Author: Peggy Smedley
In 2025, will construction be up? Will it be down? What will be some of the top trends that take hold? Which markets will soar? And how does technology fit into all of this? These are just a few of the most pressing questions on the minds of today’s construction executives. Fortunately, we can get a handle on some answers in FMI’s 2025 North American Engineering and Construction Overview: First Quarter. One big takeaway is while there is an assumed recession for the broader U.S. economy in 2025, FMI predicts construction and engineering spending will continue to expand. However, with…
Natural disasters such as wildfires continue to damage property, requiring restoration and rebuilding of towns around the world. Candidly most of us can’t truly imagine the devastation of a natural disaster, let alone any type of devastation from a disaster, unless we are faced with it. So, for today’s discussion, let’s consider how technology might help in times of need following the emergency crises and response of a disaster. Consider the Palisades Fire, which began January 7, 2025, and burned most of the month. While field damage inspection is still ongoing and subject to change as of this writing, we…
Peggy Smedley talks about one of the recent data breach reports. She says there were six mega-breaches in 2024, accounting for 85% of victim notices—and four of the largest breaches were preventable. She also discusses: Where we have been with cybersecurity in the past year—and what are the top five industries targeted. What we can surmise from today’s nefarious characters—and what is needed to fight back. What needs to happen next to protect our businesses in the year ahead. peggysmedleyshow.com (2/11/25 – 907) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G,…
Peggy and Calum Mair, commercial director, North America, EPD, talk about sourcing materials for construction and the impact tariffs could have on the industry. He says tariffs from Canada and Mexico have the potential to really shake up the construction space. They also discuss: The pros and cons of tariffs. The hidden opportunities for the construction industry. What we can expect in the next 12 months—and how we can prepare. epdparts.com/us (2/11/25 – 907) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Calum Mair, EPD…
Peggy Smedley and Karen Panetta, fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, talk about trends with AI (artificial intelligence) and smart homes and how it can help with energy efficiency. She says the most visible things people see are energy efficiency, health, and monitoring the smart home—but it is also in our appliances. They also discuss: An example of what makes an energy efficient home and what determines that. What technologies are being built in the new home—and the data it is providing. How extreme weather events come into play—and how AI can help with resiliency. ieee.org (2/11/25 – 907)…
Construction equipment continues to evolve, with the rise of autonomous, electric, AI (artificial intelligence), GPS, telematics, the IoT (Internet of Things), and other vehicle technologies. For today’s blog, let’s look at three big construction fleet trends to watch in the days ahead. Autonomous Construction Equipment Perhaps one of the biggest trends the industry continues to watch is the rise of autonomous equipment in construction. This is a trend I have been watching, as I have attended many conferences in the past. Autonomous is certainly something to keep in mind, as we build more infrastructure and cities of the future. Grandview…
Earlier this year, at CES 2025, we saw a bevy of innovative technologies aimed at making the transportation industry more productive, safer, and more energy efficient. For today’s blog, it’s time to zoom in on three significant movements underway that will impact transportation in 2025 and beyond. The race is on in the transportation industry because of slimmer margins, greater demands from shippers and regulators, security, and what seems to be the same discussion in every industry, a worker shortage, just to name a few. But, perhaps, one of the biggest changes is the quick rise of gen AI in…
Peggy talks about opportunities, drivers, and trends for industrial robots. She shares what manufacturers need to do to prepare for a robotic future, saying robots are coming—and in some instances, they are already here. She also discusses: How much the market is anticipated to grow. An example of a robot in space and what’s happening in warehouses. Five trends to watch in the year ahead. peggysmedleyshow.com (2/4/25 – 906) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast This episode is available on all major streaming…
Peggy Smedley and Zoltan Nagy, director, Intelligent Environments Lab, talk about what is happening to our data and who is actually looking at it. He says with the democratization of collecting data, the challenge is no longer can we get the data or how do we store all this data, but rather it is what do we do with all this data. They also discuss: If we are moving too fast without understanding what the right information is. The history of technology cycles and what happens when they burst. What we need to keep in mind in terms of climate…
Peggy Smedley and Deborah Perry Piscione, cofounder, Work3 Institute and coauthor, Employment Is Dead, talk about the 10 operating principles of work and how gen AI (artificial intelligence) can provide advanced training and upskilling. She explains how she and her coauthor came up with the title for the book. They also discuss: The difference between employment and employability. How technology is eliminating the middle manager. The importance of being in a continuous learning mentality. work3.me (2/4/25 – 906) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work,…