Under Construction: A Week in Tech & Innovation
Building the BIM muscle, rebuilding confidence in MMC, and AI replacing jobs?
What I’m thinking
This past weekend was the Arnold Classic—one of the biggest events in bodybuilding. It’s the first year I’ve followed it, even remotely closely, thanks to a few deep dives down the YouTube rabbit hole.
These athletes are enormous, whether competing in the Classic or Open categories. Their size and conditioning are the result of years—often decades—of relentless discipline, sacrifice in the gym and kitchen, and, in many cases, the use of performance-enhancing substances. They risk their health to reach the absolute peak of their sport.
But what really fascinates me isn’t just their size. It’s the extreme attention to detail that separates the best from the rest. It’s not just about being massive—it’s about showcasing muscle definition, symmetry, and stage presence through precise posing.
The discipline required to come back year after year, making tiny improvements, is remarkable. You can’t just disappear for a few months and return with 10 extra pounds of muscle. Instead, competitors must assess their entire offer—identifying where they can improve within the time available—balancing muscle growth and fat loss to ensure they look razor-sharp on stage.
The Details Matter
This same principle applies to business. Construction companies can’t suddenly “bulk up” efficiency and profitability overnight. They must take what they have today and make incremental, disciplined progress over time.
A phrase I’ve used repeatedly this week is:
“Meet the business where it’s at.”
Change rarely succeeds when imposed through large, sweeping initiatives. It shocks the system. Instead, businesses must meet the market where it currently stands—considering skills, experience, and investment levels—and build from there. The best approach is to layer in new tools, processes, and systems gradually, ensuring the organisation can absorb the change without being overstretched.
Just as a bodybuilder can’t gain 10 pounds of muscle in a few months, a business or project can’t transform overnight. The key is sustainable, incremental gains—meeting customers where they are and guiding them toward their full potential.
What I’m consuming
I’m constantly scanning the news, social media, and industry for case studies, innovations, and generally interesting construction related content. In these very brief articles my goal is to share these with you.
Will AI end or enhance engineering careers?
This article presents a strong argument for AI enhancing rather than replacing engineering careers. Mainstream media often portrays AI as apocalyptic for knowledge-based professions.
Rab Scott (University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre) states that most engineers believe AI will enhance, not replace, their roles. He argues that AI will “improve productivity and competitiveness by removing mundane tasks.”
Similarly, Mark Girolami, Chief Scientist at the Alan Turing Institute, emphasises:
“With AI, the engineer remains the talent. The engineer is the king, the one who will be serviced by the technology.”
In essence, AI is a tool that enables engineers to work better, faster, and more effectively.
However, the article also carries a note of caution:
“While experts are unanimously optimistic about AI’s potential to streamline and accelerate engineering’s creative processes, they also warn of job displacement. AI will shift jobs into areas we can’t even imagine yet. This will be a challenge for the education system and for employers of today’s workforce.”
What I’m seeing is a lot of fear within IT functions. This caution is needed. But we must also have those who see the opportunity to harness this technology. The best approach is balanced—treating risk proportionately to the opportunity.
Rebuilding confidence in Modern Methods of Construction
This article addresses the challenges of broader MMC adoption in the UK, pointing to a "confidence issue fuelled by innovation negativism," as identified in a research paper by Dr. Ali Saad (Loughborough University).
This "innovation negativism" stems from past failures, conditioning potential adopters to view future innovations with scepticism. Dr. Saad’s paper highlights seven key barriers to MMC adoption:
The fragmented nature of MMC organisations operating in silos.
The lack of a national, reliable evidence base.
The absence of a fair, long-term comparison framework.
The challenge of establishing supplier-client relationship history.
A lack of a standardised glossary for MMC.
Poor synergy across construction and manufacturing processes.
Challenges imposed by the planning system.
Dr. Saad proposes seven recommendations to rebuild confidence, including standardising systems among MMC providers and developing a national repository of MMC case studies.
Caroline Gumble, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), welcomed the paper, stating:
“This research helps us understand why Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) have not been as widely adopted as we need them to be.”
AI’s role in circularity and waste reduction in construction
Two recent articles highlight AI’s role in reducing waste and promoting sustainability in construction.
1️⃣ AI for Waste Reduction
Northumbria University has received £250,000 in funding for a project developing AI-driven decision-support systems to help construction managers identify waste generation points, optimise resource use, and improve sustainability.
Dr. Martinez, a key researcher, states:
"Our research harnesses AI to track waste, optimise resource usage, and provide real-time, data-driven insights for better waste management."
2️⃣ AI for Materials Reuse
Catherine De Wolf (ETH Zurich) is pioneering research into AI-driven material reuse in construction. Her team is using machine learning, robots, and drones to:
Scan building sites for reusable materials.
Identify embodied carbon in buildings.
Match construction firms with local sources of reclaimed materials.
Dr. De Wolf highlights that making reuse faster and easier than demolition is key:
"To solve fragmentation in the industry, cataloguing, reuse, and assembly must be more efficient than the wrecking ball."
Having attended an excellent event hosted by the Living Water Enterprise (LWE) on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), I’ve seen first-hand how emerging technologies like GIS and AI can enhance outcomes while reducing costs. The future of environmental technology is bright.
Autodesk News
Autodesk is undergoing significant changes in both leadership and workforce.
🔹 Leadership Change:
Amy Bunszel will take over leadership of Autodesk Construction, succeeding Jim Lynch, who is retiring.
🔹 Major Layoffs:
Autodesk is reducing its workforce by 9%. CEO Andrew Anagnost stated that this is part of Autodesk’s transition toward self-service enablement, direct billing, and AI-driven customer service.
While efficiency is the core concern in capital markets, the mention of AI replacing customer-facing roles is significant. How this impacts Autodesk’s customers remains to be seen.
I wish all those affected by the cuts the very best and hope they find new opportunities to drive change in the industry soon.