THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING
× 
Construction Tech Review Weekly Brief
Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from Construction Tech Review
10 Building Automation Trends Reshaping the Conventions of Construction
Construction Tech Review | Wednesday, June 12, 2019
FREMONT, CA: The latest Building Automation (BA) technology includes automatic centralized control of a building's ventilation, lighting, heating, conditioning, and other systems through a building automation system (BAS). The goals of building automation are enhanced resident comfort, efficient operation of building systems, reducing energy consumption and operating expenses. Continuous advances in cost-effective silicon, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud-based software applications have allowed new and old vendors of home solutions to add intelligence to almost any function in the house. This has lead to a rapid change in construction technology. Check out these emerging trends that serve in the long run to reinvent building automation.
• Network Integration
Automation has begun to integrate more systems that bring access control units, fire alarms, elevators and many other necessities into the same network. Building automation is simply a part of something much bigger. Various systems in buildings have been their own separate closed blocks, with their interfaces and zero communication with external systems. The latest construction method implemented is much more effective than the conventional ones, that allows the system within a building to work together for a fully compatible platform.
Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.
• Edge Computing Architectures
Edge computing architectures localize decision-making methods through the practice of specialized devices placed alongside hardware that generates the data to be analyzed. Edge devices attached to HVAC appliances can transmit collected data to an in-building network device in a building automation context. Providers of BA controls will usually prefer the cloud services approach to system analytics and building automation software suppliers that do not also manufacture HVAC equipment. HVAC equipment manufacturers that supply BA controls will drive the trend toward building automation devices that offer added functionality at the edge. These corporations will have an advantage in expanding edge architectures and can design edge devices that work intuitively with their HVAC equipment.
• Wireless Capabilities
Building automation systems are not an exception when it comes to wireless capabilities where phones and printers have become wireless too. Without wireless functionalities, the development would have been a long journey hard to reach. Inexpensive wireless sensors capture massive amounts of real-time data for analysis. Wireless functionality makes installation and modifications easier and also makes remote operation more possible. New wireless technologies have taken huge steps and are reflected in the number of systems and technologies available today. Competition between different wireless technologies is tough that keeps the research and development departments busy. There is a necessity to ensure that manufacturers do their best to provide the most efficient solutions for the industry.
• Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has been prevailing in consumer products for a decade. The objectives of building automation systems many front-end user interfaces are being moved to the cloud. Moving data into clouds helps in analyzing how buildings are operating with more proficient machines and giving facility managers insights into how to run their HVAC and lighting systems more efficiently. Accumulating big-data and its subsequent ideas for hundreds or thousands of buildings enables BAS businesses to utilize ML algorithms for research into the commonalities and patterns of well-run buildings.
• Customer Experience
Users have become more demanding as many have grown accustomed to good usability on the consumer side of products. Also, they have now woken up demanding that same level of usability in professional products. Users are becoming used to high functionality and usability more. User experience is something which companies have only recently realized how important it is. Individuals who have worked in building automation field are familiar with those cryptic user manuals, poor user interfaces, and endless text menus. Usability is something that has to be demanded with which, efficiency can be created in daily lives.
• Asset Digitization
Everyone consumes digital information daily. Digitization addresses the organization of these physical assets with your digital-born material. Asset digitization is revolutionizing Commercial Real Estate (CRE) as it catches up to the market economy. IoT facilitates asset digitization at the individual asset level. It can capture granular data from those in the building. These measures are captured in real time to enable key operational insights.
• Smarter Security Options
Security has advanced tremendously. Cameras, smart locks and sensors help in monitoring everything that happens in the building. In smart cameras, more intelligence is being applied, which will detect people, delivery trucks. In case of any unusual activity, the concerned authority will be notified without delay. Smart sensors will also identify and report the environmental changes and will intelligently analyze and monitor data over time rather than alerting for every small change. Security is a significant concern in every sector and should be taken very seriously. The enhancement in security has made it possible for people to live in danger-free homes.
• Energy Potentialities
IoT will resume producing outsized returns in the quest for energy efficiency. Very fewer buildings have access to any form of real-time energy reporting and continue relying on the manual meter reading. The advanced technology helps in gaining access to real-time monitoring of water, electricity and gas meters. It can also beyond the main meter to provide real-time wireless sub-metering. Access to real-time submetering data will emphasize clear inefficiencies in the building. Organizations have barely started to address energy capablities. Energy efficiency will prevail at the forefront of IoT-based smart building conceptualizations.
• Virtual Smart Building Technology (BAS)
Smart Building technology will always play a vital role in the retrofit market. IoT enables virtual BAS technology manages the Heating, Ventilation, air Conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems using cloud-based controls. These controls can help in implementing complex control routines based on an array of IoT sensors and also schedules for weekends and holidays. The nature of virtual BAS is, which provides high-impact functionality at a fraction of the cost of installation of a conventional BAS system. Energy efficiency endeavours should primarily target HVAC and lighting sources for energy savings.
• Horizontal Platforms
A long debate between horizontal and vertical approach towards IoT smart building market has been there. IoT companies are now focusing on small vertical markets in executing the company's go-to-market strategy. The horizontal approach has produced IoT platforms like Amazon that has had the earliest success in IoT. The horizontal approach will evolve when capabilities are expanded for data ingestion and data analytics in the cloud. The horizontal programme will drive the smart builders in increasing measure in the future.
The building automation trends drive the connected world in multiple ways. Environmental consciousness and the desire for a better tomorrow are encouraging this development of smart buildings and cities. The intelligent construction market will turn out to be increasingly fascinating. A lot is happening now, but the aim remains the same: useful, high-quality, and low risk-involved building processes, with building automation being one of the elements of the moment.
Check This Out: Top Building Automation Solution Companies
Check This Out: Top Building Automation Consulting/Services Companies
More in News
Underground construction, also known as subterranean architecture, involves building structures below ground level, including homes, commercial complexes, and transportation infrastructure. It has unique advantages and challenges that affect its practicality and appeal.
Benefits of Underground Construction
Energy Efficiency : Underground structures utilize natural earth insulation to ensure stable indoor temperatures year-round and reduce mechanical heating and cooling requirements, resulting in lower energy consumption and operational costs.
Environmental Sustainability : Building underground minimizes disturbance to the natural landscape, preserves green spaces and reduces urban sprawl. This approach supports ecological conservation efforts by minimizing land use and protecting ecosystems.
Natural Disaster Resistance : Underground structures, thanks to the earth's soil and rock, protect against natural disasters. They also provide structural stability and shielding from external forces, enhancing safety for occupants.
Noise Reduction and Privacy : Subterranean buildings benefit from reduced external noise, providing a quieter and more private living or working environment. This acoustic insulation enhances comfort and concentration for occupants.
Security and Confidentiality : Underground construction can enhance security and confidentiality for sensitive facilities such as data centers, military installations, and research laboratories. The concealed location and robust construction provide additional protection against unauthorized access.
Drawbacks of Underground Construction
Limited Natural Light : One of the primary drawbacks of underground construction is the limited availability of natural light. Underground spaces typically have fewer windows and rely on artificial lighting, which can impact occupant well-being and require careful design considerations to mitigate.
Ventilation and Air Quality : Proper ventilation is crucial in underground structures to maintain adequate air circulation, control humidity levels, and prevent indoor air quality issues such as mold or stale air. Mechanical ventilation systems are often necessary, adding complexity and operational costs.
Structural Challenges : Specialized engineering is crucial for underground structures, ensuring waterproofing, soil stability, and structural integrity through proper drainage and waterproof membranes to prevent water infiltration and potential structural damage.
Cost Considerations : Underground construction can be more expensive than traditional above-ground building methods due to the additional excavation, foundation reinforcement, and specialized materials required. Maintenance costs may also be higher, particularly for systems like ventilation and waterproofing.
Perception and Psychological Factors : Some individuals may have reservations about living or working underground due to psychological factors such as claustrophobia or the perception of confinement. Overcoming these perceptions often requires innovative architectural design and psychological comfort measures.
Practical Applications and Considerations
Despite its challenges, underground construction is widely used in various practical applications:
Transportation : Underground tunnels and metro systems provide efficient and safe transportation solutions in urban areas, reducing traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity.
Residential : Earth-sheltered homes offer sustainable living options with reduced energy costs and environmental impact.
Commercial : Underground office complexes and retail spaces optimize land use in dense urban environments while providing secure and energy-efficient facilities.
...Read more
Effective financial management is essential in the construction industry, where budgets can rapidly spiral out of control without vigilant oversight. Implementing a spend management platform can significantly boost the efficiency and effectiveness of a construction project, ensuring it stays on track and within budget.
Streamlined Processes and Increased Efficiency
One of the primary advantages of a spend management platform is the streamlining of financial processes. In construction project management, numerous transactions occur daily, from procurement to contract payments. A dedicated spend management tool can automate these processes, reducing the manual effort of tracking expenses and managing invoices. By consolidating financial data in one place, construction managers can easily monitor budgets, track spending, and identify any discrepancies in real time.
This saves time and minimizes the risk of human error and project delays. For instance, automated purchase order creation and invoice matching can significantly reduce the time spent on administrative tasks. Ultimately, this allows project managers to focus more on strategic decision-making and less on paperwork.
Enhanced Financial Visibility and Control
Financial visibility remains central to the success of any construction project, as spend management platforms deliver detailed insights into expenditures and budget allocations, enabling more informed decision-making. With real-time data readily available, project managers can continuously assess financial health and take corrective actions when required. Platforms such as Beam AI , accessible via, illustrate how real-time data and reporting capabilities enhance financial oversight in construction environments. These solutions also feature dashboards and reporting tools that highlight key performance indicators (KPIs), allowing stakeholders to track performance against budget forecasts and timelines with greater clarity.
A clear understanding of where funds are allocated allows project managers to prioritize spending and reallocate resources when necessary. This heightened awareness not only aids in maintaining budgetary discipline but also supports better forecasting for future projects, ultimately enhancing profitability and reducing waste.
Panel Specialists, Inc. (PSI) enables coordination, communication, and efficient execution across complex construction project environments.
Improved Collaboration Among Stakeholders
Collaboration among project stakeholders is essential in construction project management. Spend management platforms facilitate better communication and cooperation by providing a unified space for all financial data and documents. This centralized approach enables stakeholders, including project managers, procurement teams, and financial controllers, to access the same information and work towards common goals.
These platforms often have integrated communication tools that help streamline discussions about financial issues, approvals, and changes. For example, if a supplier is concerned about a delayed payment, the relevant project manager can quickly address the issue through the platform, ensuring transparency and minimizing misunderstandings. In a sector where timing and coordination are key, this seamless communication can lead to improved relationships with suppliers and subcontractors, ultimately contributing to project success.
...Read more
The elevator products and solutions industry is experiencing a dynamic transformation, driven by a confluence of urbanization, technological advancements, and a growing emphasis on sustainability. As cities continue to expand vertically and populations concentrate in urban centers, efficient and reliable vertical transportation solutions are more crucial than ever.
Market Landscape and Growth Drivers
The global elevator and escalator market is witnessing robust growth, projected to reach significant valuations in the coming years. This expansion is primarily driven by the accelerated development of infrastructure worldwide, particularly in emerging economies. The increasing construction of high-rise buildings, commercial complexes, and modern residential structures directly translates into heightened demand for advanced vertical transportation systems. Furthermore, government initiatives supporting building sectors and smart city developments are providing a significant impetus to market growth. The new equipment segment currently holds a substantial market share, reflecting the continuous need for new installations in rapidly growing urban landscapes. However, the maintenance and modernization segments are also experiencing strong growth, indicating a mature market's focus on enhancing existing infrastructure.
Technological Innovations: The Rise of Smart Vertical Mobility
The industry is rapidly embracing digitalization, with smart elevator technologies emerging as a cornerstone of modern vertical transportation. The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is remodeling elevator functionality and user experience. Sensors embedded within elevator systems collect real-time data on various parameters, including door operation, motor temperature, and cab speed. This data enables predictive maintenance, allowing for early diagnosis and resolution of potential issues, thereby minimizing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.
Intelligent control systems, often powered by AI algorithms, optimize elevator movement to reduce waiting times and improve energy efficiency by anticipating traffic patterns. Destination selection control (DSC) systems, for instance, allow passengers to input their destination floor, guiding them to the most efficient elevator and reducing congestion in lobbies.
Beyond operational efficiency, smart elevators are also incorporating features that prioritize hygiene and user comfort. Touchless interfaces, including voice-activated controls and smartphone integration, are becoming increasingly common, reducing physical contact with shared surfaces. Advanced air purification systems and UV disinfection devices are also being implemented in elevator cabins to enhance passenger well-being, a trend that gained significant traction in recent years.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at the Forefront
Sustainability is not just a trend, but a driving force in the evolution of elevator products and solutions. The industry is actively developing and adopting eco-friendly technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of vertical transportation. Regenerative drive systems are a prime example, capturing and reusing energy generated during braking, which can lead to substantial energy savings compared to traditional systems. The shift towards machine room-less (MRL) traction elevators also contributes to energy efficiency due to their compact design and reduced power consumption. This focus on sustainability inspires optimism about the future of the industry and its potential to contribute to a greener world.
Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on utilizing lighter and more sustainable materials in elevator construction, such as carbon fiber and recycled components. This not only contributes to lower energy consumption as a direct result of reduced weight during operation, but also aligns with broader green building initiatives. LED lighting upgrades in cabins are another simple yet effective measure for improving energy efficiency. The drive towards carbon neutrality and environmentally responsible production processes is becoming a standard in the industry.
Safety is not just a priority, but a fundamental principle in the design and operation of elevators. The industry adheres to rigorous global and regional safety standards, which are continuously evolving to incorporate the latest technological advancements. Modern elevators are equipped with sophisticated safety systems, including overload sensors, emergency braking mechanisms, and enhanced door safety devices with pressure and motion sensors to prevent obstructions. This unwavering commitment to safety ensures that passengers can always feel reassured and secure during their vertical journeys.
Accessibility is not just a consideration, but a core value in the industry. Standards like EN 81-70 ensure that elevators are designed to accommodate individuals with reduced mobility, including those with disabilities, seniors, and wheelchair users. This includes considerations for cabin size, door clearings, and accessible control panels. Furthermore, fire-resistant materials, fire evacuation systems, and heat-detection mechanisms are integral components of modern elevator safety protocols, particularly in high-rise structures. This dedication to accessibility ensures that everyone, regardless of their mobility, feels included and valued in the built environment.
Modernization and Predictive Maintenance
The existing building stock presents a significant market for elevator modernization. Upgrading legacy systems with contemporary technologies improves not only safety and accessibility but also energy efficiency and operational performance. Modernization projects often involve integrating smart control systems, regenerative drives, and advanced safety features, effectively extending the lifespan of older installations while bringing them up to current standards.
The shift towards predictive maintenance, enabled by IoT and AI, is transforming elevator service models. Instead of reactive repairs, data-driven analytics enable the proactive identification of potential failures, allowing maintenance teams to intervene before a breakdown occurs. This not only enhances reliability and reduces downtime but also optimizes maintenance schedules and resource allocation. Digital simulations are also being utilized to test scenarios and predict performance, further refining maintenance strategies.
The future of elevator products and solutions promises even more radical innovations. Research and development are exploring concepts such as elevators that can travel horizontally in addition to vertically, transforming internal building connectivity and architectural design. For instance, these horizontal elevators could connect different wings of a building or provide seamless transportation within a large complex. This could lead to more flexible and expansive building layouts, particularly in sprawling urban developments. Further advancements in AI and machine learning will continue to refine traffic management, optimize routing, and personalize user experiences. For example, these technologies could analyze user patterns to predict peak usage times and adjust elevator schedules accordingly, or personalize the elevator experience based on user preferences. The integration of elevators into broader building management systems will become even more seamless, creating truly interconnected and intelligent urban infrastructure.
...Read more
Future project design, management, and execution may be greatly impacted by the rapid changes in the construction management sector brought about by market shifts, technology breakthroughs, and sustainability concerns.
One such influential trend is incorporating advanced technologies into the construction process. BIM has moved the goalpost with its detailed digital display of physical and functional characteristics. This trend continues to get more robust with new forms of BIM, such as 5D BIM, which adds time and cost dimensions to project planning and management. Finally, growth in digital twins—virtual replicas of physical assets—boosts this trend, enabling real-time monitoring and conducting predictive analysis over a construction project.
The same goes for AI and machine learning. AI-based tools allow the volumes of data to be processed for creating projections of possible predicaments, finer scheduling optimizations, and further settings of the knob of the decision-making tuning. For instance, prediction based on experience in historical data and current conditions in each project regarding risks would allow the ultimate replacement of reactive management with preventive management. Robotics and automation have also twisted into bricklaying and site inspection activities, driving better productivity and fewer human errors.
Sustainability has become the central issue in construction management. With rising environmental problems, green construction and sustainable construction techniques emerge. Some such emerging developments involve energy-efficient materials, methods of sustainable construction, and approaches to integrating renewable energy sources and strategies already developing under the effect of circular economy principles, orienting towards minimal waste generation and reusing resources to the fullest.
The future of construction management is being reshaped by a shift toward more collaborative and integrated project delivery techniques. Traditional project management approaches often remain fragmented, with siloed information leading to inefficiencies and communication breakdowns. In this context, ShareMyToolbox provides cloud-based platforms that enhance real-time coordination and collaborative software utilization across project teams. ShareMyToolbox has been awarded the Top Construction Tool Tracking Software by Construction Tech Review for improving tool accountability and streamlining jobsite collaboration. Modern methods such as Integrated Project Delivery bring stakeholders together at a project’s outset, promoting transparency and shared objectives. Increased adoption of cloud-based systems continues to strengthen real-time coordination and structured information sharing across increasingly complex construction environments.
The workforce dynamics are also changing. The construction industry is facing an increasingly broad and growing skills gap. Solving this challenge is becoming critical to future success. That's why companies started investing in training and development programs for workers to catch up on new technologies and methodologies. Lastly, improving job site safety with the help of innovative safety technologies, like wearable devices tracking workers' health and sending real-time alerts, is another more visible trend.
A unique blend of technological changes, heightened awareness of sustainability, and evolving project delivery methods forge the new face of construction management. While these trends continue to unfold, they improve the efficiency and effectiveness of construction projects and provide a clear pathway to a more sustainable, collaborative industry. By embracing such changes, construction managers will stay ahead within an increasingly complex and dynamic environment.
...Read more
Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved | by: Construction Tech Review
| Subscribe | About us | Sitemap| Newsletter| Editorial Policy| Feedback PolicyTop
