From drones to AI, the technological changes in the construction industry

The construction industry in Israel has been undergoing changes in recent years, thanks to startups and technology companies active in it. This is an industry that generates over NIS 200 billion a year and employs about 250,000 people. The construction-tech field in which startups and technology companies are active, brings to the industry technologies such as: 3D models, cloud services and AI with the aim of changing it.

“The implementation of new technologies in the construction industry encounters significant challenges,” says Ron Zirkel, Product Manager at Autodesk Israel, “Contractors face a demanding workload that makes it difficult to learn and adapt, due to complex work with a large number of companies and positions and a high turnover of existing employees. Cultural and organizational barriers Some employees fear failure or the need to invest in adopting new work methods To succeed in assimilating innovation, the involvement of as many relevant factors as possible is required and the creation of an organizational culture that supports constant learning.”

One of the significant barriers on the way to the digitization of the industry is the lack of communication infrastructure at construction sites, especially at remote sites with complex access to wired communication providers. The y-tech company, which deals in managed technological services including: secure cloud services, implementation of artificial intelligence and communication solutions, has developed a solution to this challenge. “Construction companies require complex coordination between dozens of factors,” explains Eli Cohen, CEO of y-tech. “We provide a direct connection to a secure IPVPN environment through a cellular infrastructure, which enables continuous work even at remote sites.” This solution allows all partners in the project, from the architects to the contractors, to work on a common and secure platform.

In an international comparison, Israel is beginning to catch up with leading countries in the field of digital construction. In Singapore and Denmark, for example, the adoption of advanced construction technologies has already become a mandatory standard in many projects.

Real-time construction monitoring

Among the startups active in Israel in the field of construction-tech is Atom Construction, which comes to solve problems of mistakes in planning, execution, delays in schedules and economic inefficiency. The startup has developed a system that combines drones, cameras mounted on cranes, which provide photography of the construction components, and AI algorithms that compare what is actually happening with the engineering plans, so that problems and anomalies are alerted in real time. The system is designed to perform a real-time scan of the project structure, from the construction frame to the plumbing and electrical systems, and to locate errors and deviations from the engineering plans. The system should save up to 50% in costs, improve the quality of construction and reduce the need for dangerous physical tests.

TWEAKS is a platform that allows real estate developers and tenants to design apartments using a simple 3D interface and technology from the world of gaming. The platform translates complex architectural plans into intuitive design, and offers customized upgrades and changes while respecting building laws. Apartment buyers can see in real time the results, receive Accurate simulations, and to know the costs in advance, while the entrepreneurs receive clear and ready plans to perform

Both Atom and TWEAKS operate from Autodesk’s startup incubator in Tel Aviv and it is part of their incubator.