Emerging AI Applications for Construction Firms
The Engineering and Construction (E&C) sector, worth over $10 trillion annually, stands on the brink of a digital revolution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI)1. While the industry has been relatively slow in adopting AI compared to others, a shift is on the horizon. Stakeholders across the E&C sector can no longer afford to conceive of AI as technology pertinent only to other industries. The threat of competition from non-traditional market entrants and the growing ability of AI methods to work across industries necessitates catching up with AI adoption1.
AI in Construction: Current Applications
AI use cases in construction are still relatively nascent, but a narrow set of start-ups are gaining market traction with their AI-focused approaches. Project schedule optimizers, for instance, AI can consider millions of alternatives for project delivery and continuously enhance overall project planning. AI-powered image recognition and classification can assess video data collected on work sites to identify unsafe worker behavior and aggregate this data to inform future training and education priorities. Furthermore, enhanced analytics platforms can collect and analyze data from sensors to understand signals and patterns, deploy real-time solutions, cut costs, and prioritize preventative maintenance1.
Examples of AI Applications in Construction
AI ApplicationDescriptionProject Schedule OptimizersConsiders millions of alternatives for project delivery and enhances overall project planningImage Recognition & ClassificationAssesses video data from work sites to identify unsafe worker behaviorEnhanced Analytics PlatformsCollects and analyzes data from sensors to deploy real-time solutions, cut costs, and prevent unplanned downtime
Potential Future Implications and Trends
The potential of AI in the construction sector is enormous. However, the adoption of AI solutions is quite low in E&C, particularly compared with other industries. As a result, we predict an increase in resource allocation towards building the necessary capabilities, leading to AI playing a more significant role in construction in the coming years1.
The future of AI in construction could see the adaptation and application of AI techniques from other industries. For example, transportation route optimization algorithms used for project planning optimization could be applied to construction project planning and scheduling1. In addition, pharmaceutical outcomes prediction could be used to forecast project risks and the structural stability of various technical solutions, potentially saving millions of dollars down the line1. Retail supply chain optimization techniques could be used for materials and inventory management, reducing costs and logistical burdens1. The use of robotics for modular or prefabrication construction and 3-D printing is also on the horizon, and healthcare image recognition could be used for risk and safety management1.
Conclusion
While AI's proliferation in the E&C sector has been modest, a significant shift is coming. As the industry begins to realize the potential of AI, we can expect to see more investment in AI solutions and greater integration of AI technologies into construction practices. The future of construction lies in the effective adoption and implementation of AI, and construction firms should consider personalized training programs to equip their personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge to leverage these technologies.
References:
Blanco, Roberino et al. (2023). Artificial intelligence: Construction technology’s next frontier. McKinsey & Company. Retrieved from: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/capital-projects-and-infrastructure/our-insights/artificial-intelligence-construction-technologys-next-frontier
