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Disruption is fundamentally changing the way the world works. Business leaders, government officials and consumers are constantly responding to shifts that would have seemed inconceivable a few years ago. One of the primary forces driving this disruption is technology.

Technological advancements have been disrupting business models throughout the past century. In recent decades, we鈥檝e witnessed a continuous wave of change brought about by the IT revolution 鈥� from the advent of the PC to the ubiquitousness of the Internet, mobile devices and social media. This has democratized data, empowered consumers and originated new industries. The next wave of disruption promises to be even more profound. It will be characterized by the Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and robotics, to name just a few.

These disruptors often affect current mega trends 鈥� global, sustained and macroeconomic forces of development that impact business, the economy, society and culture. In a way, they define our future world and its increasing pace of change. However abstract, mega trends can be used as a base for strategic work within all core business areas, from corporate and political strategy, business or product development to market innovation and construction.

Moving the city

Urbanization is one such mega trend that will largely drive industries, especially real estate, in our lifetime. According to the Frost and Sullivan report, 鈥�,鈥� more than 60 percent of the world鈥檚 population is expected to live in urban areas by 2025, as compared to 10 percent 100 years ago. Rapid expansion of city borders, driven by an increase in population and infrastructure development, will force downtowns to expand outward, and upward; surrounding cities will be engulfed.

The result will be the formation of mega regions 鈥� each made up of a series of cities interconnected by public transportation and with shared economic systems and natural resources that link the population together. Cascadia 鈥� the area from Vancouver, B.C., south to Portland 鈥� has been named an by the National Committee for America 2050.

Portland鈥檚 urbanization movement has begun to take form, illustrated by things like the surge in demand from developers for flexible spaces that allow functional transformations throughout a building鈥檚 life span. For instance, parking structures are now being designed with flat floors and higher ceilings in case they need to be converted into an office or apartment should a transportation disruptor surface (i.e., autonomous vehicles) reduce the need for that space. New building materials are also advancing rapidly to help structures adapt to the test of time.

Material science

Mortenson is leveraging the urbanization of Cascadia as a base for market innovation here in Portland and has dedicated resources to research and focus on construction-based material science exploration that will contribute to our city鈥檚 buildings of the future. One such material is the plastic resin used in 3-D printing, which some observers say is stronger than steel. Though not yet cost-effective for building large structures, 3-D printing is highly efficient for printing mock-ups and printing tools or parts on remote project sites. Once project teams have reviewed and approved design, the building pieces are printed in exact detail, which decreases the margin of error during the construction phase and therefore accelerates delivery.

Material science developments, such as self-healing bio-concrete, are playing a role in how we build for the future. Bio-concrete prevents damage to a concrete structure due to aging and natural disaster through self-healing components. Concrete is mixed with bacillus bacteria, and when exposed to water, the bacteria germinate, multiply and feed on the calcium lactate in the concrete to form limestone, which closes up cracks and leaves the concrete stronger than before. Stronger concrete allows buildings to last longer and provides an overall better product to owners and the community at large.

Advancement in safety

In a few years we鈥檒l witness material technology advance even further, using products like impact-resistant protective gear, including and exoskeletons, as safety multipliers for construction teams. Exoskeletons, which have been used to help paraplegics regain mobility and allow military soldiers to carry heavy loads, will permit our craftspeople to grasp heavy tools with minimal effort. With D3O, intelligent molecules react to heat and provide the wearer advanced impact protection in critical areas. These types of advancements in robotics and chemical engineering will help reduce jobsite injuries and prevent long-term impact to the human body, allowing crews to have healthier, longer careers.

By engaging mega trends and disruptors, Mortenson is focused on implementing the practices and technologies that produce the best possible product for our customers, the community and our team members. We鈥檙e also energized to work with many project partners that have similar goals and mindsets, which will have a meaningful impact on the future of our city. With these innovative technological advancements, it鈥檚 an exciting time to be a part of Portland鈥檚 real estate and construction industry.

Dan Mehls is the vice president and general manager of Mortenson鈥檚 Portland office. Contact him at 971-202-4113.