Building Information Models (BIMs) and Digital Twins, 3D printing, and modular construction – new technologies are changing the face of long-known industries. Construction is no exception. With the help of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), it is now possible to monitor the quality of construction in hard-to-reach places. At the same time, construction personnel are not at risk as before. UAVs collect detailed data on the terrain’s topography and control the construction equipment. The input geodetic information from the drones and many other input data form the basis of the digital building model, resulting from applying BIM standards and technologies.
Even augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are being utilized on the construction site – thanks to augmented reality goggles, remote experts a thousand miles away can advise workers performing on-site work. On the topic of innovation in U.S. construction, we spoke with Roman Abutin, Assistant Plan Examiner at the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) and a member of the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Are U.S. developers interested in high return on investment (ROI) associated with hosting new technologies?
The contemporary construction technology landscape heralds a transformative era marked by remarkable efficiency potential. Central to this discourse is the advent of Building Information Modeling (BIM), an established standard and software suite facilitating the creation of comprehensive digital models for buildings and infrastructure. Noteworthy is BIM’s synergy with an array of complementary innovations, emblematic of the sector’s trajectory towards heightened functionality and information integration.
Among these innovations, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, emerge as pivotal instruments for expedited geodetic and topographic data acquisition. Their integration with BIM facilitates the creation of “Digital Twins,” digital replicas endowed with real-time environmental responsiveness, thereby fostering 4D simulations that inform judicious decision-making processes.
Empirical validation of BIM’s efficacy is evidenced in a recent study conducted by researchers from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. The study elucidated substantial project acceleration by an average of 50%, alongside a concomitant cost reduction of 52.23% across diverse construction enterprises.
Parallel to digitalization, modular construction emerges as a prominent paradigm, offering substantial economization across multifarious project objectives. Its premise, rooted in modular design principles, engenders a streamlined assembly process, significantly mitigating temporal and material resource burdens. Insights gleaned from research by WRAP underscore modular construction’s potential to curtail material usage by up to 90% compared to conventional methodologies.
If construction companies have a strong economic incentive to move to new technologies, why does the U.S. have a reputation for construction conservatism?
There is some truth to the view that many construction sites still rely heavily on analog, paper-based documentation. In many construction companies, the technology departments responsible for adopting new products often have the lowest budgets. In several European countries, priorities differ significantly. Almost all workers use smartphones to coordinate work, but information security for such interactions is not always ensured, nor are personal devices effectively integrated at the project level.
The relevance of BIM (Building Information Modeling) for developers in the U.S. is evident from the lack of mandatory national documents prescribing specific levels of BIM implementation. BIM emerged in 1993, and American specialists were among the first to experiment with it. However, digital building models are now mandatory for government construction projects in the UK, France, Germany, and Austria.
The discourse about the U.S. construction industry’s adherence to outdated practices likely comes from those who have seen construction sites globally and can make comparisons. Paper drawings seem archaic in an era where digital technology can greatly enhance safety and calculation accuracy. Once a design is created digitally, it can be generated and modified on a computer as often as needed.
At the Department of Buildings (DOB), where I have the honor of working, we are leading the charge in the U.S. to overcome outdated practices in construction. By 2020, we achieved 100% electronic processing of applications, reviews, scheduling, and payments. Additionally, we fully automated the document flow between government services for construction project approvals. As a frontrunner in the country, our city aims to improve regulatory efficiency and incentivizes developers to build differently. For example, we hold the annual “Hack the Building Code” Innovation Challenge, a competition designed to highlight and implement innovations in construction practices.
Why is everyone aware of the potential increase in competitiveness with new technologies, while on the other hand, they are in no hurry to adopt them?
The reasons for the current state of affairs in the U.S. construction industry are complex. The engineering and construction workforce is relatively elderly, often gravitating towards familiar methods. A 2023 study surveying U.S. construction professionals revealed that 30% of older professionals did not support the industry’s digital transformation. Additionally, the complexity of projects, which often involve hundreds or thousands of professionals from different contractors working together temporarily to implement new practices, seems daunting.
As a construction document examiner, I suspect that the reluctance to adopt new practices is partly due to a desire to comply with regulators, contributing to the relatively slow pace of construction innovation in the U.S. For example, the construction industry has a significant interest in drone technology. Data indicates that the use of drones in construction increased by 239% in 2018 compared to the previous year. According to the JBKnowledge Construction Technology Report, 43% of American developers used drones on job sites in the U.S.
Drones offer obvious advantages, such as timely identification of missing guardrails on scaffolding where construction workers are operating. However, the formation of rules for the commercial use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), including in construction, is managed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), an aviation regulator. Clear rules for commercial drone use were not released until 2016, and there are still many challenges due to the lack of specific regulations for the construction industry. For instance, the approval process does not differentiate between light and large drones, sometimes requiring the same stringent safety measures for both despite their differing risks.
Construction companies must also navigate regulations that emerged when UAVs were primarily used by hobbyists and individuals outside the construction industry, such as paparazzi. For example, California has statute allows for prosecuting individuals who intentionally or unintentionally enter airspace associated with another’s private property without authorization. Companies must obtain written permission and notify workers and visitors that they may be recorded by drones. Although cameras are ubiquitous, drones are subject to heightened privacy protections as moving objects.
Similarly, cybersecurity regulations pose challenges for construction companies, many lacking IT departments. As previously mentioned, IT departments in real estate development companies are often stagnating rather than developing. The situation is further complicated by the lag in standardization compared to the emergence of new technologies.
Do you mean the construction standard contains outdated requirements?
In construction, compliance with Building Codes and other specifications is essential to meet legal requirements. Laws reference standards or outline the necessary requirements to ensure regulatory compliance. However, the cycle for adopting new standards within the ICC (International Code Council), the main standardization body in this area, is two years. This is a significant delay in technical progress. Often, by the time the necessary procedures are completed, the standards may have already become obsolete.
International standardization could be a solution. For instance, in the field of BIM (Building Information Modeling), the ISO 19650 standard, originating from Britain, is excellent. However, the U.S. national standardization system is traditionally less harmonized with international and European standards compared to other countries. Construction regulators could accelerate investment cycles for developers by converting their control and oversight activities to BIM.
A recent study published in the journal Advanced Engineering Informatics provides some revealing statistics. The authors examined the planning departments of 500 cities across the United States and found that only 21% had online resources available for applications and building permits. This highlights a significant gap and a clear area for improvement.
And is that the case with any new technology?
Take modular construction, for example. The process often breaks down due to the need to transport modules over long distances. Different states have varying requirements for the internal layout of the module, meaning that a module permitted in one state might not be allowed in another. Transportation involves challenges such as bridges, tight turns, traffic issues, crane installation, and temporary road closure permits. Module sizes are typically limited by road dimensions (usually 10 feet wide by 70 feet long) and the capacity of available cranes (up to 25 tons) throughout the project site. Your insurance consultant must work with a broker and carrier familiar with the many risks associated with off-site construction. Permit requirements also vary; some areas only need a local permit, while others require a county permit.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that the construction timeline for a modular building can bypass the permitting process. A modular building cannot just appear on-site without local authorities’ permits. You will need to obtain approximately 15 types of permits to build at the site where the modules are assembled, just as you would for conventional construction. Thus, what could drastically reduce costs for builders can lead to additional expenses under existing conditions.
Are there laws explicitly aimed at encouraging technology in U.S. construction? Is the situation changing for the better on this issue?
As part of America’s Job Plan, the government recently invested $4 trillion to modernize urban infrastructure, including schools, clinics, and homes. Under the program’s terms, funds will be allocated to developers working with new technologies, which could positively impact the industry.
A lot is being done by us at the NYC Department of Buildings. Previously, we used the Building Information System (BIS), an IT infrastructure for building permits. However, BIS, which was developed in 1989, had become obsolete. Building technology and regulations have changed significantly since then, resulting in BIS hindering rather than helping automation. Its architecture also failed to create a unified environment for obtaining all construction permits, with some permits still requiring manual efforts from the expert community.
To address these issues, BIS was replaced by BUILD, a more advanced information system that we are constantly improving. My involvement in the BUILD project includes preparing lists of mandatory and optional inspections for the forms that builders fill out in the system. I also compile lists of mandatory supporting documents, reference information, requirements for drawings in feedback forms, and other essential information for the system.
I was part of a working group that recently added the ability to submit project documents for Electric Energy Storage Equipment (EESE) and solar panel installations to BUILD. Solar systems had been the last type of new construction innovations not covered by BUILD. We needed to translate a large amount of documentary, control, and other regulatory requirements into application functions: lists of mandatory and additional inspections, supporting documents, and reference information (such as system capacity, roof type, and other aspects) required in the submitted package. New York is gradually catching up with new construction technologies thanks to these IT advancements.
Building innovations have a huge potential for efficiency. Implementing more current and agile regulatory practices can swipe a fence between their possibilities and the everyday routine of the building yard. The quicker it would have been done, the earlier buildings in the USA would become safe for inhabitants and construction workers. Developers would enjoy a short investment cycle and efficiency. The cities would be filled with technological buildings that change life!