What is Digital Construction and How Digital Technologies in Construction Improve Productivity?

Introduction to digital architecture and construction

Digital construction may seem like a relatively obvious term at first glance. What’s surprising here is how broad this term is and the fact that no definition of digital construction is universally agreed upon. The main reason for that is the fact that digital construction means something different for practically every participant in a construction project, making it extremely difficult to figure out what the term itself means as a whole.

As such, we can only surmise the overall meaning of digital construction before proceeding with specific details. Digital construction is a process of improving different stages of a construction project by using various digital tools and/or applications throughout the project’s creation.  In the most abstract of its definitions, the purpose of digital construction is to improve the overall working environment for different project stages – improving collaboration, boosting efficiency, creating a safer environment, and so on.

This process can also take a multitude of different forms, including the most mundane solutions possible (Skype, Whatsapp, etc.) or some of the more specific solutions or software – project management software, CAD platforms, construction management solutions, and so on. Even some of the most complicated cutting-edge technologies can be considered as a part of the “digital architecture and construction” sphere if they are beneficial for the construction project in question – this includes robotics, artificial intelligence, the usage of drones (or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, as they are sometimes referred to) for on-site surveillance/scanning, 3D printing, and so on.

Digital construction has also been proven to provide substantial advantages over traditional construction management methods:

• In a 2019 survey, it was revealed that more than 50% of construction industry leaders have been using construction-specific software as a means of addressing health and safety concerns.
• A 2024 survey has shown that the adoption of construction and design software is growing at a steady rate, with projected compound annual growth of 1.67% and a numerical value of $11.72 billion by 2029, compared to $10.79 billion in 2024.
• A 2016 survey predicted significant global cost savings in the engineering and construction sector as a result of the adoption of digital technology, with approximate potential annual savings of $0.95 trillion in design and $0.7 trillion in construction by 2025.

Top 7 digital construction technologies in 2025

BIM stands as a cornerstone of digital construction, but it is also important to remember that other technologies are playing a substantial role in changing the construction industry. These technologies include:

• Internet of things (IoT)
• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones
• Augmented reality/Virtual reality
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• 3D printing/additive manufacturing
• Robotics and automation
• Mobile and cloud solutions

Many of these technologies also address long-standing challenges with construction projects.

Internet of things in construction

The Internet of things (IoT) is a network of interconnected devices, such as sensors, that can collect and share information in real time. When it comes to digital construction, IoT can be used for several different use cases:

• Equipment tracking and monitoring, making it significantly easier to prevent theft and optimize machinery usage.
• Environmental monitoring thanks to the ability to gather information with sensors that can analyze noise levels, dust particles, humidity, temperature, and so on.
• Structural health monitoring, which allows for long-term building performance tracking by collecting structural information from embedded sensors.
• Worker safety enhancement using wearable devices to track the vital signs of each worker, detect falls, and even alert supervisors of potentially disastrous situations.

Unmanned aerial vehicles and drones in construction

Both UAVs and drones have roughly the same range of use cases in modern construction environments, introducing a revolutionary approach to data collection and on-site surveillance. Some of the most common use cases for these devices are:

• Aerial videography and photography for use in marketing or project documentation.
• Topographical survey with mapping capabilities that offer precise terrain data for further project planning tasks.
• Remote inspection and progress monitoring, especially in areas that are difficult to reach on foot.
• Safety inspections that do not require a physical presence in every single part of the on-site structure, thus avoiding the potential for injuries.
• Volume calculation capabilities to plan excavations or stockpiles with higher accuracy.
• Global thermal imaging to perform more precise energy efficiency assessments.

Augmented and virtual reality technologies in construction

Augmented reality and virtual reality have their own advantages and use cases in construction, mostly focused on simplified employee training and more accurate project designs. The most recognizable examples are:

• Immersive project visualization early in the project design phase is made possible by the use of virtual reality capabilities, offering the ability to experience the results of the project early on while also improving the accuracy of stakeholders’ decision-making.
• The ability to overlay digital information onto the physical environment is a popular use for augmented reality, simplifying the visualization of hidden elements such as electrical or plumbing systems on-site, among other use cases.
• Extensive training capabilities thanks to the impressive levels of mobility that both technologies offer, making practice with complex tasks that much easier and risk-free.
• AR applications also often serve as a portable point of access to building plans and specifications on-site, improving communication and reducing the possibility of errors during construction.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning in construction

Both AI and ML offer a substantial number of advantages to the digitalization of the construction process. Examples of such capabilities include:

• Predictive analytics to perform risk assessments and improve project schedules.
• Automation of progress monitoring using computer vision.
• Resource optimization capabilities through a variety of automated algorithms and methodologies, which can also be used for waste reduction.
• Identification of potential safety hazards using pattern recognition.
• Ability to detect defects in a completely automated manner with higher accuracy than ever before, improving the overall quality of the service.
• Budget forecasting and cost estimation with an impressive level of accuracy.

3D printing and additive manufacturing in construction

3D printing is a slightly older technology that has also managed to spread a lot in both commercial and business environments. It can help construction processes right now with:

• Easy rapid prototyping for specific building components.
• Ability to manufacture some construction elements on-site.
• The highly precise printing process leads to reduced material waste.
• Ability to create complex geometric structures that are unachievable using traditional construction methods.
• The substantial potential of full-scale building printing (this particular technology is still in the early stages of development).

Robotics and automation in construction

Robotics has been evolving at an amazing pace in recent years, providing potential solutions to issues in many areas of our daily lives. For the construction industry specifically, automation and robotics can offer:

• Complete automation of a substantial portion of concrete work and bricklaying.
• Automated welding and assembly capabilities.
• Quality inspection and verification with no human factor.
• Automated material handling and demolition.
• Complete automation of site cleaning and maintenance tasks.

Mobile and cloud technologies in construction

Both mobile and cloud technologies are important in this industry, even if their effects are rarely as physically visible as the rest. Some of the most common examples are:

• Remote collaboration capabilities with seamless communication between project teams.
• The ability to manage projects and documentation in real time.
• Convenient versioning and document control from anywhere.
• Simplified issue tracking and field reporting.
• Extensive resource allocation capabilities.

Integration challenges for digital technologies

The broader process of digital transformation in the construction industry is supported by all these technologies in one way or another, working towards a more efficient and sustainable building process. The addition of BIM to the mix allows for the creation of a comprehensive digital ecosystem that can manage all modern construction methods and tools in the same place.

With that being said, making sure that these technologies work together in a single comprehensive infrastructure can be more challenging than one might think. The most important issue here is interoperability, the ability of one system or solution to understand another system’s information. Digital technologies struggle with this quite a lot, with the following examples being the most prominent issues by far:

• Different software vendors use a variety of APIs and data exchange protocols.
• Differing proprietary data formats between solutions and platforms cause compatibility issues during communication.
• The massive point clouds produced by drone surveys still have to be converted in order to become usable in a BIM environment.
• All the IoT data from sensors also has to be formatted and structured to be accepted as actionable data in a BIM environment.

We can also highlight a number of technology-specific challenges, as well, including:

1. IoT and BIM integration – network reliability, sensor data mapping, real-time data processing, storage demands, security concerns.
2. Drone or UAV data processing – accuracy verification between existing project models and aerial data, time lag between capture and data delivery, the amount of power used to convert point cloud data into BIM data, etc.
3. AR/VR implementation – consistent model optimization, limitations of mobile devices in field conditions, accuracy of overlay between physical and virtual elements (AR), massive processing requirements for real-time rendering.
4. AI/ML integration – processing power requirements, reliability and verification of AI-generated data, quality and quantity of necessary training data, integration with existing decision-making workflows.
5. 3D printing coordination – quality control verification methods, documentation and tracking of properties of materials, conversion of BIM models into printable formats, integration with traditional construction methods.
6. Robotics – coordination between different automated systems, safety protocols with human workflows, real-time positioning and navigation, integration with existing safety frameworks.
7. Mobile/cloud platforms – version control for all users, offline functionality requirements, security and access control management, data synchronization on different devices.

There are many case-specific solutions to these issues, but we can also provide some more generalized and common best practices for digital construction integration:

• Strong cybersecurity measures.
• Clear workflow documentation and process mapping.
• Regular system updates and scheduled maintenance.
• Standardized data protocols in different systems.
• Comprehensive employee training efforts.
• Phased implementation approach.
• Regular testing and validation.

Why is the digitalization of construction necessary?

Digital construction is not just about using technological advancements to improve the project’s results. A cultural shift is also a significant part of this process since new technologies often provide capabilities and advancements that have not been used before, creating possibilities for new and unusual business models to be used.

Many businesses would not be possible to maintain without technological advancements both within and outside of their specific market, such as Amazon’s same-day delivery, as well as companies like Uber and Airbnb. As for the construction industry in particular, one of the biggest changes that digital construction brought as a whole was the popularization of BIM (Building Information Modeling), which is an approach that relies a lot more on project collaboration than any of the previously existing construction tactics.

The entire term is a broad assumption based on collective knowledge about how it changed the construction industry. Using the word “construction” in this term is not exactly correct since this particular process can be applied to any project stage, from the earliest design stages to the post-construction maintenance and everything in between. The word “digital” is somehow even less specific, with the possibility of having a myriad of different definitions based on the context of this word being used.

Since this term is very broad, it is rather hard to cover everything it can mean. It is due to the sheer amount of different parties involved in an average construction project, with digital construction being able to improve the results of every one of them in a very specific, often unique way.

Are digital engineering and digital construction the same process?

Digital engineering and digital construction are not the same terms, even though they have similarities. The biggest difference is in scope – digital construction is applied to the entire project, from start to finish. In contrast, digital engineering is a process that mostly works in the design phase, covering various infrastructure matters for the initial project model. This model is later used for construction, which is why digital engineering is also important.

Digital construction engineers

Each construction project is a massive undertaking with many different elements and factors that need to be considered. Add that to the fact that many construction companies tend to juggle multiple construction projects at the same time – and it is easy to see why any drastic change would be extremely hard to implement in this industry.

As such, now there is an entirely new position for companies called “digital construction engineer.” It is easy to understand what this position entails – ensuring that new technologies are implemented and used regularly during construction projects. A person in this position should have a firm grasp of various software appliances, including the newest technological advancements. They also have to work with all of the project’s participants to ensure that new technologies are being utilized as intended.

However, many of these skills are focused on managing all operations within the construction project with the help of cutting-edge software. This is where the topic of digital construction management comes in.

Digital construction management

This particular term is just as vague as “digital construction,” with a lot of context needed for every possible perspective for it to be somewhat relevant. However, we can say that digital construction management refers to advancements in technology that can help manage tasks specifically.

These advancements are usually concentrated in digital construction management platforms – software applications and service platforms that offer extensive project management capabilities with the help of the latest technologies and methods. Such a platform usually has a lot of advantages over more traditional management strategies, with three of its biggest advantages being better project tracking, visibility, and collaboration.

Better project tracking is achieved via built-in tools for quality control, scheduling, budget tracking, and all of the remaining aspects of a project. Better transparency is achieved by the entire approach to how each team member is capable of seeing the current state of the project at all times, which helps with avoiding delays, identifying issues, and so on. On the other hand, better collaboration is achieved thanks to an easy way to share information between a project’s participants via a digital construction management platform, allowing for much better coordination than ever before.

As you can see, many of these advantages are how people usually describe advantages for Building Information Management software – a very similar concept is followed here, but there are also differences. Digital construction management software is broader in its capabilities, offering BIM-related advantages and acting as a connected data environment, along with other possible benefits for the project.

However, it is worth mentioning that while BIM may be more popular nowadays than it has ever been, many companies still only use it at the earliest project stages that deal with design and pre-planning. For a BIM solution to be able to reach its full potential, all of the project participants must have the intention of working together, interacting, and collaborating regularly – this is how BIM can become a true centralized location that has every single piece of information about the project and can be used in a myriad of different ways at every stage of project realization from design to post-construction maintenance.

The ability to create a digital twin of the physical building allows participants of the construction project to deal with various issues faster and easier than ever before. This applies to both initial issues that arise during the design phase and anything that may appear later during the construction process, giving the construction company the ability to fix the issue as soon as it is noticed. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a building that can collect information from the physical building in real-time at different phases of a construction project, including design, construction, and even post-construction management.

BIM as a technology has a lot of potential when used properly. The difference between the bare-bones BIM implementation and a fully-fledged BIM-aided construction process can be massive since many benefits rely on contractors and subcontractors interacting with a BIM model regularly, adding useful information to it while also using that same model to improve their own effectiveness.

Cloud as technology in digital construction

One of the biggest arguments for cloud adoption for the construction industry is data sharing between different parties. For example, data sharing with the design team can be a straight-up nightmare since most of these teams are working remotely in the first place. In this context, using the cloud as a communication tool is a great way to create an easy and convenient communication channel.

Cloud adoption rates show an extremely positive dynamic, and it has been doing so for a while now. This is fantastic news considering how many benefits cloud as a technology brings to the table.

Arguments in favor of digital construction

With the pandemic being one of the biggest catalysts for companies to move towards digital construction as a concept, there are still many doubts about this particular approach to the existing techniques and methods. To try and dissuade these doubts, here are several advantages of construction digitalization:

Business streamlining

Digitalization in construction is going to become a new norm for the construction industry; this process is more or less inevitable – and it already began. Every technological advancement you can use before your competition is a massive boost to your company’s success – workflow automatization tools, drones, ERP systems, and robots are just some examples of how digital transformation is already affecting the industry as a whole. Starting the process of changing towards streamlining your business sooner than later is a purely advantageous endeavor for any business right now.

Traditional methods have often relied on paper-based processes and manual coordination, leading to substantial information delays in the process. Digital tools are a massive contrast, making it possible to automate tasks and update the project in real time. Drone surveys greatly speed up construction site mapping, while ERP systems provide exceptional performance when it comes to processing transactions and generating reports.

Workflow improvements

Workflow improvement is a constant battle for almost any company in the construction field, and improving that is a big advantage for anyone – and a massive advantage of digital technologies in construction as a whole, offering visibility for the entire workflow and more data integration capabilities. Some solutions offer help with email tracking, issues/submittals/notices, and more.

Traditional workflows rely on physical documentation and in-person meetings in most cases. Digital solutions can substantially cut the time it takes for such processes. One good example of such an improvement is the process for creating requests for information (RFI), which takes 24-48 hours now, compared with the 7-10 days it would usually take with physical papers and signatures in a traditional workflow.

Branding

Branding is not the most obvious example of digital construction, but it can still be a sizeable advantage. Since a lot of digitalization in construction is geared towards providing a better-finalized experience for the customer, companies that have the advantage of digital construction implemented already would have better chances of attracting more clients down the road as this trend becomes more and more popular, transitioning to a new “regular” at some point in the future.

Traditional construction companies have relied on physical portfolios and word-of-mouth as the primary means of showcasing their work for decades. Digital construction, on the other hand, can provide interactive 3D models, real-time project updates, and virtual walkthroughs, making it significantly easier for a company to demonstrate its technological capabilities, construction expertise, and so on.

Moving toward cloud services

“Cloud” as a term has been the harbinger of innovation for a lot of industries, including the construction industry. It allows for general improvements in terms of resource utilization while also being able to securely store important data away from the company’s physical location, improving security and lessening the burden of maintaining physical services at your current location or near it. Adding the cloud into the mix improves all parameters, from general job performance to specific aspects of construction company management, offering a great way for companies to be ahead of their competition.

Traditional data storage methods rely on vast physical server rooms with the necessity of regular maintenance and significant vulnerability to physical damage. Cloud services offer solutions to all these issues while also providing their own benefits such as faster backup processes, easier access to backed-up data, etc.

Automation

Implementing newer technologies has been a tried and true method of staying ahead of the competition for a while now, and the construction industry is no different. A lot of time-consuming and repetitive tasks in this industry can be at least partially automated, giving a tremendous boost to overall productivity. This also frees up the time for industry experts and professionals to contribute more to a project’s overall success.

Traditional construction used manual processing for almost everything, including progress reporting, quantity takeoffs, etc. Digital automation can eliminate the need to do these tasks manually while also improving their performance several times over: automated quantity takeoffs now take minutes instead of days, manual calculations have higher accuracy rates, and robotics can be three to four times faster in repetitive tasks than an average worker.

Collaboration and communication

Being able to keep all of your stakeholders informed at all times is a massive advantage on its own, and the addition of being able to monitor the progress of a project makes it far easier to avoid missing deadlines. At the same time, the lack of barriers in communication between different parties improves collaboration, resulting in better overall results for any project.

Traditional communication in construction projects used physical meetings, phone calls, and paper documentation, which created delays and information silos on a regular basis. The existence of digital platforms makes it possible to communicate and instantly share documents with any stakeholder, drastically speeding up most legacy processes such as change orders (which now take hours instead of weeks).

Clarity and certainty

Confusion can be a surprisingly big issue for a construction project, especially if the communication between different departments is not as good as it could be. Since digital technologies in construction promote collaboration quite a lot, the existence of a seamless way of communication allows for the project as a whole to have a lot more clarity than before, especially if the interaction between teams is remote, as is the de-facto standard of the industry right now.

Traditional construction management often relied on written reports and on-site visits, leading to the delayed identification and resolution of issues. Digital construction resolves this issue, providing real-time access to project information while also allowing for features such as clash detection that highlight clashes and other problems without the need to locate them on-site.

Safety improvements provided in digital construction

The construction industry is known for the high probability of injuries and physical harm on-site, which is why safety has always been one of the top priorities in the industry (even for traditional construction methods). These measures include infrequent manual inspections, a number of reactive solutions to specific issues, and practically nothing else.

The introduction of a digital aspect to the construction industry has been transforming its approach to safety for a significant amount of time now, with features such as proactive safety management and real-time monitoring being the most prominent aspects of the new approach to safety improvements. Below, we would like to cover several of the biggest categories of safety improvements that can be attributed to the evolution of digital construction, including:

• Real-time safety monitoring
• Automated safety compliance
• Enhanced safety training
• Predictive safety analytics
• Emergency response improvements

Real-time safety monitoring

The introduction of digital technologies greatly simplifies the continuous global monitoring of construction sites using a number of methods. Common examples of such methods are:

• Wearable devices responsible for monitoring the location of the wearer along with vital signs and a dedicated fall detection mechanism.
• Environmental sensors that can monitor exposure to harmful substances, noise levels, temperature, air quality, etc.
• Connected equipment sensors capable of constantly supplying information about maintenance status, machinery operation, or similar tasks.
• Smart protective equipment (personal protective equipment, or PPE) that can provide its wearer with information about nearby hazards when appropriate.

Automated safety compliance

A number of digital systems can simplify and automate compliance with various safety regulations, including:

• Automated safety inspection processes, with checklists and detailed documentation generation.
• Digital permit-to-work measures that verify the qualification of workers for specific tasks in the construction workflow.
• Ability to monitor safety zones and restricted areas in real time.
• PPE compliance detection with no human intervention using computer vision.

Enhanced safety training

Training is an important part of any safety procedure, spreading awareness of the potential hazards on-site so that workers themselves can be aware of them and try to avoid them in the future. The addition of the newest technologies to this process improves the efficiency of training:

• Virtual reality simulation can be used for training for hazardous situations with no real risk.
• Augmented reality can improve equipment operation instructions and assist with on-site safety guidance.
• Interactive digital training modules are capable of tracking comprehension and completion.
• Remote expert guidance can assist with dangerous and/or complex tasks.

Predictive safety analytics

The predictive nature of the combination of artificial intelligence and machine learning makes many modern safety measures possible, including:

• Historical data analysis in order to find high-risk conditions or activities.
• Outdoor work safety planning with weather monitoring and integration capabilities.
• Pattern recognition capabilities to predict all kinds of safety incidents before they have the chance to happen.
• Risk assessment in real time based on up-to-date site conditions.

Emergency response improvements

Digital systems can also improve a company’s emergency response toolset, with the following features being the most prominent examples:

• Digital site maps for emergency responders.
• Instant alert systems for emergencies or accidents.
• Automated emergency protocols and procedures.
• Location tracking in real time for every single worker to improve evacuation speed.

Environmental and sustainability benefits of digital construction

The sheer scale of the construction industry makes its environmental impact extremely large, including both resource consumption and waste generation. As such, the industry has been attempting to increase its efficiency for many years, with digital technologies being responsible for some of the most noteworthy optimization measures, including:

• Resource optimization

The introduction of digital technologies improves the overall efficiency of resource use, including material quantity optimization powered by artificial intelligence and digital tracking systems to manage waste and material use. There are also tools such as smart logistics planning to reduce transportation emissions and BIM-based analytical capabilities that can provide better-performing material alternatives.

• Energy efficiency

Energy efficiency can also be improved with digital construction technologies, with a multitude of examples to choose from: thermal imaging for existing structures, digital twins for ongoing energy performance optimization, and so on. Some previously mentioned tools can also be used in this area, including smart building systems (for long-term energy management) or real-time tracking and monitoring frameworks (for energy use).

• Waste reduction

One of the most noticeable contributions of digital construction in this area is in waste reduction, with the following measures being the most prominent examples of such:

• 3D printing technology to minimize material waste
• Digital waste tracking to improve recycling and disposal workflows
• Digital prefabrication planning for unprecedented efficiency in material use

There are several other features that also contribute to waste reduction in a more indirect manner, such as automated cutting and assembly capabilities, which reduce material loss and waste generation, or the use of BIM to perform precise quantity calculations and ordering.

• Sustainable design optimization 

Design sustainability is a rather challenging topic that has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. It would also be nearly impossible without certain digital construction technologies, including features such as carbon footprint calculation and optimization capabilities or the simulation of environmental impact during early design stages. At the same time, features such as solar and natural lighting analysis and the analysis of sustainable alternative materials also contribute to the overarching goal of sustainability.

• Long-term benefits to the environment

Of course, not all of the advantages of digital construction are short-term, and there are several examples of benefits that only appear in the long term. These benefits accrue thanks to the following digital construction capabilities:

• Predictive maintenance in order to extend the lifespan of a building
• Data-driven future sustainability decisions.
• Building life cycle analysis to plan sustainability in the long term
• Reduced environmental impact due to the optimization of future building operations, etc.

How does digital construction affect every stage of the construction process?

Building Information Modeling is a significant part of digital construction as a whole, offering the ability to improve the results of every part of the construction process, from the earliest stages of the design process to the process of structural monitoring of a building that has been already completed and handed over to the client.

Even before the initial design process begins, there is an important step that includes surveillance of the future work site – it is usually performed via aerial mapping, laser scanning, or even mobile scanning, and all of that data can be immediately transferred to BIM as a system so that it can have up-to-date information about the work site, including potential complications that may arise.

The rest of the design phase follows the same idea, creating a digital model that can be easily shared between different parties to ensure that it is exactly the way the client wants it – including the ability to overlook the entire future structure in 3D with technologies such as virtual reality. This same concept also makes it easier to perform various informative design decisions and general concept verification from the client.

The beginning of the actual construction process is where another benefit of BIM comes in. Both contractors and subcontractors can easily see the up-to-date project model, including its layout, to perform more informed decisions. Some of the more advanced machinery also makes it possible for BIM models to be uploaded as data into the machinery in question, making it possible for a part of the construction to be performed automatically by the machinery itself. The existence of machine-to-machine communication in this context often offers results that are both faster and more precise than manually controlled alternatives.

This offers unprecedented precision to the construction project and lowers the risk of accidents when human workers operate close to the active machinery. That’s also not the only way for the BIM model to be beneficial here since it also helps a lot of other, more specific operations. One such task is MEP engineering.

MEP engineers benefit quite a lot from the existence of BIM models, allowing for data-rich 3D models to be used during their work – placing MEP components with the context of how walls and columns of a building are placed in the building. That same model can also perform various as-built checks multiple times during the construction process, offering many opportunities to notice and fix potentially disastrous errors before they can affect the project’s results.

Aside from the building itself, a BIM model can also help plan and create supporting infrastructure – railways, tunnels, bridges, roads, and more. The overall documentation of surroundings for these cases can be performed with something as simple as a mobile phone, providing factual information for other project participants to work with.

Regarding factual information, it is important to mention that the BIM model is always updated throughout the project’s construction stage with real-time structural monitoring. A very similar process is also performed after the project’s completion and regularly during the entire lifecycle of a project’s result.

Many industry experts tend to forget that the BIM model does not become completely useless as soon as the project in question is completed and handed over since that same model can be used to survey the structure’s overall condition at different stages of its lifecycle. Some systems can even create alerts for stakeholders if the structure’s overall condition is below the expected limit.

Surprisingly enough, a BIM model can also help the building at the very end of its lifecycle, offering a wealth of information about the current condition of the structure and other information necessary for either demolition or refurbishment, depending on the owner’s choice.

Impact of digital construction on key stakeholders

In the previous sections, we presented a large selection of arguments as to why and how digital construction has changed many of existing processes and workflows. Here, we would like to highlight how some of the most common stakeholders are affected by these changes.

Architects

Architectural practice has changed dramatically under the influence of the digital transformation, becoming a sophisticated design platform while abandoning traditional drafting boards. Modern architects can use BIM technologies to create detailed, information-rich 3D models that can automatically update themselves throughout all project documentation. The most notable advantages of this change in direction are:

• Real-time environment and energy analysis capabilities early on.
• Immersive virtual reality walkthroughs for clients.
• More freedom with design variations due to the higher efficiency of parametric modeling.
• Seamless collaboration with engineers on the design of complex objects and elements.
• Ability to detect and resolve design conflicts in the design phase.

Engineers

Digital construction has enhanced the analytical capabilities of engineering tools, offering greater precision in configuring electrical, mechanical, and structural systems. The most notable advantages of this approach are:

• Automated code compliance verification.
• Advanced simulation capabilities that simplify structural integrity testing.
• Digital twin technology for the monitoring of post-construction building performance.
• A single coordinated model (BIM) that can integrate several MEP systems for improved convenience.
• Real-time collaboration with architects to prevent issues with the construction process early on.

Contractors

The digital transformation has changed the project execution and site management pipelines for contractors in several ways. The most common examples of such changes are:

• Digital tool management and equipment tracking capabilities.
• Quantity takeoffs and cost estimation calculations with an unprecedented level of precision.
• Real-time resource allocation and project scheduling capabilities.
• Automation of progress tracking using cameras and drones on-site.
• Mobile access to construction documents and specifications while on-site.
• Improvements to safety monitoring during the construction process using wearable technology.

Clients and owners

The primary advantages of digital construction for clients and owners are unprecedented visibility and control over their investments. This includes the following advantages:

• Predictive analysis that provides a better understanding of lifecycle costs.
• Enhanced decision-making during design and construction.
• Better visualization of the final product using virtual reality and virtual walkthroughs.
• Real-time financial tracking and immediate progress updates.
• Digital handover documentation that improves facility management.

Regulators and authorities

The digital transformation also streamlines the issue of compliance, with all kinds of regulatory processes being improved significantly using the following features:

• Improved documentation for safety compliance.
• Digital record-keeping for future reference.
• Automated verification of compliance with building regulations.
• More accurate environmental impact monitoring.
• Better transparency during inspection processes.

Subcontractors and specialty trades

Subcontractors are also not exempt from the benefits that digital construction processes offer, such as better coordination, improved resource management, etc. We should also mention the following advantages:

• Mobile access to the latest design changes and specifications.
• Digital measurements that allow for precise prefabrication opportunities.
• Improved quality assurance with the help of digital installation documentation.

Facility managers

Even the post-construction phase of the project realization process gains numerous benefits from the introduction of digital construction methods, with the following advantages for facility managers and adjacent personnel:

• More accurate energy performance monitoring.
• Streamlined maintenance tracking and scheduling.
• More efficient space management with the help of digital floor plans.
• Comprehensive digital asset documentation.
• Use of sensor data to improve the results of predictive maintenance.

Impact of digital construction on workforce and skills

The influence of digital technologies is widespread and multi-faceted, affecting many fields in the process. Workforce requirements are also growing accordingly as digital construction becomes more and more integrated into the day-to-day operations of the construction process.

Both new workers and seasonal veterans of the industry are affected by this change, with a combination of traditional construction knowledge and digital expertise being a de-facto requirement in the modern-day construction industry. The balance between technological advancement and practical skills is not easy to maintain, and making sure that all workers can adapt to the changes is even more challenging.

The digital transformation has brought a number of new positions in the industry to life, such as BIM coordinators, construction data analysts, and digital construction managers. The primary goal of these roles is to reduce the knowledge and skill gap between traditional and modern approaches to construction, ensuring the successful integration of the newest digital technologies into existing processes.

Many traditional roles have also become much more digitized, with site supervisors relying on mobile apps for real-time reporting and project managers mastering digital project management tools to receive and process relevant project information in real time.

A modern construction professional’s skill set is rather diverse, with digital literacy and construction knowledge being necessary for any kind of employment. It is also in companies’ interest to put effort into keeping their workers’ knowledge up-to-date with internal training, vendor partnerships, continuous learning initiatives, and so on.

In its current iteration, automation is supposed to assist workers with repetitive tasks instead of replacing them, opening up more opportunities to perform more complex operations such as maintenance. The industry has enough issues with attracting skilled talent as it is, and the digital skill requirement, in combination with automation concerns, can be seen as another dampener on the effort to obtain more employees.

With that being said, companies that develop clear career paths to embrace both traditional expertise and digital innovation usually have the most successful hiring results, meaning that such practices should be adopted by more businesses to keep up with the latest changes in the construction industry.

Why is digital construction popular?

Digitalization has been seen as inevitable for the construction industry for a while now, with the said industry being one of the most conservative industries on the planet. While many different fields of work started their digitalization a long time ago, the construction industry had a very specific worldwide event that many experts believe to be a catalyst for sudden massive changes for this exact industry. That one event was the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, that’s not to say that the construction industry did not have its share of problems even before all that happened. Each construction project is a massive undertaking with dozens of contractors and subcontractors, tight deadlines, limited budgets, strict government standards, on-site safety concerns, and so on.

The issue of a qualified workforce was also present for a while now – a 2021 survey datum from the National Association of Home Builders showed that the median age of construction workers is 42 years. Going by this logic, a lot of experienced workforces are going to retire by the year 2029, and the number of fresh blood in the industry as a whole does not seem to be enough to cover for that – since various technological advancements have led to a lot of young people choosing different industries to work in instead of the construction industry.

Of course, this issue is still prevalent in other countries, not just the USA. For example, an investigation by Grattan Institute in Australia found that almost every second rail or road project had budget overruns of at least 30% or more. These statistics become even more terrifying when you remember that only projects with an estimated budget of 1 billion AUD or more were included in this analysis.

As for the general worldwide picture, there was also a CRUX Insight report from 2021 that reviewed over 1400 projects all over the planet and surmised that the average value of claims was close to 50% of the budgeted capital expenditure, while claims related to time extensions made an average construction project about 70% longer than originally estimated.

With this many problems inside of the industry on so many different fronts, and the overall issue of a global pandemic appearing from basically nowhere, the construction industry had no choice but to start moving towards construction digitalization at an accelerated pace, with a rather clear understanding that failure to improve yourself in these circumstances would be able to sink even some of the biggest players in the field due to the sheer amount of missed potential that could be at least partially solved with various digital solutions.

Regional adoption of digital construction

The topics of popularity and adoption make it possible for us to discuss how digital construction has been accepted and implemented in different regions.

The European region is leading global adoption with strong government support and strict regulations. The UK already has a BIM mandate, and the Scandinavian countries are known for their excellent modular construction and prefabrication capabilities. Two of the primary focus areas of this region are cross-border standardization and sustainability while also providing exceptional levels of IoT integration and digital twin technology.

The North American region has a lot of variety in adoption rates, with the west coast typically being ahead in terms of implementation efforts. The region is investing heavily in construction startups, safety management environments, and mobile technology solutions, with a strong emphasis on retrofitting legacy infrastructure with the help of modern digital solutions.

The Asia-Pacific region has a rather diverse digital construction adoption landscape, with Singapore, Japan, and China being the most noteworthy examples of digital-heavy countries that focus on speed, efficiency, and integration with smart city infrastructures. There are also multiple government initiatives driving adoption, such as Singapore’s Construction Industry Transformation Map.

The Middle East region is an emerging digital construction hub, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE being the undisputed leaders in terms of the digital transformation. The region can be characterized by adaptability to extreme weather conditions and a focus on mega-projects, with strong investments in cutting-edge technologies for luxury construction and infrastructure.

Industry-specific application of digital construction

The implementation and use of digital construction vary dramatically in different sectors of the construction industry, with unique use cases, requirements, and technologies. Here are a few examples of such:

• In infrastructure projects, digital tools allow for precise mapping and real-time monitoring of structural integrity and underground utilities. Alternatively, projects like tunnels and bridges rely on ground-penetrating radar and LiDAR scanners to acquire detailed subsurface information that the BIM solution can interpret and visualize.
• Energy plant construction necessitates the use of advanced modeling and digital twin technology to ensure complete adherence to any and all specifications and safety protocols. Sophisticated 4D scheduling solutions can integrate time-based factors and spatial models into the same environment, assisting with the creation of complex electrical or pipeline networks.
• In housing development, digital construction facilitates mass customization and standardization, making it possible for the efficient replication of successful designs without losing out on the degree of individuality that buyers want in their purchases. Housing developers can also use parametric design tools to produce a variety of home variations using base models, which tends to streamline the development process without losing architectural diversity.

Success measurement in digital construction

Many key performance indicators can be used to track success in the implementation of digital construction. Some are immediate, while others are analyzed in the long term, creating a balanced assessment of a company’s improvements in operational efficiency, financial performance, and project outcomes.

We can separate potential metrics into four primary categories:

• Project efficiency metrics – traditional and modern project timelines are compared with one another, measuring RFI response times, rework percentages, and total project duration.
• Financial impact – digital tools track the current financial parameters of a project and compare them with historical information, measuring the amount of material waste, total labor cost (better resource allocation), total number of warranty claims, etc.
• Safety performance – wearable technology and IoT sensors provide a substantial overview in the form of many parameters in the field of digital safety initiatives, including incident rates, hazard identification speed, compliance tracking performance, etc.
• Environmental impact – building management systems and digital twin environments can gather information on an ongoing basis, measuring the amount of material waste, total energy consumption, and general building performance.

Case studies

To provide a better example, we have two separate case studies that show how the introduction of a digital collaboration solution such as Revizto improves different aspects of a construction business.

Stantec

Stantec is a global leader in architecture, consulting, and sustainable engineering. It has a lot of experience in handling large and complex construction projects. Its primary fields of focus are data centers, healthcare, and commercial projects in Australia and New Zealand, and the issues of the construction industry as a whole are present in Australia and New Zealand. This is why Stantec has introduced Revizto into its workflows, and the results are impressive.

Revizto has managed to bring immediate and measurable benefits to Stantec’s workflows, including the following aspects:

• Data management centralization, opening up opportunities to avoid tedious file conversions while managing information from multiple sources.
• Streamlined clash detection thanks to Revizto’s powerful toolset that does not necessitate file conversion or the use of another solution, saving a lot of time.
• Improved collaboration, facilitated by the ability to communicate within the same platform with ease while also having an option to collaborate in real-time.
• Real-time progress monitoring and issue tracking, making sure that issue resolution processes are communicated and monitored as intended, keeping all relevant stakeholders notified about their responsibilities.

M.P. Lundy

Ottawa’s M.P. Lundy Construction is a company that specializes in working on large-scale commercial construction projects, making it a leader in the local construction management sector. The use of Revizto was strictly limited to drawing and model viewing at first, but the appearance of a new leadership figure drew a lot more attention to  the solution, including software training for the team and the integration of advanced technologies.

The value the company has managed to acquire from Revizto is represented in at least three aspects:

• Faster BIM coordination, with convenient tracking capabilities and simple weak point visualization, significantly speeding up coordination meetings.
• Better issue resolution, made possible with the ability to quickly identify issues and assign them to specific stakeholders. Seamless communication within the solution has also assisted conflict-resolution efforts tremendously.
• More efficient coordination with trades facilitates faster onboarding for both contractors and subcontractors with convenient task visualization. This makes new project participants more engaged and focused on project goals.

Future trends and developments in digital construction

Digital construction continues to evolve, taking into account all of the latest technologies while also adapting to changes in the construction industry itself. At the same time, there is always a need to address the challenges that are often created by the introduction of these newer technologies.

A clear understanding of both these factors is a necessity to be able to prepare your business for any future developments in digital construction.

Emerging technologies

The most notable emerging technologies that are worth mentioning in this context can be separated into four primary categories:

• Blockchain in construction (transparency in supply chain tracking, digital asset management tracking, automated compliance verification, etc.)
• Advanced robotics (AI-powered QC systems, self-healing building materials, autonomous construction equipment, automated material handling, etc.)
• Advanced connectivity (improved remote operation capabilities, real-time data processing and analysis, high-definition video streaming in remote inspections, etc.)
• Quantum computing (improved machine learning capabilities, advanced material science simulations, complex structural calculations, enhanced security in digital systems, etc.)

Implementation challenges

While general knowledge about potential developments in the industry is important, what is even more important is knowledge of the various challenges to implementation that appear with practically every major new technology introduced into existing construction processes. The most obvious examples of such challenges are:

• Resistance to change from traditional methods
• Skill gap in the use of digital technology, possibly worsened by the generation gap in the adoption of technology
• Potential compatibility issues with new and existing software
• Challenges in interoperability between platforms and services
• Intellectual property concerns
• Training and implementation expenses
• High initial technology investments, and many others.

Government policies and regulatory frameworks for digital construction

Rates of adoption of digital construction methods and technologies are also influenced by government policies and industry regulation to a massive degree. The construction process is becoming more and more digitized as time goes on, with many authorities worldwide developing comprehensive standardization frameworks for different aspects of construction. The point of these regulations is to create accountability and establish clear expectations in construction while also guiding the overall implementation process.

The first aspect of these regulations is represented by government mandates and standards. Government mandates for BIM specifically have become somewhat commonplace globally, with the UK’s BIM Level 2 mandate setting an early benchmark for other regions to follow, including the Scandinavian countries, the rest of the EU, and even some regions further away such as Singapore. Most of these mandates provide a standardized framework for data exchange formats, collaboration protocols, model detail levels, and other necessary parameters.

The second noteworthy aspect is the ongoing emphasis on sustainability and security, providing financial incentives for companies to use digital tools for more sustainable construction. The adoption of such technologies is also boosted by grants, expedited permits, tax credits, and so on. At the same time, there are also a lot of security-related frameworks, including the infamous GDPR, all tasked with the primary goal of governing how construction information is protected, handled, stored, etc.

Standardization and interoperability are also part of this topic, serving as frameworks for future digital construction practices. Ensuring consistency in information management processes is the primary goal of such standards (which is why we can also mention ISO 19650 here, even though it is not a national standard in itself). The use of various common data environments and open BIM standards also facilitates better collaboration between different stakeholders and environments when applicable.

Last but not least is the ongoing digitization of the regulatory process, which is mostly keeping up with the progress in other industries. Electronic plan reviews and automated code compliance are practically industry standards by now, with online permit platforms, digital documentation requirements, and electronic procurement systems able to dramatically improve the performance of once paper-based processes. Digital documentation and real-time monitoring also simplify the safety and quality control processes, providing better oversight and faster response times when it matters.

In closing

Digital construction is more than just a technological upgrade in most cases. It is a fundamental transformation of many fundamental processes that have guided the industry for decades. Luckily, many of these new technologies, such as BIM, IoT, or AI, are also addressing some of the most noteworthy issues in the industry while producing a selection of opportunities for growth and innovation.

The benefits of digital construction are quite transparent and multi-faceted. Improved project efficiency and reduced delays both contribute to cost-savings, while environmental benefits help companies when it comes to meeting sustainability demands that keep growing as time goes on. All these advantages tend to compound over time, making the argument for adoption even more powerful.

In fairness, the journey toward digital construction is not exactly painless and has many challenges. The initial learning curve might be somewhat daunting, and the upfront investments are often absolutely brutal. However, the cost of digitalization will grow considerably as time goes on, eventually surpassing any and all spending that might occur when adopting the digital construction mindset.

The construction industry is at a significant turning point right now. Digital technologies already exist, and their benefits have been proven and calculated for a substantial amount of time. As such, the path forward is clear for a lot of companies, with the return on investment on these developments coming sooner than later for most businesses.

Digital construction is a great way of overcoming some of the most noteworthy issues of the construction industry – the loss of time and money due to inefficient processes – while also building a more sustainable and efficient future in the process.