Tech
Virginia Tech coalition plans Reddit-like digital commons for builders
The Smart Construction Alliance led by Virginia Tech is advancing a platform initiative called 'Digital Shared Space,' aimed at enabling construction companies of all sizes to participate in technology exchange and development, and has partnered with HITT Contracting to award $280,000 in funding to five projects.
Chinese drones, now facing tariffs, are the top choice of US builders
The latest survey by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) shows that the vast majority of American contractors using drones rely on products from Chinese manufacturer DJI, but recent U.S. tariffs on Chinese drones may pose challenges to the industry.
AI data center spending drives growth in semiconductor market
According to a forecast released by Gartner on Monday, AI data center spending will account for more than half of total semiconductor revenue over the next four years, driving global semiconductor revenue to exceed $1.6 trillion this year, nearly doubling year over year.
Out of sight, out of business
Field forms have long ceased to be mere compliance documents; they are now key data sources that record the actual work process. A new guide from GoFormz points out that N/A entries and anomaly records in forms often hide risk signals that deserve the most attention from management, yet most companies still process this information with a delay of 3 to 5 days.
Solving the jobsite blind spot: Why buying drones is not always the solution
The growth of the U.S. construction industry is accompanied by labor shortages and profit pressure, and on-site monitoring still largely depends on manual inspections or low-frequency measurements, creating information blind spots. Drone technology can accelerate data collection and enhance safety, but building an in-house fleet requires investment in hardware, training, and compliance costs. Drone as a Service offers end-to-end aerial surveying subscription services, transforming site conditions into decision-making data, helping to detect errors early, reduce personnel exposure risks, and unify information sources for all parties.
Construction Robots Accelerate Deployment: Multiple Funding Rounds and On-Site Applications Draw Attention This Week
Construction robots are moving from concept to construction sites. This week, SoftBank invested $200 million in Gravis Robotics, and Bedrock Robotics announced its equipment is already operating at contractor sites such as Sundt Construction. Industry reports show contractor robot usage has increased 45% year-over-year, but experts caution that data quality and talent gaps remain key barriers to widespread adoption.
Bedrock Robotics Deploys Fully Autonomous Excavators at Construction Sites
San Francisco-based construction technology company Bedrock Robotics announced on Monday that it has deployed fully autonomous excavators at multiple active construction sites across the United States. The system retrofits existing excavators with sensor and computing kits, enabling them to operate without an onboard operator, and is currently in use at a Nevada water treatment facility in partnership with Sundt Construction and a 1.2 million cubic yard earthworks project with Zachry Construction.
Construction robotics startup Gravis Robotics secures $200 million Series A from SoftBank
Construction technology company Gravis Robotics announced on Monday that it has secured a $200 million Series A funding round from global investment firm SoftBank. Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, a Swiss public university, the company's proprietary retrofit technology transforms heavy machinery on construction sites into autonomous robots. This funding round represents a significant investment in the construction technology sector and indicates that major institutional investors are focusing on the physical AI track.
After Winning the Bid: The Next Challenge for Construction Productivity
Construction companies have made significant progress in technology adoption during the pre-bid phase, but the execution phase after winning the bid is becoming a new bottleneck. This article explores the key role of BIM in bridging the gap between bidding and construction, and how lifecycle continuity can improve overall productivity.
AI Helps Contractors Fortify Profit Margins, Real-Time Insights Plug Profit Leakage
With profit margins under sustained pressure, contractors must not only win bids but also strictly prevent profit leakage during construction. By integrating financial and operational data and leveraging AI to identify anomalies in real time, contractors can take action before issues escalate. Companies such as MAG Builders and Lam-Wood Systems have achieved transparent management of project progress and costs through the NetSuite platform, significantly enhancing control over profitability.