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Research Reports
2026 Annual AI Benchmarking Report
KEY INSIGHTS:
AI is now core strategy for most AEC firms. The share of firms calling it central rose from 27% to 42%, and 92% now fund dedicated AI initiatives.
Implementation is maturing around collaboration. Ratings of AI efforts improved, and use is consolidating around everyday coordination like project management and collaboration.
Barriers have […]
2026 Annual Building Tech Benchmarking Report
KEY INSIGHTS:
Generative AI has moved firmly into routine use across surveyed organizations, with 88% reporting at least moderate impact, though adoption skews toward execution and verification stages like construction/operations and QA rather than early-stage ideation.
Early Concept & Feasibility technologies remain largely in the testing phase, with Test Fit Technology showing […]
Q2 2026 Venture Report: State of Built World Venture Markets
Table of Contents
Introduction
Overarching Built Environment Venture Trends
Macro Landscape
U.S. Construction Spending
European Construction Volume
Interest Rates
Investment Trends by Stage
Geographic Segmentation
Investment Trends by Country
Investment Trends by City
Investment Trends Segmented by BuiltWorlds’ Technology Subcategory
Tech Classification System
Construction Tech
Building Tech
Infrastructure Tech
Built Environment Tech Mergers and Acquisitions
Conclusion
Introduction
Q2 2026 marked a normalization in built-environment technology venture activity following Q1’s […]
2026 Annual Equipment & Robotics Benchmarking Report
KEY INSIGHTS:
Jobsite robotics adoption rose sharply in 2026, with some level of use up nearly 45% year-over-year and the pilot-only group nearly tripling, signaling growing awareness and willingness to test the technology.
Fleet management adoption has grown more consistent, with regular use (excluding pilots) indicated by about two-thirds of organizations and […]
2026 Annual Field Solutions Benchmarking Report
KEY INSIGHTS:
Demand for real-time visibility is a common thread across every category. Progress tracking, site visualization, and equipment and workforce visibility consistently ranked among the top use cases and motivations across every solution category, suggesting that while jobsites are more instrumented than ever, converting that data into timely, actionable insights […]
Q1 2026 Venture Report: State of Built World Venture Markets
Table of Contents
Introduction
Overarching Built Environment Venture Trends
Macro Landscape
U.S. Construction Spending
European Construction Volume
Interest Rates
Investment Trends by Stage
Geographic Segmentation
Investment Trends by Country
Investment Trends by City
Investment Trends Segmented by BuiltWorlds’ Technology Subcategory
Tech Classification System
Construction Tech
Building Tech
Infrastructure Tech
Built Environment Tech Mergers and Acquisitions
Built Environment Tech Public Markets
Conclusion
Introduction
Q1 2026 was a breakout quarter for built […]
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Top Lists
2026 AI Top 50
The BuiltWorlds AI Top 50 List recognizes companies making a significant impact on how artificial intelligence is applied across the AEC industry. The list is derived from insights gathered through […]
2026 Building Tech Top 50
Welcome to the 2026 Building Tech Top 50! The Building Tech Top 50 List was derived from a combination of survey data from the 2026 Building Tech Benchmarking Survey, direct […]
2026 Tools & Equipment Top 50
Welcome to the 2026 Tools & Equipment Top 50! The Tools & Equipment Top 50 List was derived from a combination of survey data from the 2026 Field Solutions Survey […]
2026 Robotics Top 50
Welcome to the 2026 Robotics Top 50 List! The Robotics Top 50 List was derived from a combination of the 2026 Equipment & Robotics Survey data, direct industry research, member […]
2026 Field Solutions Top 50
Welcome to the 2026 Field Solutions Top 50 List! The Field Solutions Top 50 List was primarily derived from insights gathered in our 2026 Field Solutions Benchmarking Survey, with additional […]
6th Annual Global Innovators 50
The 2023 BuiltWorlds Maverick Awards winners highlights 50 individuals who have acted as trendsetters and innovators in the built world, from architects and engineers to contractors, technologists, influencers, entrepreneurs, and urban designers.
Inertia Systems’ blade ai Takes Demo Day by a Single Point: Takeaways from Buildings 2026
blade ai by Inertia Systems won the Demo Day pitch competition at the Buildings Conference: Data Centers & AI Infrastructure in Nashville. It was the closest finish of the year, with just one point separating first and second place.
David Wilkinson, Sales Director at Inertia Systems, pitched alongside CTO Mark Klusza. […]
From Starchitects to Superintendents: What Nine Years of Mavericks Say About Where the Built World Is Headed
Nominations for the 2027 BuiltWorlds Mavericks are now open.
When BuiltWorlds named its first Mavericks in 2018, the list read like a who’s who of the built world’s most famous names. Frank Gehry and Jeanne Gang represented architecture. Tracy Young of PlanGrid represented a then-new wave of construction software. Alongside them […]
The 2026 Investor Awards in Review, and What’s Next in 2027
In March, BuiltWorlds presented its 2026 Investor Awards at Venture West in San Francisco, honoring the firms and programs doing the most to fund and scale innovation in the built environment. Applications are now open for the 2027 Investor Awards, which will be presented next March at the newly rebranded […]
The Data Center Boom has a Verification Problem
Data center construction spending in the US rose 57% in the 12 months leading up to July 2026, while total construction employment rose just 1%.
AGC of America’s analysis of Census Bureau data puts this boom into context: even as data center construction surged, other private office construction fell 10.6% over […]
Step Into the Future in the AI & Digital Construction Zone at Chicago Build Expo
Visitors to Chicago Build can explore the technologies reshaping the built environment at the AI & Digital Construction Zone, a dedicated feature for construction technology, digital transformation and practical AI adoption.
Taking place on October 28-29, 2026 at McCormick Place, Chicago Build will bring together 30,000+ construction and design professionals for […]
Chicago Build 2026 Agenda Highlights Tech, Data Centers, and Midwest Growth
Chicago Build 2026 returns to McCormick Place on October 28 and 29, bringing together 30,000+ AEC and built environment professionals for two days of insights, networking, product discovery and business opportunities.
Following the launch of registration earlier this year, attention is now turning to the 2026 agenda, with sessions exploring the […]
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Caterpillar taps University of Illinois students to ideate products in CATLab
In the built industry, we’re often wondering — how can we encourage the next generation to pursue careers in AEC and beyond? Here, we learn how equipment giant Caterpillar is getting a jump start by partnering with the University of Illinois at Chicago to create interdisciplinary challenges for students in the CATLab. “Having new and fresh minds is very important for the business,” says Samantha Melchiori, Marketing and Digital Applied Research Team at Caterpillar. It’s not all just about the industry, though. Students benefit from the real-world experience with a large company, faculty, and students of other UIC colleges. A bonus: They might even see their product ideas, research, and prototypes eventually brought to market. Join us as we take a tour of their labs and learn more about the program.
How this concrete contractor creates a close-knit culture while growing its business
We drove to Ohio to spend a day with middle-market concrete contractor, Lithko, whose unique town-based model has allowed them to grow their business to 16 operating units (and counting) while maintaining a tight-knit, family-like culture. We talked to several Lithko employees and their CEO to learn why their company culture is so important and ingrained in their day-to-day operations.
How the Construction Industry Institute catapults AEC research into safety solutions
In this episode of BW Sessions, we head to Austin to visit the Construction Industry Institute, based at The University of Texas at Austin. The CII is a consortium of more than 130 owner, engineering-contractor, and supplier firms from across the public and private arenas. These organizations have joined together to combine researchers and the field to bring the theoretical into the real world.
Bractlet: This Technology Increases Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings
Hardware. Software. Analytics. Data. In this episode of All Hands on Tech, we traveled to Austin, TX to visit Bractlet, a new technology that harnesses all of the above to optimize and increase energy efficiency in large commercial buildings. It’s not as simple as setting back thermostats. Watch to see […]
User-centered architectural design: Zurich’s North American headquarters
Explore the user-centered architectural design of Zurich Insurance Group’s brand new North American headquarters in this episode of Project Innovation. We hear from Zurich (owner), Clayco (general contractor), and Goettsch Partners (building architect) on how they incorporated feedback from Zurich employees in the design process. The result? A workplace that […]
IoT sees increase in investment from real estate sector
On this episode of Venture, Moderne Ventures founder, Constance Freedman, dropped by our office to discuss the many tech trends affecting the real estate investment market today. She gives her take on how the Internet of Things is changing how we work and live.
Click here to learn more about Moderne […]