Yesterday’s construction workforce was a mechanical generation of “blue collar workers.” These tradesman have been retiring faster than they are being replaced, causing an alarming void in the workforce. Until recently, few “digital gurus” have been seeking construction as a career path. Armed with college degrees, Droids and iPads, the new generation is not eager to wear overalls and work gloves. That is all changing as emerging technologies like BIM, Theometrics and robotics start to transform the industry.

These are very exciting times.  The construction industry’s technological revolution is inevitable, and just as the industrial revolution brought on huge growth and change through automation, our day has come and construction will soon follow. It is obvious that status quo is simply not acceptable, and the industry is too volatile to waste any more time. Advanced technologies are available to make construction nearly as automated and efficient as manufacturing, we just need to bridge the digital divide.

Construction is a $4.6 trillion dollar industry with tens of billions of dollars wasted annually. New technologies such as Theometrics will deliver substantial savings to owners and developers. It will also serve to reduce risk for lenders and insurers in the form of reduced errors and omissions, sureties’ risk and costly change orders. New technologies provide additional advantages such as higher paying and technically challenging career opportunities. Trained properly, given adequate tools, and teamed with construction foremen, the new generation of “Green Collar Workers” will not just be receiving on-the-job-training but will actually “co- mentor” the foreman.

These benefits extend to small businesses, including minority and women-owned enterprises, who can now equip themselves with new skills and capabilities that will stimulate economic growth and new business opportunities.

Computers and robots will never completely replace a well-trained and experienced worker, and the objective is to supplement our workforce with technology, not replace it. To have intelligent jobsites, we simply need to command and control them with intelligent people supported by intelligent technologies.