Truly Transforming the Construction Industry

<h1>Truly Transforming the Construction Industry</h1>

<p>Author: William Boll. Published Mar 3, 2021. Updated Oct 11, 2022.</p>

<h2>Main points</h2>
<ul>
  <li>The construction industry is large and faces low productivity, schedule risk, quality risk, and cost risk.</li>
  <li>Construction productivity has improved by only 1% over recent decades.</li>
  <li>The article highlights two areas with potential savings and profit gains: advanced BIM models and new low-carbon building materials.</li>
  <li>The industry uses up to 50% of mineral resources excavated from nature.</li>
  <li>It generates about 33% of atmospheric CO2.</li>
  <li>It is responsible for 40% of total global energy use through construction and operational emissions.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Advanced BIM</h2>
<p>Companies like Nvolve Technologies use Building Information Modeling (BIM) to support projects from concept to delivery. The article says a standard BIM model is not enough to meet sustainability goals.</p>
<p>Advanced BIM models are presented as tools for virtual analysis during the design stage. They can help reduce energy consumption, improve building performance, and reduce later design changes that add time and cost.</p>
<p>The article describes BIM as useful for architects and building designers who want to create energy-efficient buildings and support sustainable development.</p>

<h2>Low-carbon materials</h2>
<p>The article discusses geopolymer-based materials as a potential replacement for cement and masonry.</p>
<ul>
  <li>They use natural mineral-based geopolymers.</li>
  <li>They can turn natural clays into masonry products.</li>
  <li>They are described as having twice the strength of ordinary concrete.</li>
  <li>They are said to resist water and chemical erosion.</li>
</ul>
<p>Traditional concrete masonry is described as having a high carbon footprint because Portland cement is responsible for 6% of the world’s CO2 emissions.</p>
<p>The article says many current geopolymer approaches rely on fly ash or blast furnace slag, but these industrial byproducts are limited in supply and location.</p>

<h2>Industry change</h2>
<p>The article argues that construction companies must adapt to globalization, sustainability concerns, changing legislation, and new digital skills.</p>
<p>It presents Nvolve Technologies as focused on digitalization, decarbonization, mass customization, servitization, circular economy methods, and resource efficiency.</p>

<h2>References mentioned in the text</h2>
<ul>
  <li>Ajayi et al., 2016 and Zhou and Azar, 2018</li>
  <li>Jaradet, 2014</li>
</ul>