These are the developments that are moving the construction industry forward.

A New Foundation for Concrete: Used Nappies

Researchers at the University of Kitakyushu in Japan found that chopped up cleaned nappies can replace up to 10% of the composite material in a concrete mix for structural use in single-storey buildings and as much as 40% in non-structural and architectural components

How Can GPS Help Construction?

From keeping onsite equipment secure and productive to helping map out land and terrain for projects, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology offers the construction industry a dimension of information that was simply unthinkable a few decades ago.

Can Digitalisation Help Society Cope with Rapid Urbanisation?

It’s expected that by 2050 cities will be home to 68% of the world’s population, up from 54% in 2016. As our towns and cities expand at a phenomenal rate, what can the built environment do to cater for such rapid urbanisation and its challenges, making these good places to live and work, where people can live healthy, fulfilled lives?

The Metaverse and Architecture—A New Tomorrow?

The virtual metaverse is set to make a significant impact on the construction industry, particularly among architects and designers, who will relish the opportunity to collaborate with ease, see the limits of design pushed further than ever and take clients on a journey through a project before its groundbreaking.

How Drone Technology Is Construction’s Eye in the Sky

The advent of drones has given the construction industry the opportunity to get a unique view of a building project as it rises from the ground. But as well as checking that a structure has been built properly and collecting and imparting data, a drone-mounted camera can monitor a site’s safety and security, while it can also be used in a maintenance program, assessing wear and tear on a long-finished building or infrastructure asset.

Construction’s Next Step Up: OpenBIM?

Business information modeling (BIM) revolutionised the construction industry when it first came on the scene, enabling designers and contractors to get a unique digital view of their projects. Can openBIM, which promises users better access to digital files, better management of data and improved interoperability, do the same?