The construction industry is rapidly adopting new technologies and innovations that are transforming nearly every aspect of the business. From design and planning to actual construction and building maintenance, technology is helping to improve efficiency, quality, and safety. This tech disruption also has significant implications for construction claims and the experts who manage them.
Building information modeling (BIM) allows architects and engineers to create intelligent 3D models in the design and planning stages. These models incorporate critical project data to identify collisions, test different scenarios, generate estimates, and coordinate all systems. Drones and autonomous vehicles are beginning to conduct surveys and inspections, reaching difficult sites with greater speed, safety, and detail.
During construction, equipment makers incorporate sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence to boost automation, precision, and connectivity across job sites. Wearables help track workers and equipment. Various apps aid communication and task management for crews. Together, these innovations assist contractors in meeting timelines, achieving quality standards, and avoiding costly rework.
The shift toward offsite prefabrication of components is also accelerating. By moving more construction activities into controlled factory settings, teams can maximize efficiency, minimize waste, and expand capacity. These advances are combined with additive manufacturing or 3D printing for extremely customized building parts.
Smart building systems and Internet of Things sensors can continuously monitor energy use, equipment performance, and environmental conditions throughout a structure's life cycle. This data helps facility managers prevent problems, reduce operating costs, and verify that warranty terms are being met.
So, how do all these promising technologies affect construction claims and claim experts? In several impactful ways:
First, the added transparency and accountability have led to better documentation across projects, giving claim experts more objective data to quantify damages and resolve disputes faster. Photos, drone footage, daily logs, BIM clashes, and control system records provide detailed evidence should claims arise.
Second, technology aids proactive risk management as construction firms can use analytics tools to pinpoint leading indicators of future claims like schedule deviations and quality failures. Detecting such issues early allows project teams to take corrective actions or secure change orders preemptively before full disputes materialize. This shrinks the number of claims while mitigating those that still occur.
Third, digital connectivity across the construction network - owners, designers, contractors, and more - fosters greater collaboration, reducing misalignments leading to claims. It facilitates automated compliance checking against contract requirements and links downstream maintenance to upstream decisions, reducing finger-pointing between parties later.
Fourth, adopting advanced technologies implicitly demonstrates a contractor’s sophistication and qualifications. Construction claims often center on which party is most credible and capable. A firm that leverages cutting-edge tools can defend its positions more persuasively to arbitrators and judges if severe claims disputes cannot be settled.
The dramatic innovation occurring in construction technology at this time is likely to reshape the size and nature of industry claims moving forward. While the pace of this digital transformation may lag other sectors, its impact on projects and claim experts’ work will be similarly profound. Firms that tool up appropriately will be well-positioned to capitalize on operational gains while minimizing claims through preventative measures. Those who lag may find it increasingly difficult to manage the risks and complexities inherent in modern construction.