AI, Real-World Robotics Applications Take Center Stage at ENR FutureTech

Contractors, designers and building technologists at ENR’s FutureTech Convention Could 6 and seven shared optimistic visions of a not-too-distant future the place structure, engineering and building practitioners have extra linked workflows, extra dependable knowledge pipelines, extra proactive approaches to deal with jobsite uncertainty and extra instruments resembling Web of Issues and digital twins to interchange conferences and work phases.

Audio system on the San Francisco occasion shared real-world insights on rising synthetic intelligence use within the trade, and the way corporations resembling contractor Weitz and field-printing robotic supplier Dusty Robotics are boosting the position of robotics. Additionally featured on the occasion that attracted practically 600 attendees was a have a look at the potential of fusion vitality to alter world vitality coverage and the way one engineering agency makes use of massive knowledge gathered post-occupancy of its designs.

Dusty Robotics’ Area Printer prints ground layouts at ENR FutureTech 2025 Could 6.
Video by Jeff Yoders/ENR

 “We foresee a office the place the cliché holds true, the place folks don’t should work more durable however, fairly, smarter,” mentioned Sadia Janjua, chief of digital transformation
on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, co-presenting with Dimitra Karachaliou,
affiliate vice chairman of digital transformation advisory
at know-how at AECOM.”Know-how might be an enabler to work extra collaboratively throughout the lifecycle of tasks and there might be extra widespread use of VDC fashions all following the golden thread of a mission. All is linked.”

Janjua and Karachaliou defined how their work for the company has delivered higher mission collaboration and the tip of rework for duties resembling getting into inspection knowledge.

“Knowledge governance should occur first, then you’ll be able to rationalize know-how and create an ecosystem, make our folks match inside,” Karachaliou
 mentioned.

Optimistic about cleaner vitality choices was Valerie Roberts, COO and chief enterprise officer of Longview Vitality Methods, whose startup is devoted to creating fusion energy manufacturing a actuality, She defined how current advances within the know-how have moved it from “Iron Man” science fiction to actuality.

“There’s $7-billion in personal capital and 40 new startups centered on fusion have come into existence within the final 10 years,” Roberts mentioned. She cited current advances such because the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory reaching laser fusion vitality acquire in 2023 and the way laser inertial confinement has proven increased industrial potential than older applied sciences such because the magnetic fusion tokamak strategy of the currently-under-construction ITER multinational project in France.  

Generative AI remained a convention focus, with Ray Levitt, Blackhorn Ventures working accomplice and Kumagai Professor of Engineering Emeritus at Stanford College
noting that it’s going to take over 30-40% of duties by white collar employees over the following two to 5 years, citing a World Financial Discussion board Report

“We’re investing fairly a bit on this,” mentioned Atul Khanzode, chief know-how officer at DPR Building, in a panel dialogue with Levitt and Eric Lamb, working accomplice of the contractor’s enterprise capital arm, WND Ventures, “that features tips on how to put together knowledge for an AI to do particular duties.”

A number of Weitz Co. jobsites are being modified by workflows utilizing Dusty Robotics’ Area Printer 2 robotic to carry out ground layouts earlier than set up of kit and partitions.

Mark Vibber, Weitz senior mission superintent, Brian Owens, its VDC engineer and Tessa Lau, CEO and founding father of Dusty Robotics; confirmed how utilizing structure robots on a number of of the contractor’s tasks unlocked a ten% revenue alternative for the agency not simply from printing out its flooring, but in addition from higher jobsite collaboration and cooperation earlier than any work was put in place onsite.

“Makes an attempt to resolve battle in-field don’t work,” Owens mentioned in response to Dodge knowledge famous about discipline battle decision. “It is lIke being stabbed within the coronary heart.”