How Will Artificial Intelligence Transform the Construction Industry?

How can contractors apply AI in their construction work?

The construction industry is among the oldest, owing to the fact that individuals have always needed shelter.

However, there are many potential pitfalls that put construction projects at risk due to the complex processes involved in their life cycle, such as designing, budgeting, executing the construction, and maintaining it over the years.

According to a KPMG survey, only 31% of construction projects come within 10% of their original budget.

Project managers, therefore, have a challenging task to ensure that projects run smoothly in a timely manner and on budget. 

Fortunately, AI-powered technologies that leverage machine learning and deep learning have the capabilities to automate processes for smarter and more efficient construction work.

Project managers and contractors can therefore reduce their workload, such as data analysis for proper forecasting to focus on core tasks such as monitoring the construction process.

In this article, I’ll take you through how artificial intelligence will transform the construction industry.

Let’s get started.

1. Generative Design

The construction process is plagued by tedious and time consuming tasks. 

Project managers have to come up with blueprints and budgets while civil engineers and architects check architectural statistics as well as come up with design variations.

Previously, project managers would spend weeks designing the perfect planning model due to outdated and slow design models .

This, in turn, led to loss of clients due to long construction delays.

In fact, according to research by MATEC, 83.9% of construction delays resulted from ineffective contractor project planning and scheduling.

A good use of artificial intelligence in the construction industry is in AI-based generative design which is able to develop many design alternatives based on the knowledge it acquires from previous database plans. 

Through machine learning algorithms that train computers to utilize construction data to identify patterns, a generative software allows designers to input their design goals with parameters like cost constraints and spatial requirements to explore all possible permutations of a solution.

AI-based technologies also simplify the planning process by leveraging deep learning that simulates neural networks to detect possible clashes in the construction process and find solutions for project managers to adjust plans accordingly.

This relieves them of the numerous reworks and time-consuming reassessments that arise from comparing planning documents manually for efficiency and faster construction.

One of the examples of artificial intelligence in construction is Stamhuis Stores which has an array of clients from small stores to supermarket chains.

Through generative design solutions, the company is able to accept large volumes of work and adapt to their needs to offer them maximum value, regardless of their space size.

2. Collaborative Robots

A lot of time in the execution of a construction project is spent on tasks such as procurement and transportation of raw materials, rearrangements, and assigning construction workers with tasks.

If not handled effectively, these tasks can result in reduced productivity and ultimately cause project delays due to the poor execution of construction processes which leave clients unsatisfied.

However, challenges such as poor communication, and labor shortages make it difficult for contractors to ensure timely execution of construction projects.

In fact, according to a report by the AGC, 48% of the construction firms predict that it will be harder to attract qualified talent in the industry.

Among the ways artificial intelligence will change the construction industry is by increasing productivity and filling the gap where there is labor shortage. 

This is evident in the use of self-driving machines that perform repetitive tasks like pouring concrete, demolition, and bricklaying more effectively than their human counterparts.

In addition to that, examples of artificial intelligence in construction like drones and robots that leverage computer vision can be used for 360 degrees laser scans and image recording.

This way, project managers can then feed data from these images into deep neural networks to determine how far different sub-projects are in real-time.

Eckstine Electric was unhappy with its project management program that hindered productivity. By leveraging eSUB, an intelligent software designed for subcontractors, Eckstine was able to get consistent workflow, track project progress easily, and avoid miscommunication, ultimately boosting productivity.

3. Predictive Maintenance

Project managers have their hands full when it comes to monitoring construction related tasks.

They have to ensure that every team member is performing their tasks as expected to bring the project to a successful completion.

However, accidents resulting from faulty machinery or slips and fall can delay the entire process.

Actually, according to statistics from CDC, falls are the leading cause of death in construction, accounting for 36.4% of the total number of fatalities.

Facility managers, on the other hand, have to ensure proper maintenance of the construction once it’s complete in regards to energy use and cleaning.

Artificial intelligence technologies, by leveraging machine learning and predictive analytics, are able to analyze “what if” scenarios and determine possible machine failure that can cause potential hazards. 

Project managers receive automatic alerts so that they can rectify the situation.

The large volumes of both structured and unstructured data collected makes it ideal for the use of artificial intelligence in the construction industry. 

For instance, AI-powered software can analyze data from IoT sensors like heating, and ventilation to determine the amount of energy being used. 

Through predictive maintenance, AI-software can detect parts of the facility that are not in use and automatically deactivate air conditioning for a reduced total cost of ownership.

The University of Melbourne needed to expand its energy management and conservation goals.

Upon partnering with Controltech, the university was able to achieve its carbon neutrality goals. Controltech deployed a winning combination of analytics which uncovered many BMS challenges and predictive maintenance for better energy management.

Conclusion

There is a significant adoption rate of AI in the construction industry.

In fact, a study by Mordor Intelligence reveals that AI in the construction market is projected to grow at a compounded rate of 33.87% by 2026.

Contractors can now utilize generative design and predictive analytics as examples of artificial intelligence in construction to collect and process large volumes of data from previous projects to identify patterns that help in speeding up construction.

Having looked at some of the ways on how artificial intelligence will change the construction industry, in applications such as planning and maintenance, I hope you can see what future AI has in the construction industry, as well as leverage its abilities to boost productivity.

Are you ready to get started?

I would recommend leveraging self-driven machinery to reduce the workload and fill the gap created by labor shortage in your construction processes.