Throughout February, UrbanToronto is offering a special editorial series, State of Construction, covering all of the critical issues facing construction in our region.
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As digital tools are increasingly integrated into project delivery, construction sites across the GTA are looking significantly different than they did a decade ago. From AI-powered estimates and automated drone flights to 3D site scans and real-time logistics bookings, technology is changing the way projects are monitored, costed and coordinated. UrbanToronto spoke with Taylor Rogers, project manager at Dunpar Homes, to learn more about the technologies that are transforming the construction process.
Dunpar Homes’ 96-unit Lambton Towns rental community near St. Clair Avenue West and the 10-story Kingsway Village Square on Earlington rental project at The Kingsway and Dundas already use these tools in daily operations. “The construction industry has historically been a slow adopter. In many cases we are referred to as dinosaurs,” Rogers said.
Early stages of construction in Lambton Towns, image by YongeBloor, UrbanToronto Forum contributor
At Lambton Towns, Dunpar has gone beyond traditional progress photography by using automated drone flights that follow pre-programmed routes across the site. Equipped with LiDAR scanning, the drones produce a navigable 3D model that captures both plan and elevation conditions, allowing the team to check construction progress from multiple angles rather than relying solely on static images.
“During our excavation, the AI technology did a cut-fill calculation… telling us how much material we have on site and how much material we need to import or export, which is usually more of a guessing game for most builders,” Rogers noted.
Construction crews are actively working on site at Kingsway Village Square in Earlington, image courtesy of Dunpar Homes
Beyond the construction site, Dunpar uses AI to control costs before construction through automated digital inspections. Using Togal.AI, the team uploads floor plans and elevations and queries the system for quantities ranging from masonry area to number of windows, with built-in assumptions for material yield and waste. What once required a manual measurement process can now be generated in minutes, giving the project team verified quantities before bids are submitted. “With simple prompts, it can get me started in about three to five minutes,” Rogers shared.
On the management side, Dunpar is integrating AI into its long-standing use of Procore, introducing a query-based system that allows project teams to extract live data without having to manually generate reports. Rogers noted: “Instead of running reports and trying to analyze deficiencies, I can ask him specific questions: How many observations do I have on this trade that are currently open, and how many have been open for more than 30 days? We can ask more specific, targeted questions. This makes our conversations more strategic, rather than just speculating.”
Recent construction progress in Lambton Towns, image by JaneStClair, UrbanToronto Forum contributor
Dunpar is also preparing to implement a digital booking platform that will allow subcontractors to reserve delivery slots in advance, specifying the duration of the drop-off and required resources such as a telehandler or access to the loading area. The system then assigns available time slots and makes the schedule visible to on-site staff and trading partners in real time, replacing ad hoc inputs and manually updated boards.
At Kingsway Village Square, Dunpar used OpenSpace 3D scanning throughout construction to document conditions from excavation to pre-drywall inspection. Using a helmet-mounted 360-degree camera, on-site staff walk each floor as part of routine inspections while the system records a spatially mapped digital record of the building. The result is a navigable model that captures mechanical, electrical and structural components before hiding them behind concrete or drywall.
“We like to think of it as Google Earth,” Rogers said. “It creates a map, and you can walk into that room and turn around… and see what’s in the wall. We call it our X-ray vision.”
Kingsway Village Square in Earlington, image by ProjectEnd, UrbanToronto Forum contributor
Beyond productivity and cost control, Dunpar also uses AI for site security. The system, integrated into its scanning platforms, can detect missing guardrails and other potential hazards during routine patrols and automatically generate safety observations for follow-up. “If it sees a railing missing somewhere, it knows there should be a railing there and creates a safety observation for us,” Rogers noted.
Rogers acknowledges that widespread adoption across the construction sector will take time. He points to the industry’s long-standing preference for established processes, where methods refined over decades are often considered sufficient. Still, he argues that increasing pressure to deliver projects more efficiently, control costs and improve security is accelerating the shift toward data-driven workflows.
Lambton Towns designed by Dunpar Homes
“Just because you’ve been doing it this way for 25 years doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at new technologies,” Rogers concluded. “It’s not just about taking photos with a camera. It’s about preserving the data. Eventually the entire industry will adopt technologies like this.”
Kingsway Village Square in Earlington, designed by Turner Fleischer Architects for Dunpar Homes
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UrbanToronto’s research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe – from proposal to completion. Other services include instant reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from the first application.
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Thank you to the companies joining UrbanToronto to celebrate State of Construction Month.