Experts
Construction Drones
Drones provide construction teams with an overhead view of jobsites, materials, machinery and people. Contractors are using the autonomous flying machines to record images and videos that help optimize everything from grading plans and operations to identifying...
To Attract a Generation that Grew Up With Cellphones and iPads, the Construction Industry Goes High-Tech
When Vlad Rotaru leaves the office trailer at the Toronto construction site where he works, the most important tool he carries — apart from the hard hat and safety vest he wears — is his smartphone. The 22-year-old received his mechanical engineering degree in April...
Command Alkon CEO Talks Tech Transformation In Construction
As I was preparing to interview Phil Ramsey, the president and CEO of Command Alkon, a global leader in integrated solutions for construction and bulk materials, I learned that he has a plan for reinventing the industry by bridging the technology gap. One major issue...
Why Tech Will Be the Differentiator in 2020
As we look ahead to 2020 and beyond, one thing is clear: The construction industry will continue to see high levels of growth. In fact, analysts at Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics predict that by 2025, the construction industry will have grown by...
Making Buildings from Industrial Waste
Elsa Olivetti’s interest in materials science began when she was an engineering science major at the University of Virginia. Initially unable to settle on any one form of engineering, she took an introduction to materials science class on a whim. She loved the way...
Smart Cities Require Smart Infrastructure
In September 2019, I addressed the members of the Illinois Municipal League on broadband connectivity and regional economic development. In the presentation, I pointed out that Illinois municipalities need to improve their infrastructure in order to have a solid...
KPMG Creates Future-Ready Self-Assessment Tool
KPMG introduced a new concept into its Global Construction Survey 2019 earlier this year. The Future-Ready Index, a way for the industry to measure how prepared they are for the future. The survey contains a self-assessment tool, a questionnaire which allows companies...
Modular Monitor: Why Does Offsite Construction Matter?
Hype for modular construction has hit a level of ubiquity. It seems like every month another prefabricated hotel tops out at a record height for the delivery model, or a city official lauds the practice as the panacea for affordable housing — and the labor pinch — or...
Should Designers and Contractors Become Technology Companies?
This was the question posed to a panel that I participated in at a recent AEC industry CEO conference. As technology disruption continues to accelerate in our industry, it’s a topic that’s likely being discussed in boardrooms around the world. Personally, I...