AI in Construction: How can artificial intelligence pave the way for smart construction?

Artificial intelligence does make people’s lives easier in many ways. With the power of digital assistants such as Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa, you can get multiple benefits directly from your smartphone.

In today’s world, various industries such as healthcare, e-commerce, financial services, etc. are taking full advantage of artificial intelligence and realizing its full potential. This technology helps businesses grow by leaps and bounds, improving quality, safety and efficiency.

However, it has been observed that engineering and construction are lagging in implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. The construction industry is worth over $10 trillion annually.

The growth of the industry is severely constrained due to the complex challenges faced by the construction industry. Addressing challenges such as cost and time overruns, labor shortages, health and safety, and productivity could revolutionize the industry.

The construction industry has huge potential, and through digitization alone, the value of the construction industry can be increased to $1.6 trillion annually, economically. Artificial intelligence in construction can help enable this transformation.

According to a report, the artificial intelligence in construction market is expected to generate revenue of $2.6424 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 26.3% from 2019 to 2026. Technological advances in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) will create more opportunities for development in the construction and engineering fields.

Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Smart Construction

Artificial intelligence in the construction industry is undergoing a digital transformation. Across all stages of project construction, from design to pre-construction, construction to operations and asset management, we focus on technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to develop the potential of the construction industry to the next level.

The application of artificial intelligence in the construction industry makes a significant difference, allowing tasks to be completed in less time and at a lower cost.

The planning, design and construction sub-items are expected to achieve maximum benefits. Within the global construction industry, the European market is expected to grow faster than other regions.

This technology shift will have a positive impact on all stakeholders throughout the project, including contractors, owners and service providers. As other adjacent industries such as transportation and manufacturing have begun to operate as an ecosystem, it has become even more important for the construction industry to adapt to the digitization of processes.

In the field of engineering construction, technology conversion is still in its early stages, so it is beneficial to companies that upgrade technology. With artificial intelligence in construction, businesses can easily solve current problems while avoiding past mistakes.

With the use of statistical techniques from machine learning in construction, examining data related to change orders, information requests, and more has become more convenient and time-saving. This will help proactively remind project leaders of things that need to be focused on. Security monitoring can also be carried out more efficiently.

Examples of Artificial Intelligence in Construction

It is established that artificial intelligence is a key component of modern engineering and construction methods. Artificial intelligence in construction helps the industry solve huge challenges such as cost, schedule overruns and safety issues. Artificial intelligence can be leveraged throughout construction projects, from initial design, bidding, financing, transportation management, operations and asset management.

Let’s take a detailed look at the application of artificial intelligence in the construction industry:

1. Planning and design through generative design

Building information modeling based on artificial intelligence ( BIM) process that helps architecture, engineering, and construction professionals create 3D models to efficiently plan, design, construct, and repair buildings and infrastructure.

Through machine learning in construction, the industry uses AI-driven generative design to identify and collaborate on architectural, engineering, mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans to ensure there are no conflicts between sub-teams. These measures reduce the risk of rework. ML algorithms explore all options and variations of a solution to create design alternatives. Create a model with multiple variations and learn from each iteration, repeating this process until you create a perfect model.

It is expected that the planning and design segment will grow exponentially at a compound annual growth rate of 28.9% between 2019 and 2026.

2. Measuring on-site progress

Construction companies can use artificial intelligence robots equipped with cameras. These robots can move autonomously around construction sites and capture 3D images.

With the help of neural networks, these images can be cross-checked with reference to information from the BIM and information from the bill of materials. Engineers managing large projects use this information to track work progress and also help identify quality errors early and keep financial information and timelines on hand.

It is no exaggeration to say that robots and artificial intelligence in the construction industry ensure the delivery of the best construction projects while saving costs and time.

3. Powerful fleet management

Construction companies are leveraging the features of the Internet of Things (IoT) to manage equipment and vehicle fleets. With input from AI metrics, IoT provides solutions such as location awareness, predictive maintenance capabilities, fuel and battery consumption, and more.

With IoT devices and tags, it is now possible to predict the likelihood of equipment failure, a valuable tool that saves time and money.

4. Create a safer workplace

Construction sites are prone to accidents for a variety of reasons. Many of these accidents can be avoided by analyzing and predicting risks through machine learning. Monitoring sources such as photos and videos through software flags potential risks that website administrators can address when appropriate.

Users can access reports on potential safety risks such as unsafe scaffolding, waterlogging and personnel lacking protective equipment such as gloves, helmets and safety glasses to sort projects.

5. Alleviating labor shortages

As mentioned in the introduction, artificial intelligence has huge potential in construction management. There is always a shortage of labor in the construction industry because of the risks involved and the fact that it is a physical job. The average turnover rate in the construction industry is much higher than any other industry.

In this case, AI bots enable project managers to oversee real-time conditions and resource needs across multiple job sites. Labor can be moved to different parts of the project or to different job sites as needed. The robot monitors the site to find areas of pain.

How artificial intelligence is driving smart construction

Companies that want to stay ahead of this competitive advantage should quickly upgrade their technology. By incorporating artificial intelligence, smart construction can be achieved. Let’s explore the importance of artificial intelligence in architecture.

1. Enhance the project design process with AI-driven insights

The current architectural design process is outdated and therefore slow. Project designs can be optimized by gaining insights from construction data, materials data and environmental data.

2. Integrate AI automation into project management workflow

When completing build process tasks manually, it is tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone. Project managers spend most of their time assigning work and managing employee records.

However, artificial intelligence can automate many of these mundane tasks, which can be performed with minimal or zero errors. AI automation can also enable task delegation based on data collected from employees. Not only does this streamline workflow, it also encourages employees to focus on their areas of expertise.

3. Collect and analyze data collected on the job site

Using camera-enabled robots or AI-enabled construction equipment, data can be collected in different formats. By feeding these details into a deep neural network, various aspects of a project's progress can be automatically classified.

This data enables managers to understand and resolve the smallest errors or problems in the initial stages, thereby mitigating major problems later on.

4. Use artificial intelligence-driven vehicles to improve productivity

Using self-driving construction machinery, repetitive tasks such as welding, bricklaying, concrete pouring, etc. can be performed tirelessly, efficiently, and quickly .

Similarly, automated or semi-automatic bulldozers can also be used for excavation and preliminary work. Once accurate specifications are entered into these machines, the job is completed exactly to specification. Human resources can be freed up for actual construction work and the human risks involved in performing these tasks are reduced.

5. Using geospatial AI and drones for land surveying and mapping

can significantly reduce the time spent performing detailed land surveys and taking aerial photos of work sites, allowing for better project execution manage. With the help of drones, Geospatial Information System (GIS) and Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), the project progress status and issues at the construction site will be tracked, helping to make better decisions and thus carry out the project efficiently. manage.

The future of artificial intelligence in construction

As technology develops, the construction industry will have cobots and robots working alongside workers. Robots take over tasks that can be automated, while collaborative robots are designed to work autonomously or with limited guidance.

Such an arrangement will help speed up construction, reduce costs, reduce injuries, and lead to better decision-making. Artificial intelligence in construction can not only solve labor shortages, it can also change business models, reduce costly mistakes, and make construction operations more efficient. Therefore, it is recommended that leaders of construction companies should focus investments in areas where AI can have the greatest impact, based on demand.

Early adopters of this digital transformation will surely gain a leading position in business. Gaining an edge will allow them to become leaders in direction and reap short- and long-term benefits.

Final Thoughts

From planning to design to construction, artificial intelligence is already playing a role in every aspect of construction. The AI-powered future of construction will oversee complete construction projects while providing advice on risk management, schedule compliance, structural integrity and more. Harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence in construction will increase profits and reduce injuries and related risks.

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