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Gonzalo Galindo is the head of Cemex Ventures based in Madrid, the investment arm of the giant of building materials. Opinions are typical of the author.
It is not a secret construction facing a shortage of skills, which expands as veteran workers retire, project demands and sustainability goals add new complexities.
Fortunately, the increase in construction technology has introduced a wave of innovations: from project management tools based on AI and advanced robotics to digital twins technology, which can help fill this gap by remodeling how to design, build and maintain buildings.
Gonzalo galindo
Courtesy of Cemex Ventures
However, the adoption of these technologies involves their own set of challenges, including high costs, the training of workers in new systems and the management of security risks. In order to be successful, we must balance innovation with the development of practical labor.
Minding the gap
Artificial intelligence has appeared as a main focus on construction over the last year, with AI-based project management software that helps teams to remain align, reduce errors and improve efficiency. These tools centralize the project data, ensuring that all interested parties have access to the same updated information, minimizing erroneous communication and delays.
Another way that technology is to transform workplace planning is through real -time process control systems such as Ialink. Traditionally, when concrete for a height building, construction equipment must wait 28 days to confirm that the concrete has been cured correctly. Obralink platform significantly reduces this waiting period by providing real -time data over specific force, It allows equipment to reduce the inactivity time and maintain projects during time.
3D printing also shows the promise. While still in the early stages of adoption, technology is used to print everything, from concrete walls and foundation elements to complex facade panels, personalized firms and even small -scale structures. As it matures and becomes more profitable, 3D printing could play a key role in addressing scarcity of skills automating intensive tasks in labor and reducing the need for large crews.
The most advanced automation (such as robotics for on -site tasks) remains in the early stages. Unlike manufacturing, in which standardized tasks allow efficient automation, construction sites constantly have changing conditions.
For example, there are robotic installers and brick brick machines, but they require a recalibration for each project to adapt to different dimensions of the wall, compositions of materials and structural designs. The transport and assembly of these machines to various places also adds a logistics complex, which makes them less practical for many contractors.
Over time, advances in automatic learning, modular automation and adaptable robotics will help overcome these barriers, making automation more viable.
Start little
Change can be a discouragement perspective for both managers and employees, but it is inevitable as automation and digital tools transform construction. Those that adapt to developing new skills, such as operating and maintaining robotics, digital twin data analysis or AI -driven planning tool management, will be highly demanded.
Many construction companies operate on thin margins, making it difficult to justify initial investments in unoffed innovations. To avoid so much hesitation, companies can start with small -scale pilot programs that provide specific benefits before engaging with larger launches. Presentation of early wins (such as fastest project completion time or improvement of security metrics) can help create confidence between leadership and leading workers.
Just as architects went from hand -drawn models to CAD software, construction professionals need to be competent in emerging technologies. This transition will not occur during the night, but the gradual integration will facilitate the learning curve.
Site supervisors can devote less time to procedures and longer analyzing the Drone and Sensors project data. Team operators could go from manual controls to overseeing autonomous machinery fleets.
To support this change, companies should foster a learning culture in which the rise is continuous instead of a unique effort. Investing in training during work, online courses and industry collaborations can ensure that workers stay at the forefront of the curve.
Future
Ultimately, overcoming the skills gap and preparing for the future goes hand in hand. As the automation and digital tools remodel the construction industry, a collaborative effort will be essential to successfully navigate in this transition.
Leadership must take the first step through the adoption of strategic technologies that improve efficiency, while workers need access to training that equipped them with skills to work alongside these advances. When the industry as a whole recognizes innovation not as an interruption, but as an opportunity for growth, it will be better to face current and future challenges.
