Housing futurists recommend businesses in the real estate and construction industries keep an eye on the following trends…
- Modular/prefab housing – Modular or prefabricated homes built off-site in a factory can reduce construction costs and timelines. The best housing futurists and keynote speakers say it allows for more affordable and scalable housing.
- 3D printing – Large-scale 3D printers can construct homes and components using concrete and other materials which can optimize design and customization.
- Self-driving vehicles – Autonomous vehicles and drones may enable automated delivery of modular housing components and materials, per today’s top housing futurists.
- Virtual/augmented reality – VR and AR can allow personalized virtual walkthroughs of homes and buildings that haven’t been constructed yet.
- Smart home devices – Voice assistants, smart appliances, sensors, and IoT devices can make homes more convenient, efficient, and responsive.
- Alternative building materials – Things like cross-laminated timber, bamboo, composite materials, and recycled plastics that the best housing futurists and keynote speakers note allow for sustainability benefits.
- Wearables & exoskeletons – Wearable tech can improve construction worker safety and productivity. Exoskeletons reduce injury and fatigue.
- Robots & cobots – Robots and collaborative robots can take over dangerous and repetitive construction tasks while working safely alongside humans.
- AI & machine learning – AI can help optimize design, predict costs and timelines, customize construction, and provide insights from big data analysis.
- Distributed ledger technology – Blockchain and distributed ledgers allow for more secure, transparent property and transaction records that can benefit many housing processes.
- 5G & new connectivity – Faster and more reliable wireless connectivity unlocks capabilities for things like smart cities, connected construction sites, and remote operation.
Staying abreast of these emerging technologies can help housing businesses capitalize on innovation and future-proof their operations, say leading housing futurists from within and without the field.