Artificial Intelligence in the Construction Industry. Since machine learning has the ability to display own sense of intelligence by gathering, processing, and concluding data according to the information provided. Such technology can be seamless for the construction industry as it allows a degree of predictions based on the data provided.

The Current Involvement Of AI Development In The Construction Industry

AI’s use of cases in construction is still at an initial level. But certain start-ups are gaining market traction and attention for their AI focused approaches. Currently, AI development in the construction market is assumed to acquire USD 2,011.4 million during 2017-2023. The global market is anticipated to record 35% CAGR owing to the surging demand for safety considerations, according to Market Research Future (MRFR).

Source: Digital Journal

Below are few- early stages of construction where firms can make use of technology:

Project Scheduling

Project schedule optimizers can work over millions of alternatives for project delivery and simultaneously enhance overall project planning.

Future training and education

Image recognition and classification can access all the video data collected from work sites to learn about unsafe worker behavior and manage the data for developing future training programs and app development.

Preventing downtime

Analytics platform can help collect and analyze data to deploy real-time app programming solutions, cut costs, prioritize preventative maintenance, and avoid unplanned downtime. Although AI adoption is low key in the coming three years, the investment in the industry is going to increase.

AI algorithm is based on data collected. This means AI needs a critical mass of data to deliver what it promises. This implies that firms with a significant amount of data are likely to benefit more. But it is also possible in the near future, that third-party enters to train models, a scenario that will help improvement across the industry.

AI in Construction, presently

If we consider the simple level of AI to solve problems, execute tasks with greater efficiency, accuracy, and speed, then it is currently happening in the construction industry.

OCR : Optical Character Recognition technology has been taken granted as it is part of the daily life in construction. With the OCR technology, users can quickly search drawings and can convert them into editable and searchable data. Most of the drawing applications depend on OCR to scan the drawing, number sheets, name them, and also, hyperlink the sheets.

: Optical Character Recognition technology has been taken granted as it is part of the daily life in construction. With the OCR technology, users can quickly search drawings and can convert them into editable and searchable data. Most of the drawing applications depend on OCR to scan the drawing, number sheets, name them, and also, hyperlink the sheets. Notifications: Field reporting App development can provide notifications or alerts on certain keywords.

AI tackling the most fundamental problem of Construction – Labor Shortage

The narrowing workforce and talent crisis is one of the greatest threats of the construction business. So, retaining talent in the industry has become more important than ever. AI with the gathered data and algorithm can model different kinds of interfaces about the existing workforce or prospect hires. AI can identify the potential leaders, predict attrition rates, or identify employees who are willing to leave. Finally, companies with AI will be able to make data-driven hiring decisions and ensure they are attracting the best talent. As well as, ascertain that their existing employees are engaged and happy.

Emerging use cases of AI in Construction

First of all, the prime factor that is driving the growth of artificial intelligence technology in the construction sector is the increase in the number of smart connected devices. The number of smart devices in the industry is growing rapidly across the world, amounting to 21 billion number of installed smart devices by 2020.

Transportation Route Optimization

Technology is offering improved traffic navigation and optimized routes. In the near future, AI’s reinforcement learning will provide algorithms to solve objective functions like duration and fuel. Companies can implement this technology and use it for planning and scheduling, combinations and alternatives, and optimized routes.

Predictive Applications

Companies can use the prediction analysis in the construction industry. As AI can forecast constructability, risks, structural stability, and in-depth insights for decision-making phase. Secondly, it can also enable testing of various materials, and avoiding the downtime of structures during the inspection.

Retail Supply Chain Optimization

AI development can greatly help in the retail supply chain by reducing manufacturing downtime, increasing predictability of shipments, and reducing oversupply. Giving us an output of impressive reduction in costs, variability, and logistical burden. Most of the projects are using off-site construction for bigger quantities of materials. This will require enhanced supply chain coordination, controlling costs and overall cash flow.

Image Recognition – Risk And Safety Management

Companies can use image recognition in construction in drone imagery and 3D generated models to access the issues with quality control. Overall, these techniques could help engineers compare developing and final products against initial designs. Or train an unsafe-behaviors detection algorithm to identify safety risks in project sites based on millions of drone-collected images.

Project Monitoring And Risk Management

Construction firms stakeholders can use neural networks, using drone generated images in capturing data to monitor project progress via customized app creations. AI applications would dramatically reduce decision-making cycles in a construction project from a monthly basis to a daily basis. Because of fully automated project-scheduling and budgeting update with the combination of BIM, AI, drone, and laser capabilities.

Construction firms need to identify the areas that require AI-powered use cases that can have the most impact in the short-term. Without a clear business objective, ROI, and burning platform, firms can become inefficient in terms of time and capital. These can lead to frustration, skepticism in the technology, and can cause the firm’s growth to lose momentum.

Early movers set towards the direction of the industry can yield both short and long-term benefits. Though, the construction industry is lagging due to less impact of digitization. Now it is time for industry leaders and business owners to act and secure their places at the vanguard of pulling AI app developers and techies into the sector.

Our previous blog post – Intelligent Digital: The New Identity of Artificial Intelligence