Emerging Construction Technology Trends at Groundbreak 2026: Day 2 Highlights

Day 2 of Groundbreak 2026 focused on barriers in construction technology. Attendees, including contractors, project managers, and superintendents, discussed challenges associated with obtaining and addressing RFIs, integrating separate, unrelated software, site conditions, and resolution of clashes.

At iFieldSmart AI, the primary focus of our efforts associated with the challenges discussed is in the domain of agentic AI and integrated VDC, mixed reality, and reality capture. In this blog, we discussed our key takeaways from the second day of the conference and describe how technologies from this field can assist construction teams in addressing challenges with project workflow, integration, and overall efficiency.

Four Challenges Shaping Construction Technology

Four main themes came up repeatedly: having project documents at the speed of business, connecting the software teams already use, reducing surprises with coordination, and visibility into the jobsite. The sessions we attended gave those themes some structure. As usual, the ideas in the sessions belong to the speakers. The takeaways below are our own.

Finding the Right Information, Faster

An early session discussed methods that construction teams can utilize to make RFIs, submittals, and daily logs less difficult to search and analyze. Participants in the session spoke about locating project information in an efficient and timely manner to make project decisions. This is often a challenge on various projects. Most project teams don’t have a missing-information problem. They have a finding-information problem, and it eats the exact hour a decision needs.

This is where our Agentic AI solutions come in. They read, compare, and analyze construction documents to help engineers avoid digging through them. It means locating the status of open items, identifying the drawing or specification associated with the open item, and drafting a follow-up request for clarification.

It’s a simple test. Find one of the many items the team is always asking about, such as which specification revision changed a requirement, and time yourself answering it. That’s your baseline.

Breaking Down Software Silos

A community discussion on ecosystem integrations sounded familiar. Picture one change moving through a drawing set, an RFI log, a photo folder, and the schedule, with a person retyping it at every stop. Every manual handoff is another chance to get something wrong. Our take: before you shop for a new platform, look at how well your current ones share information. Try tracing a single submittal through every system it touches. Count the handoffs, then cut one.

Connecting Design Intent with Site Reality

A session on connecting BIM models to live execution covered coordination, submittals, and inspections. The core idea? A model only helps if the field matches it.

That’s where our VDC and mixed reality solutions, including Oculus-based experiences, come in. By overlaying the model on existing site conditions, teams can spot potential discrepancies before the next trade builds around them. iFieldSmart AI also supports BIM coordination, clash detection, and field verification before work moves forward. Try it on your most cramped space first, like a mechanical room, and compare model and field at your next milestone.

Building a Digital Twin from Day One

The digital twin session made a point we like: don’t wait until handover to build a twin. Give it a try at the next project kickoff.

Lens360 makes it possible for teams to take photos of the project site using a 360-degree camera at various stages of the project. This not only documents the project progress, but also helps answer team members’ questions about the site conditions. With these records, a team can review history when questions arise and compare documented conditions to the model.

The visual history is useful to assist the closeout process, as well as for completing warranty work and future renovations. It is less important to have the right gear, and more important to be diligent, so appoint one individual to be responsible for the process. Schedule your first capture this week, even if it’s small.

Using Data to Spot Risks Earlier

The “Algorithms vs. Instinct” session explored how project teams can combine experience with data to identify risks earlier. A skilled superintendent is usually good at recognizing a tight sequence across the site. iFieldSmart AI helps teams validate their on-site observations by analyzing historical project data and identifying similar issues encountered on previous projects. The AI helps predict these issues by providing data for past due RFIs, past due trades, and any unresolved coordination issues. Look at your last three projects and determine where problems appeared late; those would be great areas to improve by implementing better data.

A Practical Approach to AI Adoption

As for the pragmatic AI application process, it is simple: start with analyzing the existing need rather than going for a fancy device. We’ve watched that play out. Identify and approach an ally (champion) and check up on that person in 2 weeks. After that, assess and expand if necessary.

Connecting Construction Technology for Greater Impact

Day 2 showed us that integration of multiple construction technologies can multiply the benefits to the construction industry. Project records capture the decisions. BIM captures the design intent. Reality capture shows the true conditions. Analytics looks for patterns. Agentic AI helps people act on what turns up. Bringing these features together results in an asset for managing projects. The device has applications in existing files, images, and designs.

Five Practical Steps for Your Next Project

Here are five practical steps construction teams can implement next week to turn these insights into measurable improvements.

Evaluate AI-assisted document review with benchmark question one.

Identify a handoff in a workflow and eliminate a step in the workflow.

Compare the BIM model and field conditions at significant model completion phases.

Establish a repetitive 360-degree capture process for one project.

Assign one person to own your first AI pilot.

Looking Back at Groundbreak 2026

Groundbreak 2026 reinforced a simple lesson: construction teams don’t need more data; they need the right information in the right hands at the right time.

The challenges discussed on Day 2 reflect the focus of our work at iFieldSmart AI. Agentic AI enhances access to project information. VDC (Virtual Design Construction) and mixed reality can connect design intent to field conditions. Lens360, combined with other available technologies, helps teams document and visualize conditions as they exist in the field.