Each year it feels like the world is getting faster – and we have the data to prove it.
It took 75 years before the telephone had 100 million users, but just 16 years for the mobile phone to reach the same milestone. The internet raced past 100 million users in seven years and Facebook in 4.5 years.
But in 2023 – in what has been hailed the “breakout year” for generative artificial intelligence – ChatGPT hit the 100 million mark in just two months. That record was smashed a few months later by the Instagram Threads app, which attracted 100 million users in just two days.
Technology is undoubtedly transforming the world, and no corner of real estate construction will remain untouched. The World Economic Forum’s Jobs of Tomorrow report, published in September, estimated that 23% of roles will change in the next five years alone.
In this issue of Perspective, RLB’s thought leaders look at technology from many different angles.
We share how RLB is embracing generative AI and machine learning to drive innovation and uncover new value for our clients.
We investigate the potential for data warehousing, smart contracts and drone technology to enhance the outcomes delivered to projects.
And we examine how AI can be a construction ‘co-pilot’ that complements human skills to build better places for people.
Technology may be the common thread throughout this issue of Perspective, but it is complemented with several stories that celebrate human endeavour in art, science and, of course, bringing brilliant new buildings to life.
The role of the construction professional is evolving rapidly. But one thing won’t change, and that is our ability to look at projects through a unique lens, and to offer fresh perspectives.
We are proud to share with you RLB’s latest Perspective. We hope you enjoy exploring stories that sit at the intersection of technology and human ingenuity.
PERSPECTIVE INSIGHTS
GenAI: A Cambrian explosion for the digital age
This month, we learnt that generative AI, or GenAI, can build an entire website from a hand-drawn diagram, troubleshoot for technicians in the field and win ‘Where’s Wally’ in seconds. The use cases for GenAI are evolving so rapidly that what is fresh today will…
Building a foundation for project success
In the past three years, the entire construction industry has learned a lot about managing projects through adverse situations with the pandemic-related shutdowns, a workforce shortage, supply chain challenges, and inflation, among others. Many owners are now often working on…
Mind the gap: AI bridges the divide in Southeast Asian construction
The adoption of artificial intelligence may vary around the Southeast Asian region, but the idea had taken root in construction. From robotics to 3D printing, design clash detection to quantity extractions, every part of the construction value chain is investing…
The digital revolution: Unleashing the potential in the built environment
Back in 2020, my colleague Matt Sharp, Chief Digital Officer for RLB UK, wrote an article for this very same publication talking about how digital was transforming the construction industry. Little did we know then that we were on the cusp of…
Building defects: The problem can be larger than it seems
Around the world, building defects are frequently and severely underestimated, and the potential safety risks and costs to asset owners are substantial. In the UAE market, where the building stock is relatively young, there is a lack of appreciation for…
Moving north: the making of Northern Metropolis in Hong Kong
Over the past decades, Hong Kong was often referred as one of the world’s most important financial centers. Being one of the most densely populated and economically vibrant regions in the world, Hong Kong has highly developed the growth of local…
Drones zones: Building the buzz for drones in construction
Spray painting, site-surveying and drilling drones are already here but the construction industry is yet to fully capitalise on this high-flying technology. Drone technology is revolutionising the way that the construction industry operates and RLB’s team is thinking carefully about…
What shelter-in-place programs taught us about hotel renovations
The pandemic changed our approach, and the hospitality industry is no exception. It was three years ago when across the U.S., eight out of ten hotel rooms sat empty due to the pandemic and when stay-in-place orders and travel restrictions…
The missing link: How blockchain can help construction industry leaders to monitor and manage change
As Heraclitus said around 2,500 years ago: “The only constant in life is change.” Unfortunately, what he didn’t tell us was how to monitor and manage that change… But that’s only because Blockchain hadn’t been invented during the era of…
Data warehousing: A blueprint for quantity surveying’s digital frontier
Data warehousing in quantity surveying presents the opportunity to revolutionise the construction industry, unlocking unimaginable benefits and services. Just as the human genome project centralised genetic data to enable new treatments for diseases, data warehousing is teeming with potential to fundamentally…
Block by block: Smart contracts in South Africa
In a highly competitive industry like construction, smart contracts can provide a secure and reliable way to conduct transactions when traditional contracting may fall short. In South Africa, where regulation, limited resources and low profitability cause many headaches, smart contracts could create a…
Jewel of the Pacific
With absolute beachfront, expansive views of the sparkling Pacific Ocean and an eye-catching façade that emulates shards of smoky quartz, Jewel on the Gold Coast was always planned as a one-in-a-billion project. But as RLB’s talented team knows, nothing gets…
Should funding for public art be fixed in every project?
My favourite piece of public art is encountered on the approach to Canberra airport. Journeys by Phil Price is an organic series of silvery disks on a sinewy base. As the kinetic shapes dance in the wind, it feels like the…
Health construction: Growth reflects changing needs of U.S. population
There are many factors involved in the recent evolution of healthcare, but one thing is for certain: Covid-19 exposed major deficiencies and sped up the need for innovation. Many of the critical issues healthcare systems are facing today, however, have…
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