Innovation in the Next Ten Years: POMERLEAU’S VISION

The film franchise, Back to the Future, predicted that people would be operating hoverboards and flying cars in 2015. This fantastical prediction, which envisioned a world that revolved around innovation and technology, may not have been entirely accurate, but it lends itself to some truths today. The global population is not yet getting stuck in sky traffic after work or programming their robot for a day of chores like Hollywood envisioned the future to look like, however, advances are underway to transform the way society operates for the better.

The construction industry is an example of an industry expanding to adopt new ideas and pathways of thinking to evolve. Pomerleau is one of the general contractors leading the industry toward an innovative breakthrough. Having integrated technological tools on its projects like Building Information Modelling (BIM) in 2012, the company has built a reputation for its practices, emphasizing the importance of investing in innovation to remain at the forefront of change. When it comes to the future, it can be difficult to forecast where construction might be, but there are some exciting predictions. Just like in Back to the Future, choices made today can change the course of tomorrow. Here is a quick look at what Pomerleau thinks innovation in the construction industry will look like in ten years.

Research and Development Brought to Worksites

In 2019, Pomerleau launched the Foundation for Operational Excellence (FOX), a program aimed at facilitating change management at Pomerleau and optimizing processes through innovative solutions. Shortly after, in 2021, Pomerleau partnered with La Factry, Canada’s first training centre that specializes in developing creative skills, to create AXLAB, an accelerating lab dedicated to researching the potential of technology in construction processes. AXLAB and FOX now work together to execute research, development, and change management to remove non-value-added tasks, create value, and improve efficiency across Pomerleau’s sites and shared services.

“We have a clear innovation strategy and culture at Pomerleau. It is one of our values and drives our success as a company. As the industry grows and we accept more large-scale projects, innovation will always be present. Support for design and building coordination is provided using tools like 4D simulations, drones, 360 cameras, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). We are working on expanding this expertise by tracking and optimizing the lifecycle of a project in real time. To complement and support expertise on-site, tools like drones, robots, and artificial intelli- gence will be used to generate data-driven decisions and detect hazards. Evaluating technology with methods of construction will enhance the way we build and create safer sites,” said Yuri Bartzis, Innovation DirectorBuildings Operations.

Sustainability

In 2021, Pomerleau released its inaugural Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) report and platform, Perspective. The report outlines several specific ESG objectives that are to be achieved in a specific time frame. The Innovation team collaborates with the Environment team and employees on-site to reach these targets. By 2025, Pomerleau aspires to offer its clients traceability of residual materials across all its projects, and adopt a target for the reduction, reuse, and diversion of residual materials. The company is also working to reduce its GHG emissions by 40% by 2030 and electrify its fleet by 2025. These are all objectives the Innovation team is supporting.

“The focus in the future will be on sustainability. We are actively working on creating innovative, sustainable solutions to address prevalent construction challenges, as we recognize the urgency of the environmental crisis and the need to adapt to evolving regulations in the construction industry. When it is required by law to include impact reducing measures, we will be ready and will be a reference in the industry. We want to have full traceability of waste generated on-site using technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and GIS. To facilitate lifecycle assessment, BIM can be used to factor in the carbon footprint of a project to make decisions before it has commenced. Through prefabrication, we can replace harmful materials and reduce waste by fabricating building parts off-site. It is not only our goal to construct sustainable buildings but also to build sustainably,” said Vincent Melanson, Innovation Manager- R&D and Special Projects.

What’s Next?

As Pomerleau continues to invest in innovation and expand its teams, the company will continue to partner with academia and industry experts to propel its vision. Students are encouraged to apply for internships and be a part of the next generation of construction.

“We are looking forward to seeing what new changes we can adopt in our team to maintain our edge. The possibilities are endless,” said Bartzis.