, money, and cost.

Not only does BIM help throughout general construction projects, but especially in heavy civil construction where designers must overcome a myriad of problems regularly. Today, teams at Wollam and other construction firms can use BIM to face these challenges head-on by improving their design methods with better technologies and tools. You can trust Wollam Construction to create a project we stand behind thanks to BIM technologies and our team’s decades of working experience.

Robotics

The construction industry is growing at a rapid pace, but it will also need to increase output by 30% to meet these rising demands. If firms are going to keep up, they will need to invest in technologies and support their current labor force. Ultimately, the pressure to deliver is mounting. Unfortunately, skilled labor is getting more challenging to come by in construction. As a result, construction firms will need to utilize different workforces, including robotics. While robotics won’t ever take away anyone’s work, it will help companies focus on what matters and improve the entire construction process.

Analysts expect that the global construction market for robotics will more than double to $166 million by 2023, according to a report by Markets and Markets. Innovations in semi- to fully-autonomous equipment will help the construction industry build more with fewer resources, especially as labor shortages continue. Robotics will also help laborers work safer and more efficiently.

A few other robotic technologies we see leading the way in 2020 are semi-autonomous equipment, drones, laser scanning, and more. By getting involved with robotics early-on, we hope to empower our workers and attract a new generation who are eager to jump in on the robotics conversation.

Data Analytics

Along with BIM and robotic technology, data analytics through more efficient communication tools will stand at the center of many industry-making decisions in 2020. For the past few years, we have seen firms make more calculated choices thanks to data analytics. Now, we can capture, organize, and analyze data from past, current, and future projects and transform it into actionable intelligence that leads our business decisions.

By focusing on these data points, project managers and designers can understand what works, what doesn’t, and how they can further develop their upcoming projects accurately.

Modularized Construction

Another trend in the heavy civil construction industry making headway is modularized construction. 3D printing and prefabrication are already solving many of the industry’s growing needs. Construction companies are already exploring the benefits of these technologies all across the globe. These technologies allow for prefabrication off-site or on-site which help streamline the construction process and decrease downtime.

While many construction companies are hesitant to jump onboard the prefab train, there are too many efficiencies to ignore, including helping solve the labor shortage issue. It also helps minimize cost and waste, which is a significant problem for many in construction.

Sustainability

The final trend to watch for 2020 is sustainability. While this trend isn’t new to the market, it continues to mark its importance. Resources are finite, and as our population continues to push the limits of what’s possible, construction companies must consider how they impact the world around them. Innovation will continue to develop, but only those that help sustainability will make a lasting impression. Instead of looking at sustainable impact, our team’s promise to focus on all the finer details of our projects. A few questions we can ask ourselves is:

What is the carbon footprint of the project?
Can we use sustainable materials instead of the current proposed ones?
Have we considered all sides of the project before finalizing plans?
What more can we do to help create a sustainable product?

Newcomers to the industry will look to us and also hold us accountable for environmental effects. Construction companies everywhere should do the same by focusing on how they can improve.

Wollam Construction in 2020

Wollam Construction is leading the way in industrial and infrastructure construction. Our team is continually looking for ways to advance our practices. As new technologies and better techniques develop, we look for ways of implementing them into our work. If you want to see how our construction services can help your next project, contact our team. Together, we can find the perfect solution for all of the demands placed on your shoulders. Get in touch with our team today to learn more or request a bid.