Future Narrative

Last night was another productive session. Our AI-enabled dozer fleet leveled this new construction site overnight, and only two of us were supervising it. A new big-box retail warehouse will open here within a few weeks. This efficiency has lowered commercial construction prices dramatically. I like to think that our safer and more efficient construction methods are driving some of the lower costs of retail goods that my family has benefitted from lately.

In addition to site preparation, infrastructure placement and maintenance have experienced a technical revolution. Juan and his crew will start laying power and water infrastructure lines later this week. They now use equipment that displays where legacy piping and underground power lines are and where to place new infrastructure.

Things are much safer today as well. Just across the street, construction of a mixed-residential housing complex is underway. The team there is digging to make way for an underground parking. My friend Thomas said they are digging with remotely operated equipment so workers are no longer exposed to temporary wall supports, making digging operations far safer.

New jobs are emerging to make all of this possible. Maintenance of our fleet of construction equipment is more important than ever, as uptime is critical. As systems and equipment become more advanced, new trade skills are needed. My cousin is in school now, learning about construction fleet management. We catch up on things every month or so. It is great to see a new generation of construction workers doing things in new ways while enhancing quality, efficiency, and safety.

Technology

GPS and remote control technologies will empower smaller numbers of construction workers to manage site equipment and operations more efficiently and precisely.

Ground-penetrating radar, precision GPS, and integrated construction databases will protect existing infrastructure and more accurately place new infrastructure.

Remotely operated vehicles increase operator safety. Operating vehicles at a distance is beneficial when digging out voids for building foundations or performing forestry management.

Implications

Construction costs may drop dramatically, lowering processes in other sectors of the economy. New equipment manufacturing, technology, and maintenance jobs will emerge, requiring new forms of construction site training.

Futureproof is a series of occasional provocations illustrating possible future paths for technology and culture. Think postcards from the future.

Futureproof: AI Assisted Construction

Remotely operated vehicles increase operator safety. Operating vehicles at a distance is beneficial when digging out voids for building foundations or performing forestry management.

Construction costs may drop dramatically, lowering processes in other sectors of the economy. New equipment manufacturing, technology, and maintenance jobs will emerge, requiring new forms of construction site training.