WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN: Wisconsin businesses offering products, services, and technologies related to emerging technologies and automation may find opportunity in Canada’s construction industry.
As Canada works to update infrastructure and close a growing housing gap, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) may come to the rescue.
By streamlining construction processes, reducing costs, and helping to solve labor shortages, AI and robotics are “paving the way for a new era in Canadian construction,” according to Green Building Canada.
In a January 2025 article, Green Building Canada cites several projects at the forefront.
• Promise Robotics, of Edmonton, Alberta, has developed a system that uses robotic arms, equipped with AI, to read blueprints and execute tasks like cutting, nailing, and drilling. The portable systems can be used in warehouses near construction sites, cutting the cost of transporting and setting up the equipment. Promise Robotics says it can slash the time for building a home from 10 months to five months.
• Toronto-based Horizon Legacy has a robotic arm that functions as a portable 3D printer. It works with a specialized concrete mix to create walls with advanced insulation properties. The technology already has been used to complete a 26-unit housing project in Gananoque, Ontario.
• Researchers at the University of British Columbia’s Smart Structures Lab are adding technology to heavy equipment. They are retrofitting cranes, excavators, and loaders with sensors and wireless connectivity to create autonomous machines that can perform tasks such as material handling and precision placement, operations that can be hazardous for construction workers.
The government has said Canada needs to build nearly 4 million homes by 2031. In addition, through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the government is investing more than $33 billion CAD ($24 billion USD) in public infrastructure projects across the country.
The construction industry contributed more than $150 billion CAD ($110 billion USD) to Canada’s economy in 2024, about 7.4% of the gross domestic product, and employed 1.6 million people, according to Construction Canada news.
Wisconsin companies involved in technology innovations for the construction industry may find opportunities in Canada.
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