The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by an increased focus on environmental sustainability, productivity 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 construction site monitoring. 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 construction site monitoring is a key innovation area in Internet of Things
Smart construction site monitoring refers to the use of advanced technologies and systems to monitor and track construction sites. It involves the deployment of monitoring cameras and sensors at different locations on the construction site to capture real-time data and provide visual monitoring of the work carried out. These monitoring systems can be integrated with intelligent algorithms and software to analyze the data and provide insights on site conditions, worker safety, and equipment performance.
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 15+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of smart construction site monitoring.
Key players in smart construction site monitoring – 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 construction site monitoring
| Company | Total patents (2021 - 2023) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Komatsu | 311 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sumitomo Heavy Industries | 203 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hitachi | 136 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kobe Steel | 50 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Deere | 27 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Caterpillar | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kubota | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AB Volvo | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Doosan Infracore | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Continental | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Yanmar (Tokyo Office) | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| CNH Industrial | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Microsoft | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Komatsu, one of the world’s leading construction, mining, forestry, and military equipment manufacturers, is the leading player in terms of filings related to smart construction site monitoring. The company’s Smart Construction solutions deliver data, reports and remote capabilities. These cover a range of areas and technology, including Komatsu’s fleet mobile app technology, which enables users to manage mixed fleet load counts, as well as drone survey technology and Komatsu’s innovative Intelligent Machine Control (IMC), which enables users to program 3D design data directly into machines. Other leading filers include Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Hitachi.
In terms of application diversity, AB Volvo leads the pack, while Caterpillar and CNH Industrial stood in the second and third positions, respectively.
By means of geographic reach, Doosan held the top position, followed by Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Kobe Steel.
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.
