Ibon Iribar, investment and open advisor at Cemex Ventures, highlights the critical role of technology in supporting safety on construction sites.
IRONPROS: Products and programs designed to improve construction safety are slow to develop, resulting in increased risk on the jobsite. Why is this the case?
Ibon: Construction safety is a complex and multifaceted issue that involves many factors, such as human behavior, environmental conditions, regulatory compliance, organizational culture, and technological adoption. Developing products and programs that can effectively address these factors requires a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of the end-users, as well as a rigorous testing and validation process.
Moreover, the construction industry has traditionally been resistant to change because of its fragmented nature, disconnected value chain and enormous size, which makes it difficult to introduce new solutions and practices that can improve safety. Therefore, it takes time and significant testing to develop and implement products and programs that can make a positive impact on construction safety.
IRONPROS: Why should businesses look into upgrading and adopting new technology to increase safety on construction sites?
Ibon: Businesses should look beyond necessarily upgrading existing technologies, but rather toward adopting new technology to increase safety on construction sites because of the multiple benefits they provide, such as reducing the frequency and severity of accidents and injuries, which can save lives, lower costs, and enhance reputation, improving the efficiency and productivity of the construction process, enhancing the quality of construction, and attracting and retaining talent.
IRONPROS: What technologies will be available in the coming years that can help construction businesses boost safety during operations?
Ibon: Some of the technologies that are available and can already help construction businesses boost safety during operations. A few examples include:
- Wearable devices, such as smart helmets, vests, and gloves, can monitor the vital signs, location, and activity of the workers, and alert them of potential hazards and emergencies.
- Internet of Things (IoT), such as sensors, cameras, and drones, collect and analyze data from the jobsite, specifically in more insecure or dangerous environments, and provide real-time feedback and insights to optimize the performance and safety of the operations.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), such as algorithms, models, and systems, process and interpret large amounts of data, and provide predictive and prescriptive analytics to prevent and mitigate risks and incidents.
- Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), such as headsets, glasses, and applications, enhance the visualization and simulation of construction scenarios and provide immersive and interactive training and guidance to workers.
- Robotics and automation, such as machines, vehicles, and tools, perform tasks that are dangerous, repetitive, or tedious, and reduce the exposure and workload of the workers.
- Drones and aerial surveys, to monitor work progress, identify potential hazards and risks or inspect hard-to-reach areas.
- Autonomous and remote-controlled vehicles, to handle activities in hazardous or high-risk environments. Operators are able to control the equipment from a considerable safe distance and ensure their safety.
IRONPROS: What types of safety risks are easiest to address with new technology? Why?
Ibon: Some of the types of safety risks that are easiest to address with new technology are:
- Physical hazards, such as falls, slips, trips, collisions, and electrocutions. With new technology, these can be detected in advance and avoided thanks to wearable devices, IoT, and robotics and automation.
- Environmental hazards, such as noise, dust, heat, and cold, can be measured and controlled by using sensors, cameras, and drones.
- And finally, informational hazards. Lack of awareness, communication, and coordination can be improved and facilitated by using new and easy to use digital technologies.
These types of safety risks are easiest to address with new technology because they are relatively objective, quantifiable, and predictable.
IRONPROS: On the other end of that, what types of safety risks are hardest to address with new technology? Why?
Ibon: Some of the types of safety risks that are hardest to address with new technology are:
- Behavioral hazards, such as human error, fatigue, stress, and complacency, that can affect the judgment, decision, and action of the workers, and compromise their safety. This is because it’s unpredictable.
- Other cultural aspects, such as lack of trust, collaboration, and accountability, may also undermine the effectiveness, adoption, and integration of the technology.
These types of safety risks are hardest to address with new technology because they are more subjective, qualitative, and variable, and depend on the attitude, behavior, and perception of the workers, the organization, and the society in context.
IRONPROS: What are some hidden challenges businesses should know about when adopting new construction technology?
Ibon: There are a few challenges that businesses should know about when adopting new construction technology.
First off, training and education are crucial for any new technology to be successful. Companies must provide adequate and continuous learning opportunities and resources to their workers to ensure that they have the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to use the technology effectively and safely. Without it, the benefits of implemented technology cannot be exploited.
Second, an important barrier to implementation is cost. Many companies or organizations are skeptical about the upfront costs and ROI, as it is harder to demonstrate its value and impact on the business objectives and outcomes if it’s a more nascent technology. However, slow adoption can lead to more costs in the form of renumeration, penalties, and the secondary and tertiary effects that result from a lack of competitiveness and innovation.
Another huge challenge, specifically related to technologies that run on information, is security and privacy, such as the need to protect the data and information that are generated, stored, and transmitted by the technology, and to comply with the relevant laws and regulations. This, however, can be overcome by correct legal compliance, which differs by territory. It requires a bit more collaboration with company’s legal teams, but in the long term, provides more advantages than disadvantages.
IRONPROS: Please provide an overview of Cemex Ventures and its mission.
Ibon: Cemex Ventures is the corporate venture capital and open innovation unit of Cemex, a global leader in the building materials industry. Cemex Ventures was launched in 2017 with the aim of investing in and partnering with innovative tech solutions and entrepreneurs to foster the construction industry revolution. In 2022, Cemex Ventures included acceleration to its value proposition, with the launch of an exclusive startup acceleration program, Cemex Ventures Leaplab.
Looking outward, we focus on four key areas: Green Construction (sustainability), Enhanced Productivity (efficiency and digitalization), Construction Supply Chain (agility and connectedness), and Future of Construction (disruption). Apart from investing, collaboration agreements, and acceleration services, we are dedicated to propelling innovation through other mechanisms such as Construction Startup Competition, which we host with other industry corporates, our Top 50 Contech Startups List and Report, and our Cleantech Construction Map.
IRONPROS: What can customers expect from Cemex Ventures in 2024?
Ibon: As a corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, we aren’t B2C, but our efforts are intended to improve the sustainability and offering of Cemex for its customers. In the upcoming months, we expect to release new developments related to Construction Startup Competition 2024. We will be announcing the winners of this year’s competition and then bringing audiences with us to Las Vegas, where we, along with the other 8 competition partners, will host a Pitch Day for winners to pitch to eager industry investors and potential clients and partners.
Moreover, we look forward to expanding our investment portfolio and our geographic presence and collaborating on more projects, such as the implementation of pilot and demonstration projects that can test and validate the feasibility and scalability of the products and services.
