The construction industry's future took center stage at What Fuels an Innovative Culture, a CFI-hosted event held on April 29 at Webcor's San Francisco office.
More than 40 owners, engineers, contractors, and architects came together to exchange ideas and explore how technology is actively shaping the next era of construction.
The conversation focused on the concrete steps already underway—and how participants envision the industry's continued evolution.
1.Digital Twins as Decision-Making Tools
Digital twin technologies are already among the few actively advancing in the construction industry. Unlike traditional BIM models, these systems bring together design data, operational parameters, and visualization in a unified digital environment — not for presentation but for real-time management.
This approach is set to expand in the near future, as it enables scenario modeling, load forecasting, early detection of bottlenecks, and coordination across teams before issues arise.
A real-world example: At one of the San Francisco International Airport campuses, a digital twin is currently under development. The system brings together project drawings and live data architecture, and the team is working toward using it to support an integrated airport operations center. The goal is to eventually forecast congestion or issues across the campus — on airfields, in terminals, or on roadways — and mitigate them before they occur.
2.Robotics as a Standard Operating Component
Just a few years ago, construction robotics were mainly viewed as experimental. Today, their use is increasingly moving beyond pilot projects. Industry leaders at the event spoke about the transition to deploying robotics as a standard part of operations — not as a showcase technology but as a fully integrated element of the production process.
A key point of discussion was perception: technology can only succeed if it's accepted by those who work with it directly. One example is Canvas, a robotic drywall installation system. Initially met with skepticism on-site, it has since proven its value and is now used regularly.
We tried out Canvas — the robotic drywall function — years ago, and at the time, it didn't seem to move the needle. But then, on a later project, a site superintendent came up to us and said: 'Hey, you know that robot thing? It's going to move the needle. It's helping us out.' And now we're starting to use that in full production mode.
Cases like Canvas matter not just for their impact but as indicators of a broader shift — from fragmented, labor-intensive workflows to standardized, repeatable technologies. This shift enables faster builds, fewer errors, and reduced reliance on scarce skilled labor — an issue that was also raised explicitly during the event.
3.Sensor Technologies and the Underground Blind Spot
Most construction errors and unplanned changes don't stem from design flaws but from what lies underground: intersecting utilities, outdated archive schematics, and missing geospatial references. That's why sensor technologies are drawing significant attention — particularly in the realm of subsurface infrastructure, where the lack of accurate data remains a critical risk factor.
The sensor's novelty doesn't drive this expectation — they already exist, from lidar to ground-penetrating radar and scanning systems. The real question is how this data is integrated. Information about a buried pipe is meaningless unless it's connected to the project model, visualized, and made usable for real-time decision-making.
What's needed is an architecture that can aggregate external data streams, synchronize them with the project model, and provide real-time access. Platforms like Smart Spatial are built for exactly this — not producing the sensors but delivering the infrastructure that allows them to be integrated without losing context or precision.
4.New Organizational Models
One of the most persistent barriers to digital transformation isn't technology — it's how project stakeholders work together. When architects, contractors, and facility managers operate in silos, no digital environment can deliver real value. That's why large-scale projects are increasingly turning to delivery models that reshape the way teams collaborate — such as progressive design-build.
The value lies not in the contract type itself but in the decision-making structure it enables. Instead of a top-down process, key project decisions are made collaboratively.
We don't know exactly what's underground, but if we can make good use of sensor technologies, we’ll be able to identify and fix problems before they become costly. I really expect near — sensor technology to be featured in future projects.
A supporting infrastructure is essential for these models to succeed: access to real-time data, a unified interface, and a clear record of decisions. Platforms like Smart Spatial provide exactly that — connecting design, construction, and operations into a single, continuous system rather than a fragmented sequence.
From Fragmented Change to Systemic Shift
The four shifts outlined above show that innovation in construction is no longer theoretical. Digital twins, robotics, sensing technologies, and collaborative delivery models are already being adopted — not as experiments but as working components of real projects.
The next step is consistency at scale. Moving from isolated implementations to industry-wide transformation will depend on new tools and the infrastructure and coordination needed to support them across the full project lifecycle.