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Global construction update: the innovation issue

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Home Perspectives Global construction update: the innovation issue
One year on from the launch of Chat GPT on November 30, 2022, technology and innovation remains a top priority for Reed Smith and its clients. Most would agree that the world changed profoundly when Chat GPT hit the market – not only because its technology was now widely accessible but also because the true potential of AI to transform our world came sharply into focus.
Industrial technology concept. Communication network. INDUSTRY 4.0. Factory automation.

The construction industry has always been at the forefront of innovation – pushing the boundaries of possibility through staggering feats of architecture, engineering, and construction methods. In its time, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York was the longest suspension bridge ever built and was hailed a “wonder” of the industrial world, while Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 828 meters tall, reflects the literal heights to which current building technology extends.

As the construction industry looks to the future, the potential for technology to deliver time and cost efficiencies on projects is a hot topic, particularly given the current climate of economic and political volatility. The drive towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable construction methods also demands innovation as the potential impacts of climate change remain a worldwide concern.

As 2023 draws to a close, this edition of Reed Smith’s global construction update explores the theme of “innovation,” including the opportunities that technology and new contracting methods present, along with the legal risks involved.

In this edition:

  • Nicolas Walker, Yashovardhan Seth and Vanessa Thieffry (Paris) explore how comprehensive energy management frameworks, namely subscription-based EaaS and CaaS models, are disrupting the energy industry.
  • Antonia Birt and Avinash Poorooye (Dubai) highlight potential liability risks in projects driven by “building information modeling” (BIM) and consider how stakeholders can mitigate those risks.
  • Laura Riddeck and Kyle Sethi (London) consider how 3D printing has revolutionized the construction industry and the legal risks presented by its more widespread use.
  • Clément Fouchard, Erwan Robert (Paris) and Deborah Behar (Legal Manager of VINCI Construction Grand Projets) explore the benefits of AI during the life cycle of a project. They also grapple with the fundamental question of whether and how AI can produce faster and better projects, as well as fewer disputes.
  • Tim Cooke answers questions from Michael Chee (Singapore) about developments and trends in Asia’s construction industry, including the increasing use of BIM, AI, and smart contracts for better project and contract management.
  • Sachin Kerur and Alison Eslick (Dubai) put a spotlight on five of Saudi Arabia’s most eye-watering GIGA projects and the legal challenges their innovation presents.

To read the edition in full, please download the PDF below.

Access our previous newsletter editions: the sustainability issue; the nuclear issue; and the volatility issue.