The speed of technological advancement in the 21st century has impacted every industry, and construction is no different. As the world becomes more digitally interconnected, industries find new and exciting ways to utilize technology to improve people’s everyday lives, minimize impact on the environment, or benefit the financial bottom line. 

One of the latest innovations in the construction industry could accomplish all of these things, and will become commonplace on all commercial projects in the coming years—Autonomous Buildings. 

Automation in New Construction

Many features of automation in buildings have been in place for years, including Wifi-controlled HVAC, motion-sensored lighting, etc. Going forward, new construction will be designed so that all systems in the building are interconnected, analyzing data and using that information to automatically and continuously regulate temperature, lighting, security, and more.

These advantages can reduce the environmental impacts of excessive energy use, alleviate the burden on facility operators, and lower the overall costs of building ownership.

Artificial Intelligence and Remote Building Management

Artificial intelligence platforms are used to analyze data from a building’s systems, making adjustments or recommendations to building owners or facility operators. However, because these systems are all “online,” it is no longer necessary for a building’s manager to be on-site to make an adjustment, diagnose a problem, or implement a solution.

An autonomous building could detect a leaky pipe, a damaged HVAC duct, or a faulty motion sensor and alert the necessary maintenance teams to fix these issues, meanwhile working to re-route water, airflow, etc. to keep the rest of the building running smoothly.

Going off the Grid

Experts predict that truly autonomous buildings are on the horizon that could exist independently of infrastructural supports such as the power grid, wastewater, or sewage systems by using resources from the property itself. For example, a building could utilize sunlight and rain to reduce the need of outside energy or water production.

Does this Sound Like Science Fiction? 

It shouldn’t! Many of these technologies have existed for years, but now industries are learning ways that all of these individual systems can work together to truly transform the shape of the construction industry. 

Reach out to us to discuss how we can help bring your vision to life.