In Norway, electric vehicles outsold petrol and diesel cars combined this year. In Australia, the government spent billions of dollars building new roads for existing vehicles. We’re spending big money locking in our current infrastructure system, but the world is moving on rapidly. What happens when electric vehicles (EV) and autonomous vehicles (AV) come in the next 5-10 years? Will our new roads be made redundant?

Data’s not actually your solution

At a building level, data is collected almost constantly, whether from heat sensors to improve the building’s efficiency to who enters the doors and how much water they consume. Sentiment in the industry is that we need to collect more data, but there’s a difference between smart buildings and smart people. You can collect as much data as you like, but it is only a solution when something is done with it.

Crown Casinos are an example of using tech well (the irony is not lost). By using a data analytics system to solve issues in the building, they’ve saved a massive 2.6 Gigawatt hours of electricity (equivalent to powering 2,200 homes) (and a lot of money).

What do bitcoin and buildings have in common?

Blockchain, the technology behind bitcoin, has the potential to transform the industry, and it’s starting to show legs. Power Ledger has made peer-to-peer electricity sales possible using this technology. I can by excess solar from my neighbour when I need it, and they can do the same from me, all managed automatically online, and potentially without the need for the traditional electricity grid.

What does this mean for you?

Technology is changing rapidly, and it is important to be prepared for what is coming next. How are you preparing for future technology changes, to ensure your work won’t become redundant? Publications like The Fifth Estate are a great way to keep up with what is happening in the industry.