The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by an increased focus on environmental sustainability and workplace safety, and the growing importance of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. In the last three years alone, there have been over 27,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Internet of Things in construction: smart waterproofing. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
80+ innovations will shape the construction industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the construction industry using innovation intensity models built on over 240,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, self-cleaning toilets and smart waterproofing are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Automated slurry-blast tools, sensor-integrated doors, and robotic excavators are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas is work vehicle cruise control, which is now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for Internet of Things in the construction industry
Smart waterproofing is a key innovation area in Internet of Things
Smart waterproofing refers to the use of advanced technologies and innovative methods to enhance the waterproofing performance of structures. It involves the integration of various materials, techniques, and systems to prevent water penetration, leakage, and damage in buildings and infrastructure. Smart waterproofing solutions leverage automation, sensors, data analysis, and real-time monitoring to improve the effectiveness, durability, and maintenance of waterproofing systems.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 370+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of smart waterproofing.
Key players in smart waterproofing – a disruptive innovation in the construction industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to smart waterproofing
| Company | Total patents (2021 - 2023) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| China State Construction Engineering | 271 | Unlock Company Profile |
| State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council | 203 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Railway Group | 179 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Communications Construction Group | 69 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Metallurgical Corporation of China | 52 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China MCC20 Group | 40 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Power Construction Corporation of China | 33 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Construction Group | 32 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Railway Design | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology | 24 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China MCC5 Group | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Railway Group | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Suzhou Duogu Engineering Design | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Guangzhou Metro Group | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The First Company of China Eighth Engineering Bureau | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Ershiye Construction | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Johnson Architectural & Engineering Design Consultants | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing Municipal Construction Group | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Oriental Rainbow Waterproof Engineering | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Trelleborg | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Baishan Zhongtian Development Group | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| 3rd Construction Construction 8th Engineering Division | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shenzhen Construction Engineering Group | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The Second Construction of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Tunnel Engineering | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| MCC5 Group Shanghai | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sika | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Yuanfang Groundwork Engineering | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Chongqing Construction Residential Engineering | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Metallurgical Group | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanxi Industrial Equipment Installation Group | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ccfeb Civil Engineering | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Tunnel Engineering | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Chongqing Construction Engineering Group | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| No2 Engineering of Cccc First Harbor Engineering | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Railway First Group | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| HYDROCHINA Chengdu Engineering | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Erchu Co Ltd Of China Railway Tunnel Group | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing Urban Construction Design & Development Group | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Anhui Construction Engineering Group | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| State Grid Corporation of China | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Guotsing | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Railway 16 Bureau Group Beijing Metro Engineering Construction | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zhongru Investment | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hengshui Yitong Pipe Industry | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Cscec City Construction Development | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shougang Group | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Energy Engineering Group | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 4 | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
One of the leading companies in the development of smart waterproofing solutions is Anhui Construction Engineering Group (ACEG), a general construction engineering contractor. ACEG’s key innovations include the construction of a floor and exterior wall attachment structure using a contrary sequence method. The structure prevents underground water from entering the basement by using bulge-structures and grooves on the floor and exterior walls, providing a basis for waterproof design. Further innovators in the space include Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), a construction contractor and provider of property management and engineering services. Key BUCG smart waterproofing developments include a continuous underground wall structure that reduces costs and effectively prevents water seepage. It achieves this by using diaphragm walls and concrete cylinder structures arranged side by side, below and above the rock stratum.
In terms of application diversity, leading innovators in the development of smart waterproofing include Shanghai Tunnel Engineering, Trelleborg and Shanghai Ershiye Construction.
By means of geographic reach, Trelleborg held the top position, followed by Sika and Suzhou Duogu Engineering Design.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things (IoT) in Construction.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
