Changes in the construction sector: the horizon is digital
Circular module – photo by Arup
Construction is an ancestral craft, but it stands on the threshold of a digital change. Although traditionally known for being slow to adopt technologies, the industry today faces pressures for greater efficiency, quality, and fundamentally, sustainability.
This change is no longer an option, but a necessity, and it’s a topic we have addressed more than once with our readers. Digitalization (with tools like BIM, AI, and Digital Twins) transforms not only how we build, but what we can ultimately build.
How do sustainability and the circular economy, as central axes, influence the way these technologies are redefining the sector?
Towards green and circular construction
The construction sector is a major consumer of resources, generator of waste, and responsible for nearly 40% of global energy consumption and a significant portion of carbon emissions.
The Circular Economy (CE) proposes a paradigm shift: from “take-make-dispose” to a system where materials are kept in use, designed to eliminate waste, and natural systems are regenerated. This implies viewing buildings as “material banks.” Digital tools are essential in these proposals: BIM acts as a “ledger” for these materials, AI optimizes waste management, and Digital Twins track the lifecycle of components. Projects like Arup’s ‘Circular Building’ used digital material passports via BIM, and Siemensstadt Square in Berlin aims for carbon neutrality with CE principles and “urban mining.”
What are the tools of the Digital Craft?
BIM (Building Information Modeling): more than a digital blueprint, it is a collaborative process based on a data-rich digital model. It functions as an intelligent digital prototype, and its value lies in linking 3D elements with detailed information, evolving from Project Information Models (PIM) during delivery to Asset Information Models (AIM) in the operational phase.
Digital Twins: This is when the building comes to virtual life. It is a dynamic virtual replica of a physical asset, with real-time data via IoT sensors. While BIM is the master plan, the Digital Twin is the live simulator of the operational building, allowing performance monitoring, maintenance prediction, and efficiency optimization.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): the brain of optimization, AI acts as an advanced assistant for BIM and Digital Twins, optimizing designs, detecting clashes, and enhancing predictive analytics for project management.
These technologies do not operate in isolation but are part of an ecosystem. BIM structures the data, Digital Twins connect with the physical asset in real-time, and AI analyzes and optimizes the whole. This integration is key for the development of smart cities and the digital evolution of the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sector.
Digitalization underway
Globally, cities like Helsinki and Orlando use urban Digital Twins for sustainable planning. Heathrow Airport optimizes operations and energy with a BIM-based Digital Twin. Companies like Arup, Skanska, and Zaha Hadid Architects are pioneers in applying BIM to improve sustainability and efficiency in complex projects.
In Spain, BIM adoption is advancing, especially driven by public tenders (nearly 12% nationally) and regulations like ISO 19650. The GBCe 2021 report underscores the need to integrate data in all phases and for sustainability training, where the focus often remains on energy efficiency. The CSCAE (Superior Council of Colleges of Architects of Spain), through its Observatory 2030 and publications like ‘Architecture and Decarbonization,’ promotes sustainability and concepts such as “architecture of the available” and “Urban Mining.” The problem is that SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) face barriers such as implementation costs and a lack of qualified personnel.
The path to full digitalization
The digital transition faces obstacles such as initial costs, especially for entrepreneurs or smaller companies, and a shortage of qualified professionals. 80% of Spanish professionals require complementary training in sustainability. Problems with standardization, interoperability, and cultural resistance to change also hinder progress.
To overcome this, it is necessary to invest in continuous training and foster a culture of collaboration. Strategically, government support through mandates and incentives (like the NextGenerationEU funds and the BIM Plan in Public Procurement in Spain), standardization (ISO 19650), informed client demand, and a specific focus on the needs of SMEs are key levers.
Today, tomorrow is built
BIM, AI, and Digital Twins are pillars of the future of construction, converging with IoT, blockchain, and robotics. The goal is a more productive, efficient, safe, but above all, sustainable and circular industry. Buildings will become dynamically and intelligently managed assets. Although the path is complex, this digital transformation is essential for a resilient and prosperous future in construction. The ethical dimension of digitalization, including data management and responsible AI, will also become increasingly important.
