When Dirt Meets Data: How Construction Monitoring Tech is Transforming an Industry

Re-Published With Permission From Construction News and Review

By Matt Smithmier | Photo Courtesy Pix4D

Those qualities that are uniquely human – things like craftsmanship, intuition, problem-solving – can never be replaced by a computer program on a jobsite, of course. Yet, many of the recent technological innovations are rapidly transforming the industry. And the latest advances in construction monitoring offer incredible tools for project oversight and management.

In fact, even before the first chunk of mud ends up on a work boot, millions of data points can now be harvested and organized, providing a more complete picture of the project and leading crews to work more efficiently.

While these innovations have often focused on a singular task or step in the construction process, they’re increasingly being integrated into other technologies – each step informing the next, leading to massive time and cost savings at nearly every turn. And the latest tools are already demonstrating record-breaking accuracy and efficiency that allow builders to work more cost-effectively and sustainably – and, of course, profitably.

Word seems to be spreading, too. The Business Research Company reports the construction monitoring market has grown by 16 percent in the past year – from $1.82 billion in 2023 to $2.11 billion in 2024, and it estimates more of the same in the years ahead, reaching $3.85 billion by 2028.

While it’s tough to approximate how many U.S. contractors are on board, most recognize these innovations can no longer be ignored. From the latest IoT devices and drones to building information modeling (BIM) software and augmented reality, these advances are streamlining design, enhancing site monitoring, minimizing delays, improving safety and basically revolutionizing every step of a project.

Mike Lawless serves as vice president of innovation for Illinois-headquartered engineering design firm IMEG, and says his firm already leverages several different types of technology to review jobsites and existing facilities.

“We use everything from simple tools like 360 cameras all the way to survey quality scans using drones. We work to pair the technology to the need,” Lawless said. “Construction monitoring technology can keep the entire team better informed of the progress and provide faster, more accurate information should any issues arise.”

His firm has been using advanced scanning techniques for years, including reality capture technology. The process used a combination of 3D laser scanners and 360-degree cameras to quickly capture existing field conditions. The resulting “point cloud” can be pulled into design software to uncover inconsistencies between the real site and what’s been in the design.

“In the old days it could be really hard to get a group to all understand an issue because not everyone could see it,” Lawless said. “Now with the 3D capture technology, everyone can get the necessary views, which can help resolve issues more quickly.”

Dan Peter is the VDC (virtual design and construction) field manager for St. Louis-based Holland Construction Services, and he says he’s also been leaning on reality capture.

“This really opens up the capabilities of QA and QC and making sure installation is going correctly – or if you’re identifying any type of deviation between design intent and construction,” Peter said. “So far, it’s had a huge impact. We’ve been able to provide insight into things we never have before. We can also check equipment installation and make sure our trade partners are following the design intent we have. It has really opened our eyes to quality and a whole other dimension.”

At IMEG, Lawless says he’s also seen how well the technology keeps everyone on the same page throughout the process.

“We’ve found that reality capture can save time,” he said. “It’s difficult to get a group of people to look at a construction issue on site, but with reality capture we can all view it virtually together, improving understanding and communication.”

Savings, Safety & So Much More
While some of the newer technologies, such as mixed reality – which blends the physical and digital worlds, allowing users to simultaneously interact with both – are only beginning to be adopted, some of the more established innovations are now really hitting their stride.

“One of the technologies we use almost every single day is drone technology,” said Peter. “It really has had such a huge impact on our project sites, not only for analytical reviews but also giving us LiDAR (light detection and ranging) capabilities to where we can start leveraging topography.”

In addition to gathering slopes and elevations, Peter says the drones also allow his teams to quickly review past projects or sniff out potential risks on future sites.

“Getting out ahead of the project with a drone flight can provide such insight,” he said. “We try to capture that drone data set just so we have a baseline, something we can start pulling from and leveraging for not only our internal teams but from a client review aspect as well.”

In addition to adding a layer of quality control, Peter says the drones also help keep subcontractors honest when it comes to cut and fill, for example.

Drone also save Holland substantial amounts of money and time, adds Peter, due to the reduction in manual labor. “I mean, it’s through the roof,” he said.

But one of Peter’s favorite benefits is simply the peace of mind they bring to a project.

“I get those warm and fuzzy feelings of, ‘Hey, things are already starting off pretty good.’”

The Evolution Of Innovation
One advantage of some of the latest construction monitoring technologies is when they’re able to go where humans can’t go – or where it’s not safe to go. Peter says he appreciates the ability to use 3D scanning to assess those hard-to-reach areas:

“For a rooftop unit or something that might be above your head where we can’t get a lift to, I always can scan it from the ground level,” said Peter. “And as long as I can see around the object, we can pull dimensions off it. So, it really can come in handy.”

He says Holland is already exploring how some of these technologies can make the jobsite a little safer as well, including using AI in combination with what’s captured by the 360 cameras to identify potential hazards.

Next on his list? Pushing the implementation of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology to enable real-time mapping and navigation using LiDAR and cameras. SLAM can create a 3D map of a site while tracking the location of the device within that map at the same time (which is particularly helpful in locations where GPS isn’t an option).

“I think it’s such a great technology, not only to expedite the capture of reality but to have a presentable area to where our clients can start looking at point cloud data a little bit more seamlessly,” Peter said.

Regardless of what specific tools that construction pros end up using, he recognizes these new innovations truly are the future of the construction industry.

“I think innovation is a constant thing you have to continue to work at. Otherwise, things are evolving so quickly that you could fall behind,” he said. “You just have to hold on and see where it goes.”