The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by an increased focus on workplace safety, circular construction and environmental sustainability, and the growing importance of technologies such as robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT). In the last three years alone, there have been over 248,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Environmental sustainability in Construction: Rainwater harvesting systems. 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 stabilising 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 179,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, green roofing is a disruptive technology that is in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. HAWT wind turbines, environmental barrier coatings, and vacuum-insulated glazing are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are hybrid electric heavy machinery and energy-efficient HVAC system, which are now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for environmental sustainability in the construction industry

Rainwater harvesting systems are a key innovation area in environmental sustainability

Rainwater harvesting is an environmentally sustainable and efficient source of water. The three most common methods to harvest rainwater are direct pumped, indirect pumped and indirect gravity 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 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of rainwater harvesting systems.

Key players in rainwater harvesting systems – a disruptive innovation in the construction industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to rainwater harvesting systems

Leading companies in the development of rainwater harvesting systems include China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). Key patents filed by SASAC in the space include an environment-friendly rainwater collecting and utilising device for buildings, comprising a rainwater collection tank with an arc-shaped cover plate mounted on the top of the rainwater collection tank and a generator within the collecting pipe. The gravitational potential energy generated by rainwater dropping drives the generator wheel to rotate to generate electricity, while a rainwater filter installed on the pipeline of the collecting pipe purifies and filters the rainwater.

In terms of application diversity, leading innovators in the development of rainwater harvesting systems include Watergen, a developer of atmospheric water generator systems, and Honeywell International, an engineering and technology company.

In terms of geographic reach, leading companies in the space include KSB, a German multinational manufacturer of pumps, valves and related services, and Teijin, a manufacturer of carbon fibre products, synthetic fibre, and water purification systems.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Construction.

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.