The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation, with activity being driven by an increased focus on environmental sustainability and workplace safety, and the growing importance of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. In the last three years alone, there have been over 27,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in construction: floating breakwaters. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
80+ innovations will shape the construction industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the construction industry using innovation intensity models built on over 240,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, waterproof floor drains, adjustable width road pavers and construction 3D printing are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Floating breakwaters, self-healing concrete and building panel interlocking are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are pneumatic door closers and embossed floor panels, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the construction industry
Floating breakwaters is a key innovation area in construction
Floating breakwaters refer to a type of water barrier that is designed to reduce wave energy and protect a shoreline or harbor. These breakwaters can be composed of materials such as concrete, metal, or plastic and can float either on the water's surface or be anchored to the sea floor. Floating breakwaters work by absorbing wave energy and reducing the height and force of waves before they reach the shore.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 145+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of floating breakwaters.
Key players in floating breakwaters – a disruptive innovation in the construction industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
One of the leading patent filers in floating breakwaters is DEME’s subsidiary Dredging International, a provider of dredging and marine engineering services. A key innovation of Dredging International include the development of a method for constructing a water barrier using a core of quarry run arranged on the underwater bottom and provided with a protective layer of stones or concrete blocks. The method is suitable for constructing a water barrier for relatively deep water. Further innovators in the space include Samsung C&T, a provider of building, civil infrastructure, urban development, plant, and housing construction services. A key innovation of Samsung C&T is the development of a wave-dissipating block with improved performance and strength of leg portions, while maintaining installation-related stability and a high porosity. The block comprises a body portion and three leg portions arranged around the body portion. Each leg portion has a lower leg portion that extends from the body portion downwards and outwards, and an upper leg portion that extends from the body portion in the upward direction.
In terms of application diversity, Temasek leads the pack, while HALO Maritime Defense and The U.S. government stood in the second and third positions, respectively.
By means of geographic reach, Temasek held the top position, followed by HALO Maritime Defense and The U.S. government.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Construction.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
