AI in Construction – How Artificial Intelligence is Paving the Way for Smart Construction

The world has been captivated by the power of AI technologies like ChatGPT and digital assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and more. AI has a transformative effect on the global industry. And one industry that can immensely benefit from AI adoption is construction, as it is one of the least digitalized sectors in the world. Artificial intelligence in construction can help businesses drive efficiency, enhance quality, improve performance, and straighten safety on sites.

According to a report by McKinsey, the construction industry is worth more than $10 trillion a year, equivalent to 13% of the world’s GDP.  And just by digitization, the market capitalisation can be raised by $1.6 trillion a year. It makes construction one of the largest industries in the world economy.

Understanding AI in Smart Construction

AI and machine learning technologies are revolutionizing every stage of construction, from design to operations and asset management. This technological advancement is bringing about significant improvements in terms of time and cost-effectiveness, particularly in the planning and designing sub-segment.

Artificial intelligence in construction management helps enhance operations’ safety, speed, accuracy, and efficiency. With AI construction solutions, companies can proactively monitor job sites for potential hazards and address critical issues to prevent accidents. ML in construction can analyze the vast amount of data to optimize designs for energy efficiency and cost savings. Robotics process automation (RPA) can improve construction speed and quality.

In simple terms, Artificial intelligence in the construction industry is revolutionizing the way businesses design, execute and manage projects. And as the use of AI continues to expand, it turns increasingly essential for companies to adapt to this emerging technology.

The European market is expected to lead AI adoption in construction, driving growth in the global construction industry. By embracing digitization, all stakeholders, including contractors, owners, and service providers, can benefit from this technological shift. As the industry is still in its early stages of adopting AI, companies that embrace and upgrade their technology stand to gain a competitive advantage.

Let’s discover some significant use cases and benefits of AI in construction, which will change how businesses design and develop projects.

You may like reading: How to adopt artificial intelligence in your business – A complete guide

AI Use Cases in Construction

Construction and AI go hand in hand. The technology is a critical component of the modern engineering and construction industry. Artificial intelligence in construction helps the industry solve its greatest challenges like cost, safety, and overruns. AI can be used throughout the construction project, from inception, design, bidding, financing, transportation, and operation to asset management.

Let us look in detail at how businesses are leveraging generative AI consulting in the construction industry:

Planning and Designing

AI-based Building Information Modeling (BIM) process has been helping architecture, engineering, and construction professionals make 3D models to efficiently plan, design, build, and repair the buildings and infrastructures.

With ML in construction, the industry uses AI-powered generative design to identify and collaborate with architects, engineers, mechanics, electricians, and plumbers to ensure there are no clashes within the sub-teams. Such measures mitigate the risk of rework.

AI and machine learning in construction explores all the options and variations of the solutions to create design alternatives. Models with multiple variations are created and enhanced with each iteration. This iterative approach continues until an optimal model is achieved, ensuring the creation of a flawless design.

Measuring Site Progress

Construction companies can use AI-powered robots equipped with cameras to capture 3D pictures at construction sites.

With the help of neural networks, these pictures can be cross-checked with reference to the information from BIM and the bill of materials. The engineers managing large projects utilize this information to keep track of the progress. It also helps identify quality errors at an early stage while keeping a tab on financial information and time schedules.

It will not be an exaggeration to say that robotics and AI in the construction industry ensure the delivery of the best construction projects while saving costs and time.

Robust Fleet Management

Construction companies are exploiting the features of the Internet of Things (IoT) to manage fleets of equipment and vehicles. By leveraging AI-driven metrics, IoT enables real-time location tracking, predictive maintenance, fuel and battery monitoring, and more. With the integration of IoT devices, companies can efficiently predict equipment breakdowns and address issues, resulting in significant time and cost savings.

[Also Read: Smart Railways – How IoT is Transforming Train Travel and Operations]

Risk Mitigation

Every construction site is prone to some kinds of risk, such as safety hazards, quality issues, delays, and cost overruns. The bigger the project, the higher chances of risk involved, as there are multiple sub-contractors working parallel on job sites. By leveraging ML and AI construction solutions, general contractors can monitor and mitigate risk instances on the job site, allowing the project team to focus on their core functions. 

AI algorithms automatically prioritize issues based on unsafe scaffolding, waterlogging, and personnel lacking essential protective equipment like gloves, helmets, and safety glasses. It empowers contractors to prioritize projects based on risk rankings and proactively address potential safety concerns.

Alleviate Labor Shortage

There is always a dearth of labor in the construction industry as it involves risks and is also a physically demanding job. The average turnover rate in the construction field is way more than in any other industry.

In such a scenario, AI-powered robots empower project managers to oversee the real-time situation and resource requirements of multiple job sites. Based on the requirements, labor can be shifted to a different part of the project or a different job site. The robots monitor the site to find the pain areas.

For instance, an AI-powered robot, Spot the Dog, conducts nightly scans of job sites to monitor progress. It allows contractors to increase productivity, particularly in remote areas with limited availability of skilled labor.

Predictive Analytics

AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data collected from sensors, IoT devices, and historical project data to provide predictive analytics. It enables construction companies to anticipate potential issues and take proactive actions before a problem occurs that may interrupt work. It leads to improved project planning, workers’ safety, and decision-making.

As per a McKinsey report, implementing predictive maintenance strategies can reduce machine downtime by 30-50% and increase its lifespan by 20-40%.

How Can AI Boost Smart Construction?

Companies that want to stay ahead in this competitive age should quickly upgrade their infrastructure and leverage AI technologies to redefine their operational strategies. Let’s explore the multifarious benefits of AI in construction businesses.

Improves Productivity of JobSites

Construction companies use self-driving machinery to automate repetitive tasks, such as pouring concrete, welding, bricklaying, and demolition. Similarly, they can use autonomous or semi-autonomous bulldozers to excavate and prep work. Once the exact specifications are fed into these machines, they complete the job exactly as per the specifications, freeing up the human workforce for actual construction work.

It reduces time and the human risks involved in performing these tasks. Also, project managers can leverage AI technologies like facial recognition, onsite cameras, and more to assess worker productivity and track job site work in real-time.

Enhances Project Design 

AI can significantly enhance project design. By analyzing vast amounts of design data, AI algorithms can identify patterns, optimize layouts, and suggest design improvements. It helps architects, engineers, and designers streamline the design process, improve efficiency, and create more innovative and optimized structures. 

AI-powered design tools can also simulate different scenarios, evaluate structural integrity, and assess energy efficiency, enabling informed decision-making and reducing the risk of design flaws. This integration of AI in the design process leads to more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable construction projects.

Collects and Analyzes Data

AI construction solutions such as camera-enabled robots, autonomous equipment, etc., collect data in different formats. By inputting these details into a deep neural network, the system can automatically classify the project’s progress from multiple perspectives. This data enables management to identify and address even the slightest errors or issues in the early stages, mitigating the occurrence of major problems later on.

Performs Land Survey Efficiently

You can dramatically reduce the time surveying the land in detail and taking aerial photos of the job site for better project management. With the help of drones, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), and Geospatial AI (GeoAI), you can keep track of project progress and problems on the construction site.

You may like reading: How is Drones Technology changing the construction space?

Automates Project Management 

Completing construction manually can be tedious, time-consuming, and susceptible to errors. The project manager often finds themselves occupied in assigning work and managing employee records.

AI in construction can efficiently automate these mundane tasks, minimizing errors and freeing up valuable time of resources. AI automation can delegate tasks based on employee data, optimizing the workflow and enabling workers to concentrate on their specialized areas, enhancing overall productivity.

[Also Read: How to Streamline Your Real Estate Business With Construction Project Management Software]

Future of AI in Construction

The future of AI in construction promises a transformative shift where cobots and robots work alongside human workers. Robots automate repetitive tasks, while cobots operate autonomously or with minimal guidance. This integration speeds up construction process, saves costs, enhances safety, boosts efficiency, and facilitates smarter decision-making. Furthermore, the use of AI in construction will also revolutionize operational efficiency and redefine business models, minimizing costly errors in building operations. To capitalize on these advancements, construction industry leaders are encouraged to strategically invest in construction AI solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Early adoption of artificial intelligence in construction scheduling and management positions companies to drive growth and gain a competitive advantage. By embracing this digital transformation, business leaders can set the course for future success and maximize the benefits of AI for construction.

Also Read: How Construction ERP Software Development Can Optimize and Streamline Your Business

How Appinventiv Can Help You Leverage AI in Construction

From planning to designing to construction, AI has been spreading its wings in all the sub-segments of construction. It has immense potential to change many facets of the construction process. So if you are not yet leveraging construction AI, you must consider AI construction outsourcing software development services now. The impact of AI in the construction sector is tremendous.

Harness the power of AI in construction with Appinventiv and take your business to the next level. As a leading AI development company, our team believes in molding their expertise based on our client’s specific requirements, as we have successfully done for our esteemed clients – Vyrb, YouComm, Mudra, and more.

With a team of experienced professionals and a deep understanding of the industry, our IT consulting services experts can be your trusted partner to help you harness the potential of AI in construction to revolutionize the business processes.

Partner with us and embark on a transformative journey toward a smarter and more sustainable future for the construction industry.

FAQs

Q. What is AI in construction?

A. AI in construction helps enhance various aspects of the construction industry. By leveraging the power of machine learning, robots, drones, and other AI-powered solutions, construction companies can efficiently optimize processes, improve safety, increase productivity, automate tasks, and make informed decisions.

Q. What are some examples of AI in construction?

A. Below are some examples of AI in the construction industry that businesses use to improve workflows.

• Predictive Analytics
• Autonomous Vehicles and Robotics
• Intelligent Monitoring Systems
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Q. How is AI used in construction?

A. Generative AI for construction is used to enhance various aspects of the industry. It collects and analyzes data from building projects to optimize energy efficiency, water supply, indoor air quality, and other performance metrics.

THE AUTHOR

Sudeep Srivastava

Co-Founder and Director