Will we even recognise the construction site of 2030?
Forget workers in yellow hard hats – within a decade or so construction sites could be characterized by drones, robots, automated machinery and a few human workers wearing metal exoskeleton suits to multiply their strength and prevent injury.
This vision of the future is not too far-fetched. The pace of change in construction is breath-taking. For example, within recent years the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has transformed the way buildings are designed, built and managed, linking different stakeholders along the way.
The transformation of the industry inevitably comes with both challenges and opportunities. What are the key drivers that will shape the construction site of the future?
Challenges facing the UK construction industry
There are plenty of difficulties facing the construction industry. Firstly, productivity has changed little in the last 50 years, and is growing at a slower rate than the rest of the economy. A 2021 UK government report found that construction also had lower levels of productivity than other comparable industries.
The industry is facing a pressing skills shortage, with 225,000 more workers required by 2027 just to meet demand for the coming pipeline of projects. An ageing workforce means that many employees will shortly leave the industry. Currently, 58% of companies are unable to find the skills they need.
Construction is a high-risk sector. An overwhelming 82% of builders report experiencing work-related stress and depression. The sector has higher than average rates of personal injury and mortality. It also sees higher levels of financial risk relating to supply chains, overruns, legal conflict and disruption.
The construction industry is also adapting to legislative change (such as the Building Safety Act which came into force in 2022) and the pressure to become more sustainable. Around 45% of total UK carbon emissions (27% from domestic buildings and 18% from non-domestic) come from built construction; 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction and demolition of buildings.
How can technology help construction meet its challenges?
Technology can help to provide solutions to many of the industry’s challenges. For example, more efficient machinery can improve productivity, making up for labour shortages and boosting profits. Improved efficiency also translates into reduced energy costs and carbon emissions.
Take the example of exoskeletons. Derived from suits created for health patients suffering from paralysis, the suits add strength to the wearer’s body by supplementing the individual’s skeletal and muscular strength. This could be useful in conducting repetitive tasks that put strain on the joints, or in lifting heavy objects. Other forms of exoskeleton might provide support for workers to reduce fatigue on the arms when holding heavy tools, making jobs faster to complete. This innovation could reduce injury levels, boost productivity, and speed up progress on projects.
At the same time, technology comes with its own challenges. Finding workers with the right skills to design, implement and operate new tech is not always easy, and companies will need to find funds for investment in equipment and training.
What will the construction sites of the future look like?
We could see some major changes in the years ahead – here are some predictions:
We could see robots being used to construct buildings with self-assembly elements. Drones overhead will monitor progress and scan the site. Over time, fewer humans will be needed to control a site, with fewer associated injuries, errors and exposure to toxic substances.
Offsite construction can help reduce amount of noise, waste and machine usage on-site, cutting delivery times and delivering improved precision and safety. Offsite construction accounts for around 7% of UK construction, but this figure is set to grow rapidly in coming years.
Besides exoskeletons, construction workers will increasingly use smart clothing on site. This includes devices that attach to belts or hard hats that alert the employer if a worker falls, helmets that allow communication with the wearer, devices that give feedback on lifting posture, and more.
To augment the existing capability to create digital representations of objects together with scheduling of costs, AI could be used to identify problems and areas that can be improved. For example, AI can be used to analyse drone data to give real-time updates on stocks of material on a construction site.
Wherever technology is used, vulnerability to cyber-attack increases. Ransomware attacks could impede progress on construction projects, so good data and information security will be all-important, especially with a complex system operated by multiple stakeholders.
Trusted materials such as concrete and steel may start to be pushed out by new materials that have a lower carbon footprint, less environmental impact or are more versatile, such as 3D-printed mycelium, carbon-fibre reinforced concrete, or super-strong bioplastics.
The sector will need to reform and rebrand to attract candidates with in-demand skill sets, and education programmes will need to change to ensure graduates have the skills needed for the modern sector. For example, the recent introduction of T-levels have been designed to give students technical skills that better meet the needs of the industry.
Regulatory frameworks will need to allow for greater use of technology and insurers and investors will need to be prepared to support innovation. For example, the Construction Playbook has a focus on innovation and how collaboration and risk management can reduce the risks involved in trying something new.
How will standards help?
Standards are essential to ensuring that the construction site of the future is as efficient, safe and sustainable as it can be.
Standards that might be considered include:
UK BIM Framework Solution Pack (includes all of the core enabling BIM standards)
BS EN ISO 23386 – Building information modelling and other digital processes used in construction
The PAS 2060 specification helps organizations to demonstrate carbon neutrality
In recognition of the role of the construction sector in generating a major proportion of UK carbon emissions, BSI has developed PAS 2080, the world’s first specification for decarbonizing buildings and infrastructure systems.
As set out in the BSI Sustainability Report, standard-led best practice can help organizations increase resilience in operations, cybersecurity, supply chains and financial management. Construction companies will be better prepared to adapt to future challenges if these sustainable principles are applied.
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