The Top 7 Trends for the AEC/O Industry in 2023

Nieder mit den Datensilos, hin zum digitalen Gebäude-Ökosystem mit offenen Standards: Dieser Paradigmenwechsel beschäftigt die Bauindustrie seit Jahren. Ebendiese Vision verfolgte Professor Georg Nemetschek bereits bei der Gründung seines Ingenieursbüros im Jahre 1963 – und verwirklicht die Nemetschek Group mit ihren starken Marken heute und in Zukunft.

Sustainability in the construction industry means considering the life cycle of buildings holistically and as a cycle. As early as the planning phase, the CO2 footprint can be calculated over the entire life cycle – construction, operation, and deconstruction are analyzed and optimized. Data-supported workflows based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) help in decision-making, provide improved visualization, coordination, and energy efficiency. The fact that the construction industry will be particularly under pressure to achieve climate targets is also reflected in the climate goals of the United Nations and the European Union. Here, the focus is particularly on the energy efficiency of the building stock, the need for sustainable construction and renovation methods and standards, as well as the reduction of waste and the shift towards a circular economy. No wonder, as buildings are responsible for 50% of the consumption of all extracted raw materials, 33% of water consumption, and 35% of global waste. Internationally, there are therefore countless initiatives for greater sustainability that also focus directly or indirectly on the building sector. For example, Denmark has already implemented a strategy for the energy-efficient renovation of its building stock, and Finland is developing measures to promote the circular economy in the construction sector and reformed its land use and building laws. However, waste reduction strategies (Sweden's "Vision Zero Waste") are also affecting the resource-intensive construction sector and initiating change. In Germany, too, the quality criteria for sustainable construction were expanded at the beginning of 2023 and a new government funding program for sustainable new buildings was launched.

In optimal, sustainable construction – and especially in the renovation of existing buildings – many criteria must be taken into account: the reduction and avoidance of waste, the resource-efficient use of building materials, CO2-neutral energy generation, the use of renewable raw materials, the recyclability and deconstructability of the building structure, renovation costs, and funding conditions, to name just a few. This is where digital working methods based on BIM are useful. Where does the design stand in terms of sustainability? What is the best way to improve the environmental footprint of a real estate portfolio? Complex questions can be answered more automatically and easily with the help of BIM models. The models also reduce planning errors and improve construction processes. Sustainable data management with BIM helps the real estate and construction industry achieve its sustainability goals. And it does so across all service phases and trades of a building or infrastructure project.

In the planning and design phase, model-based design helps to ensure that all building components can be easily sampled with building materials and their CO2 emissions, and that different construction variants can be generated. This enables comprehensive analyses and simulations before the factory and assembly planning begins. The ecological impact of each building component of the entire project is calculated over its life cycle. Potential improvements are identified and exploited at an early stage. Innovative construction methods with a high proportion of prefabrication and modular construction methods can also be implemented more easily with the help of BIM, as comprehensive 3D modeling ensures that the prefabricated modules are planned and assembled without errors.

In the construction phase, the main benefit of BIM is that all project participants can safely make well-founded decisions through shared access to centrally stored data – thus preventing unnecessary rework and errors. Here, too, prefabrication and modular construction are good real-world examples: with parametric BIM solutions, many steps in detailed planning can be automated and construction variants can be generated quickly. As a result, material consumption can be reduced. In combination with LEAN-based construction scheduling, BIM also leads to more efficient construction site management: Deliveries can be planned and timed so that storage times are kept to a minimum. The entire construction site can also be made paperless: Instead of large and often confusing plans, the teams can work with the help of tablets – and everyone can access the BIM model from wherever and whenever they want and get an overview of the status quo. This not only creates synergies but also increases efficiency, as BIM enables transparent and fast bidirectional communication between the fabricator, construction site, and office. Regular comparison of the BIM models with point clouds quickly identifies quality defects and prevents defects in subsequent trades.

During the operational phase, energy efficiency is a particular focus of sustainability efforts. Here, too, BIM can be used for optimization. The BIM model is taken from the design, if available in suitable quality, or reconstructed from a point cloud and 2D plans. In combination with sensor data from the building services and artificial intelligence, it can be used to optimally plan maintenance, check the plausibility of energy conservation methods and the real-time energy consumption, and optimize the use of space in the building. Structural condition monitoring of buildings is also increasingly being documented with the help of BIM models.

If a building resource passport is linked to the BIM model, the BIM model provides important data on the deconstruction and reusability of installed materials and components at the end of the construction life cycle. The BIM-based building resource passport provides an overview of which materials were used, where, in what quantity and in what quality. Thus, it enables the building to be demolished to be used as a raw material store for future buildings – an important step toward the circular economy in the construction industry.

Building Information Modeling offers great added value over the entire life cycle of a building or infrastructure project. This not only increases the efficiency and quality of the built world, but also its sustainability. The end-to-end implementation of digital ways of working such as BIM is necessary to achieve global climate goals – and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the building sector. This calls for all project partners to work together on sustainable and resilient cities of the future.

The AEC/O industry is expected to see an increase in the use of data-driven design automation and parametric modeling in 2023. Visual programming is making it easier for architects and engineers without scripting skills to customize automation to their needs. For example, automated clash detection, automatic generation of fabrication and construction drawings, and other automation capabilities are being added to BIM software, which can help to improve efficiency and reduce errors.

It can also help remove repetitive tasks within the design process, and fulfill broader workflow needs, such as quality checks or rule-based design analysis. By aligning CAD and BIM tools with the designer's process, it will result in greater efficiency during the design process, which is particularly important as consultancies look to improve productivity.

A term that will become popular in 2023 is "Connected BIM." This refers to the ability to connect data throughout the entire life cycle of a building or asset. Whilst this is facilitated by OPEN BIM, cloud computing, and IoT sensors, Connected BIM will provide the ability to analyze and visualize information from different stages and sources of the building life cycle to gain insights, make better decisions and optimize the building performance (what we at Nemetschek also call Building Lifecycle Management.) For AEC/O professionals, Connected BIM will enhance information transfer and integrity, as well as the ability to connect various solutions using OPEN BIM.

In terms of operations, facilities management is increasingly utilizing digital twins by incorporating sensors for Building Lifecycle Management. This allows for live data monitoring to inform decision making, particularly for future operations. This may include areas such as energy consumption, space allocation, asset performance, usage efficiency optimization, and structural health monitoring. By connecting this information to other sources through OPEN BIM, it will enable further insights and provide actual performance data to inform future projects.

Extended reality (XR) technologies such as VR and AR are being used to improve communication and collaboration among stakeholders. For example, VR can be used to create virtual walkthroughs of buildings and infrastructure, which can help to improve communication among designers, engineers, and builders. AR can be used to overlay digital information on real-world environments, which can be used to improve communication among workers on-site and to train them.

In addition, XR technologies can be used to improve design and construction processes. For example, VR can be used to conduct virtual mock-ups and testing, which can help to reduce errors and rework. AR can be used to provide workers with real-time information on-site, such as construction schedules and safety procedures, which can help to improve efficiency and safety.

The Metaverse is another area that is expected to gain more attention in the AEC/O industry this year. As an extension of XR, the Metaverse offers project teams a unique environment for collaboration. Unlike VR, which allows users to explore a digital twin of a building, the Metaverse aims to create an immersive experience that allows multiple team members and stakeholders to interact with the virtual project model using VR equipment. Additionally, it offers the potential for central project setup where all the model data can be hosted, streamlining collaboration, design prototyping, BIM coordination, and visualization. The potential benefits of the Metaverse are significant, so we expect to hear more about this technology in 2023.

The trend towards green building is driven by a growing awareness of the environmental impacts of both buildings and their construction process, as well as the need to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, almost 40% of all carbon emissions are caused by the construction industry, and 20% of all materials are wasted – both of which are alarming statistics that need to change.

In 2023, several key developments are expected to take place in the green building space. Net-zero energy buildings will continue to be popular, with energy savings made through the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, energy-efficient design, and energy storage systems. Passive design techniques – such as natural ventilation and daylighting, which can help to reduce energy consumption and improve indoor air quality – will also become more prevalent. There will also be more emphasis placed on building performance and management for optimum energy efficiency, which ties into the growing trend for digitalization.

The AEC/O industry is constantly evolving and adapting to new technologies and trends, and 2023 is set to be no different. From the adoption of BIM and digital twins to the rise of green building, automation, and even the potential of the metaverse, it's clear that the industry is moving towards a more digital, data-driven and sustainable future. By embracing these technologies, architects, engineers, and contractors can work more efficiently, reduce errors, and improve the performance of buildings and infrastructure. It will be exciting to see how these trends continue to evolve and impact the built environment in the coming year.