“OpenSpace is a game changer,” said Jaymie Gelino, Global Chief Operating Officer, Project and Development Services, JLL. “We are excited to offer this premium tool for our clients, differentiating us from our competitors, and solidifying JLL’s position as providing the most innovative, digital-first solutions to its clients.”

Volz says he expects to see continued advancement in such technologies used in the pre-and post-construction compliance monitoring phases to address the delays and cost pressure brought on by the pandemic. Natural language and large language processing technology, he says, can expedite tasks involving permitting, contracts, and even design.

“You don’t need dedicated people on-site to do monitoring anymore. This technology allows us to plan better, monitor, and deploy labor,” Volz says. “You simply can have your apprentices walk the site with a 365-degree camera on their hard hat and get vital information to create an augmented reality model showing progress.”

Another example of how technology is improving the pre-construction phase is being seen in architecture and engineering. Using parametric designs to build out new styles of architecture that are computationally assisted allows computers to stress test small engineering parts for the connectors between buildings to determine how to shave off as much material as possible while still maintaining performance.

“These technologies will play a critical role in alleviating time and cost pressures,” Volz says. “Where we need to see more attention is the actual bricks and sticks of construction.”

While Volz believes plenty of investment dollars will pour in to address pressing issues in the construction industry, significant challenges remain. Widespread adoption, standardization, and upfront capital expenses are at the top of his list.

“All those things are major issues that will appear no matter what,” he says. “However, as the cost of materials and labor continue to rise, there will be enough pressure to explore these tech-driven alternatives. It is kind of the perfect storm of different things that are pushing for adoption now.”