AI, Real-World Robotics Applications Take Center Stage at ENR FutureTech

Contractors, designers and building technologists at ENR’s FutureTech Convention Might 6 and seven shared optimistic visions of a not-too-distant future the place structure, engineering and building practitioners have extra related workflows, extra dependable knowledge pipelines, extra proactive approaches to deal with jobsite uncertainty and extra instruments to exchange conferences and work phases, reminiscent of Web of Issues and digital twins.

Audio system on the San Francisco occasion shared real-world insights on rising use of synthetic intelligence and robotics within the business, amongst different tech traits. Additionally featured on the occasion that attracted practically 600 attendees was an replace on the potential of nuclear fusion to vary world power coverage and the way one engineering agency makes use of huge knowledge gathered post-occupancy of its designs.

Dusty Robotics’ Subject Printer prints ground layouts at ENR FutureTech 2025 Might 6.
Video by Jeff Yoders/ENR

“We foresee a office the place the cliché holds true, the place folks don’t should work tougher however, somewhat, smarter,” stated Sadia Janjua, chief of digital transformation
on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. the massive regional infrastructure operator. “Know-how might be an enabler to work extra collaboratively throughout the lifecycle of initiatives and there might be extra widespread use of [virtual-design and construction] fashions following the golden thread of a challenge. All is related.”

Janjua and co-presenter Dimitra Karachaliou,
affiliate vp of digital transformation advisory
at AECOM., defined how their work for the authority has delivered higher challenge collaboration and the tip of rework for duties reminiscent of getting into inspection knowledge.

“Knowledge governance should occur first, then you may rationalize expertise and create an ecosystem, make our folks match inside,” Karachaliou
 stated.

Optimistic about cleaner power choices forward was Valerie Roberts, COO and chief enterprise officer of Longview Energy Systems, a startup that’s devoted to make fusion energy manufacturing a actuality. She defined how current advances in sector expertise have moved it from “Iron Man” science fiction to actuality.

“There may be $7 billion in non-public capital, and 40 new startups centered on fusion have come into existence within the final 10 years,” Roberts stated. She cited current advances reminiscent of Lawrence Livermore Laboratory reaching laser fusion power achieve in 2023 and the way laser inertial confinement has proven larger industrial potential than older applied sciences such because the magnetic fusion tokamak strategy of the currently-under-construction ITER multinational project in France.  

Generative AI remained a convention focus, with Ray Levitt, Blackhorn Ventures working companion and Kumagai Professor of Engineering Emeritus at Stanford College
citing a World Financial Discussion board report that it’ll take over 30-40% of white collar staff’ duties over the following two to 5 years.

“We’re investing fairly a bit on this,” stated Atul Khanzode, chief expertise officer of DPR Building, in a panel dialogue with Levitt and Eric Lamb, working companion of the contractor’s enterprise capital arm, WND Ventures. “That features the right way to put together knowledge for an AI to do particular duties.”

A number of obsites of contractor Weitz Co. are being modified by workflows utilizing tech agency Dusty Robotics’ Subject Printer 2 robotic to carry out ground layouts earlier than set up of kit and partitions, contributors instructed attendees.

Mark Vibber, Weitz senior challenge superintendent, Brian Owens, its VDC engineer and Dusty Robotics CEO and founder Tessa Lau defined how utilizing format robots on a number of contractor initiatives unlocked a ten% revenue alternative for the agency not simply from printing out its flooring, but in addition from higher jobsite collaboration and cooperation earlier than any work was put in place onsite.

“Makes an attempt to resolve battle within the discipline don’t work,” Owens stated in response to Dodge knowledge on discipline battle decision. “It is lIke being stabbed within the coronary heart.”