The construction sector is booming, reporting a 6% growth last quarter. Demand is forecasted to average between $39 billion and $46 billion annually between 2026 to 2029, fuelled by behemothian projects such as the construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5, the expansion of Marina Bay Sands, and new MRT lines.

Yet, this glowing forecast may be overshadowed by looming challenges: acute manpower constraints, an ageing workforce, increasing scarcity of skilled workers, and rising expectations for safety and quality. For an industry historically reliant on manual labour, these pressures could spell a crisis. However, they could also catalyse a fundamental reinvention. 

“These challenges call for innovation and new collaborative approaches that will benefit the entire Built Environment sector,” observes Kenny Lim, director of JTC’s Building Projects Division. The solution, he argues, lies in an embrace of more digitalisation, more AI, more robotics, and more sustainability. “In short,” he says, “working smarter, faster, greener and safer together.”

From blueprint to building

Technology is already transforming this vision into reality across several JTC sites. 

In design and delivery, for example, JTC has launched Optimus, an in-house Connected Data Environment. Optimus combines the entire design and delivery process in one digital platform. This reduces errors, improves communication, and speeds up decisions. As Kenny puts it: "Less time is spent reconciling project matters, and more time focusing on what truly matters."

On construction sites, automation is taking over repetitive and high-risk tasks. “Plastering, concrete levelling, painting, and drilling robots are already on site,” notes Kenny. They help to reduce human exposure to high-risk activities, while improving precision and consistency. Such automation deployment will not be a niche experiment but a new standard, and robotics adoption will be specified in future tenders. 

At the same time, technology is also making construction greener. JTC is taking steps towards decarbonisation by deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems in current projects. These systems enable cleaner, quieter, and more efficient construction power.

Innovation through collaboration

"We know that transformation happens when vision meets execution. And execution requires collaboration," says Kenny. Strategic partnerships between JTC and technology firms are delivering innovative solutions. 

Take Novade, a field management platform deployed across projects including Bulim Square @ Jurong Innovation District, semiconSpace, and the new Science Centre. From smart form automation to predictive models identifying safety risks, Novade's AI enhances every stage of project delivery. "We're digitising site processes and capturing data to track quality, safety, and productivity in real time," Kenny explains.

Airsquire's 360° virtual site technology captures construction progress easily, giving all stakeholders — from clients to contractors — the same view of progress. Doing so strengthens documentation, prevents disputes, and gives every stakeholder the same view of progress. 

Elsewhere, another collaboration tackles cash flow. A Deep Tier Financing pilot with Doxa Connex, Visa, and UOB allows contractors and their supply chains to access early payment at competitive financing rates. "This matters because cash flow is the bloodstream of every project," Kenny emphasises. Once a payment certificate is issued, funds can be drawn down almost immediately, thereby strengthening cashflow, reducing uncertainty, and building trust across the entire value chain. 

Rethinking frameworks

However, technology alone isn't enough to drive meaningful transformation without evolving commercial structures. Contracting frameworks like NEC4, which prioritises collaboration, trust, and transparency, aim to overcome the limitations of conventional contracts. “They promote joint problem-solving and ensure fairer risk allocation," Kenny notes.

This aligns everyone's incentives towards shared outcomes rather than individual positions. "By adopting frameworks like NEC4, we're creating conditions for safer, faster, higher-quality delivery," he adds.

Meanwhile, a new initiative known as the Integrated Digital Delivery Tech Alliance complements this by creating a curated marketplace of validated solutions endorsed for deployment. "This gives technology partners confidence that there's a clear pathway for their investments in innovation to be applied in real projects," Kenny explains.

Sites of the future

This digital revolution requires more than technological advancement — it needs stakeholder buy-in. "We cannot do this alone," Kenny concludes. "Every milestone has only been possible because of our partners' commitment and innovation."

Looking ahead, JTC envisions construction sites without lights — fully automated worksites where robots prepare materials overnight whilst workers rest. "By morning, packages arrive at designated spots with required tools, materials, and instructions neatly packed," Kenny describes. "This is the transformation we're striving for, where technology makes construction smarter, faster, greener, and safer.”