Brawn and Brains

Insights from CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026

Construction equipment is no longer just about providing crews what they need to get work done. Today’s equipment also has the smarts to help crews work more efficiently and safely.

And it’s not just core machines like excavators and wheel loaders that are being equipped with the latest smart sensors and other digital technology. Specialized equipment, including pavers, support equipment, such as generators, and safety systems, including cameras and lighting, are all being designed with smart features.

Driving those capabilities is the need and desire to help make crews’ lives easier and safer, as well as take some of the pressure off inexperienced workers.

Changing Conditions

One challenge that construction crews run into is changing jobsite conditions. Paving contractors using concrete know this all too well.

“In working closely with contractors, we heard a consistent theme,” said Matt Michel, senior vice president of Metal Forms, a provider of concrete paving forms. “Paving contractors need a machine that will stand up to the rigorous demands of their projects and be capable of meeting strict concrete consolidation specs.”

The problem, according to Michel, is that many projects require different vibrator spacing and output depending on owner specifications. One solution offered by Metal Forms is a roller screed that incorporates hydraulic vibrators.

“That technology makes it easier to adjust spacing,” Michel said. “Additionally, the display allows operators to monitor vibrator output and depth as they work, helping to ensure proper consolidation.”

Mobile generators are also impacted by changing construction jobsite conditions. Power demands vary throughout the day, which results in frequent periods when a generator isn’t running at optimum capacity.

That can cause issues with the generator’s diesel engine. Specifically impacted is the emissions equipment, where unburned fuel can increase carbon buildup and lead to higher fuel and oil consumption, and ultimately increased maintenance and downtime.

To combat this problem, Echo Industrial Power Equipment has developed Smart Emissions Technology (S.E.T.) for their line of diesel-powered generators. “S.E.T. adds a small electrical load to the generator during light and underloaded operating conditions,” explained Ryan Fredrickson, senior product marketing manager at Echo IPE. “This assures that the generator and emissions control equipment run efficiently at proper operating temperature.”

Safety Systems

Especially when construction crews are really feeling the pressure, it’s crucial to reinforce the importance of following jobsite safety protocols. It’s also advantageous to utilize some of the industry’s latest vehicle safety solutions.

“Technologies like obstacle detection systems, reversing alarms, mobile digital recorders and vehicle-mounted cameras help solve three major construction site safety risks,” said Akvile Willmore, group marketing communications lead for Brigade Electronics, the provider of a range of commercial vehicle safety systems. “Those include blind spots and poor visibility, noise and the theft of vehicles, tools and fuel.

“Now, AI-powered cameras can even determine if vehicles and other objects are moving or stationary and are able to recognize when certain obstacles happen to be human beings,” Willmore added.

A manufacturer of emergency warning and lighting equipment has also been taking steps to make vehicles safer. By tying into the vehicle itself, Whelen Engineering’s CenCom Core intelligent control system understands when a vehicle is in park, or how fast it’s going, and whether it’s day or night.

“Lighting adjustments are then made automatically based on what will be the most effective in a given situation,” said Chris Watkins, technology sales manager at Whelen Engineering. “The operator doesn’t have to be pressing buttons all the time. All they have to do is activate the lighting system, and automation handles the rest to keep that vehicle and those around it as safe as possible.”

Smart Value

That’s exactly what smart construction jobsite solutions are all about — improving safety and efficiency while taking some of the pressure off workers, noted Dana Wuesthoff, show director for CONEXPO-CON/AGG, North America’s largest construction trade show, managed by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

“The amount of equipment that’s designed to be more intuitive and easier to operate, and sometimes even capable of thinking and acting on its own, continues to grow at a rapid pace,” Wuesthoff concluded.