Canada at a housing crossroads: productivity, modular wins and a new spaceport
Canada, August 19, 2025 News Summary Canada’s housing sector is at a pivot point as affordability pressures persist despite modest productivity gains and faster modular build times. Builders report improved outcomes from AI, BIM and digital twins while offsite methods cut completion times and costs. At the same time, purpose-built rental development is cooling as institutional […]
Hanyang University ERICA unveils digital twin framework for relocatable modular buildings
Ansan, South Korea, August 19, 2025 News Summary A research team at Hanyang University ERICA developed a digital twin–enabled facility management system (DT-FMS) to improve tracking, management and reuse of relocatable modular buildings. The platform integrates BIM, IoT sensors and GIS to create a real-time virtual model that supports monitoring, logistics and decision support across three […]
Outsourced civil engineering services grow as projects expand
Global, August 19, 2025 News Summary Demand for outsourced civil engineering is rising as construction and infrastructure projects grow in scale and complexity. Firms across construction, real estate and industrial sectors are turning to external engineering teams to access specialist CAD/BIM tools, manage costs, accelerate permitting and reduce rework. Commonly outsourced tasks include BIM-integrated quantity take-offs, […]
Ideagen expands safety software offering with acquisition of Reactec
Nottingham, England, August 18, 2025 News Summary A Nottingham-based governance, risk and compliance software company has acquired an Edinburgh wearable technology provider to combine wearable monitoring hardware with cloud analytics. The deal integrates wrist-worn and body sensors that measure vibration, dust, noise and proximity with the buyer’s EHS platform, enabling real-time exposure tracking, automated analysis and […]
U.S. housing market hits inflection as mortgage rates stabilize near mid‑6%
United States, August 18, 2025 News Summary A Fed policy easing and bond‑market moves have pushed mortgage pricing toward the mid‑6% range, with mortgage pricing stabilizing near 6.58% and the 10‑year Treasury around 4.29%. The bond backdrop means rates may not fall much further without clearer economic weakness. Builders are responding with record buyer incentives and […]
Arizona Construction Firms Prominent on Inc. 5000 List
Arizona, August 18, 2025 News Summary A total of 137 Arizona-based companies earned places on the Inc. 5000 list, which ranks private U.S. firms by percentage revenue growth over a recent three-year span. The honorees span tech, healthcare, retail, finance and construction, with a notable share of builders, specialty contractors, manufacturers and service firms from Phoenix-area […]
Startup launches AI tool to automate electrical takeoffs from PDF plans
United States, August 18, 2025 News Summary A new construction tech startup unveiled an AI-powered platform that automates electrical takeoffs from PDF construction plans. The system combines computer vision to read drawings and industry symbols with generative AI to assemble comprehensive bills of materials and labor cost estimates. Pilots with select contractors are underway to validate […]
Jacobs named construction manager for Port of Long Beach Pier B rail expansion
Port of Long Beach, California, August 16, 2025 News Summary Jacobs has been awarded the program-level construction management role for the Pier B On‑Dock Rail Support Facility at the Port of Long Beach. The Pier B program will expand the rail yard from 82 to 171 acres, more than tripling on‑dock rail capacity to support up […]
Tariff uncertainty and rising costs weigh on heavy equipment dealers
North America, August 16, 2025 News Summary A survey of 160 verified North American dealerships finds tariff uncertainty is the top concern for dealers, followed by rising equipment costs and tighter financing. Most dealers report a cautious or worried market outlook, with many expecting buyers to pause purchases, lengthening replacement cycles and slowing inventory turnover. Dealers […]
Cleanroom firm adopts construction cloud as Haverhill site targeted in protest
Haverhill, Suffolk, August 16, 2025 News Summary Guardtech Group, a Suffolk cleanroom and contamination-control specialist, has implemented Autodesk Construction Cloud as its central data environment to link teams, manage documents and federate 3D models. The business reports improved document control, real-time access to drawings, clash detection and faster coordination across its turnkey, modular and prefabricated cleanroom […]