I will therefore go into 2025 with optimism and a determination to carry on trying to build connections and collaborations.
At the end of its life, the various standardised components would be recycled, reused or redeployed, creating a circular economy.As the Internet of Things evolves and built assets become smarter, gathering increasing amounts of data, they could become self-optimising, intelligent buildings – recognising the need for a change in air or lighting levels.
Ultimately, this type of data would then feed back into the design process itself, creating an open-ended process of continual improvement, and contributing to the next generation of components.. Our sustainable future.Of course, the most pressing, current question is: how do we make a planet which sustainably supports 11.5 billion people?Population growth coupled with the required infrastructure will generate massive amounts of carbon.
We must find ways to deliver what we need using much less.Optimisation of materials, better control of logistics, automation in construction, fewer people on site – all of these factors will help to create an overall lower carbon version of the built environment.
We’re already working hard with concrete manufacturers to find the lowest carbon form of concrete we can possibly use.
We’re talking to steel manufacturers about the types of steel which will be made by electric arc furnaces powered by hydrogen fuel cells.Finally, there is the question of the workforce itself.
At present, there simply aren’t enough young people coming into the construction industry.Construction isn’t seen as an attractive option by the next generation, who would prefer to work in tech.
Their idea of construction involves standing in muddy boots, trying to build things in the rain.It’s vital that we change that perception, because this young generation of gamers already have many of the skills we now need in the industry.