In this blog, we’ll explore seven construction tech trends we believe will dominate the coming year. If these aren’t already in your toolbox or on your radar, they will be soon! Here’s what to keep eye out for in 2025.
Top construction tech innovations for 2025:
Artificial intelligence
Connectivity and interoperability
Automation and robotics
Digital twins
Advancements in BIM
Construction drones
Wearable tech and the Internet of Things (IoT)
1. Artificial intelligence
AI is rewriting the rules of construction.
The push for better efficiency, safety, and cost savings is fueling its rapid adoption across the industry. As projects grow in size and complexity, traditional methods often struggle to meet challenges like time management and resource allocation. AI steps in with smarter tools to streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and enhance overall project efficiency.
And it’s only picking up speed—the global AI in construction market is expected to jump from $1.2 billion in 2022 to $6.5 billion by 2028.
Generative AI is revolutionizing the field by blending innovation with practicality. Architects and engineers use it to generate design iterations, optimize materials, and simulate environmental impacts.
Beyond design, AI tools analyze data to improve planning, predict risks, and keep projects on track and within budget.
Automation technologies like AI-guided robots are tackling labor-intensive tasks, increasing productivity and worker safety.
Trimble’s popular project management tool ProjectSight is powered by AI workflows like document management, submittals, and others.
Looking ahead, AI is set to take on even more, from autonomous vehicles and drones providing real-time site monitoring to IoT-driven solutions that predict equipment breakdowns and optimize fuel use, setting the stage for a smarter, more sustainable construction industry.
2. Connectivity and interoperability
The complexity of modern projects presents challenges around compatibility, security, and compliance, especially as more tools are introduced across teams. And data sharing remains an issue: for example, 42% of professionals still rely on email to exchange field data.
Modern construction tools and software need to talk to each other.
Enter interoperability.
Interoperability in construction is the ability to share and integrate information with different software systems, automatically.
This lack of coordination can lead to misunderstandings, errors, and over-ordering, all of which contribute to global construction waste, which is expected to reach 2.2 billion tons annually by 2025.
The push for better interoperability and connected systems is helping to address these issues by improving data exchange and coordination between stakeholders, reducing errors, and eliminating waste.
Connected technologies improve communication, reduce errors, and cut waste across all stages of a project.
3. Automation and robotics
Robotics and automation are becoming key players in transforming the construction industry.
By taking on dangerous or physically demanding tasks like demolition, heavy lifting, and welding, robots reduce the risk of injury for workers—and allows human teams to focus on more specialized and complex work. Robots also help tackle labor shortages by taking on repetitive and strenuous tasks, creating a more cost-effective and sustainable approach to construction.
In addition to improving safety, these robots are helping construction sites run more efficiently. Their ability to perform tasks with high precision, such as bricklaying and excavation, leads to faster project timelines and fewer mistakes.
Automation tools like robotic arms and 3D printers ensure that work is done consistently and accurately, reducing the need for rework.
With the rise of “cobots” (collaborative robots), the industry is on track for smarter, more adaptive systems, paving the way for a future where automation is a part of every project.
4. Digital twins
Digital twin technology is revolutionizing construction by creating dynamic, real-time digital replicas of physical structures.
These models provide continuous updates to reveal deviations from original 3D designs, allowing teams to collect jobsite data in real time, update models instantly, and share information across project phases. This feedback loop between the field and stakeholders ensures no critical details are lost.
Digital twins also elevate BIM into a more intelligent, data-driven tool for the entire project lifecycle.
They provide real-time performance insights, enable precise fabrication with accurate models, and streamline workflows. Even after construction, this tech adds value by tracking energy use, monitoring environmental impact, and guiding future improvements.
AI further enhances the capabilities of digital twins by transforming static models into highly interactive and predictive tools. For example, AI-driven digital twins can predict maintenance needs by analyzing equipment performance data, reducing downtime and extending asset lifecycles.
AI also empowers digital twins to improve construction safety by identifying potential hazards through predictive analytics, processing vast datasets from drones and IoT devices, providing real-time feedback on structural integrity and compliance.
With the digital twin market projected to reach $46 billion by 2026, this technology will surely continue to rapidly reshape industry standards.
5. Advancements in BIM
The global Building Information Modeling (BIM) market is projected to grow to $8.8 billion in 2025, up from $4.5 billion in 2020.
What started as a 3D modeling tool has evolved into Digital Information Management (DIM), covering every phase of a project’s lifecycle—from design to demolition. With real-time data, IoT integration, and cloud computing, BIM promises to be more collaborative, efficient, and insightful than ever.
AI has made BIM smarter and more efficient, automating tasks, optimizing designs, and offering predictive insights that help teams avoid costly issues before they arise.
With the growing importance of sustainability in construction, BIM now plays a vital role in carbon accounting, guiding energy-efficient designs and sustainable material choices to meet net-zero targets.
Meanwhile, OpenBIM standards and cloud technology are revolutionizing collaboration: teams can seamlessly share updates across platforms, ensuring everyone stays on the same page. With these innovations, BIM is no longer just about design—it’s reshaping how we build, maintain, and sustain the world around us.
6. Construction drones
Drones have already changed the game in construction, making projects faster, safer, and more cost-efficient.
With high-resolution aerial imagery and precise topographical data, they streamline everything from mapping to surveying while paving the way for more accurate 3D modeling—and smarter decision-making.
These capabilities are particularly valuable during the planning and design phases, where accurate terrain and structure modeling can significantly enhance decision-making. By providing detailed site insights early on, drones help avoid potential issues, optimize project layouts, and ensure a strong foundation for the construction process.
Not surprisingly, 47% of construction contractors report using drones on worksites to leverage these advantages, according to a 2023 SmartMarket Report.
Beyond surveying, drones provide real-time monitoring of construction progress, ensuring adherence to timelines and maintaining quality standards. Equipped with advanced sensors, they track equipment usage, inventory levels, and site conditions, helping project managers optimize resources.
By inspecting hard-to-reach areas, drones enhance safety and reduce the need for manual checks. As their capabilities expand, drones are poised to play an even greater role.
7. Wearable, connected technology
Do you have a smartwatch? About 454.69 million people wore a smartwatch globally in 2024, an increase of 41% from the previous year.
Wearable tech is revolutionizing construction safety, especially when devices can share data. Connected devices like smart helmets and connected wristbands collect real-time data on a person’s movement and biometric worker health data, and environmental conditions.
Smart glasses, like the Trimble XR10 with Microsoft HoloLens 2 technology, let frontline workers to overlay design models visually on the project, to avoid rework by spotting problems before they happen. Workers can also do clash detection, track project status remotely, and improve collaboration.
Smart footwear, headgear, and other sensors are also coming on the market quickly.
This collected and shared information can help construction companies avoid a lot of risks, improve worker safety, and dodge liabilities. It’s Integrating wearable technology, this technology provides a complete picture of worker health and safety. The global construction wearable technology market is projected to grow over 10% from 2024 to 2032, according to Global Market Insights.
Looking ahead, wearable tech will become even more advanced.
Imagine clothes and accessories not just tracking health stats but also suggesting personalized adjustments, like posture corrections or optimized equipment settings. These tools don’t just react to danger, they help workers stay ahead of it—in the dark, in the cold, and beyond.
What technologies is your construction company using or thinking about for 2025?
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Read up on Trimble’s Top Trends for 2025 forecast to learn more!
