6 Ways to Imagine AI Transforming the Construction Industry

When we think of machine learning or artificial intelligence one of the first thoughts that pops into mind is a distant sci-fi fantasy where the man-machine model like “The Terminator” conquers the entire world, and humanity is in its hands. The image that is of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be best kept to the realm of imagination for the moment at the very least.6 Ways to Imagine AI Transforming the Construction Industry

If you’ve ever watched how Netflix recommends movies, or used chatbots to help you with your health insurance company and bank or even used smartphones, you’re already an aficionado of artificial intelligence. Also, if shopping at Amazon and use other social networks, the results of your search such as feeds, recommendations, and suggestions are built on artificial intelligence. Your online behaviour, previous purchases, and searches on the internet can be tailored to show you results to your specific needs.

Artificial intelligence began in the 1950s. Arthur Samuel, who was the first to pioneer the field defined it as “the discipline of research which allows computers to learn, without being explicitly programmed.” That is computers that learn through the experience of others. Artificial intelligence can also be described in a simple and succinct manner as a means of making machines perform tasks that humans can do better.

Artificial Intelligence and the Construction Industry

Digital technologies that are advanced, such as the ones above, are within our reach. However, the construction industry is the slowest to adopt technology and is one of the most inefficient (manual calculation, report and processes are still prevalent). Reluctance to adopt digital technologies and the countless repetitive, manual tasks afflict the construction industry, causing delays in projects costs, inefficiencies in the process, and lower efficiency, health, and safety.

There is a huge opportunity for digital technology to be utilized in the construction industry to increase efficiency and efficiency. While I’m not making assumptions about the specifics of what that we might or may not implement at ConstructConnect. Let’s look at the ways in which AI and construction industry can help make the construction industry a better location.

The majority of the artificial intelligence that people encounter nowadays is through machine learning. For instance, when you type in Google and get results that are based on your prior online behavior and interactions. Machine learning attempts to imitate human intelligence. However, sometimes it can surpass human intelligence or make better decisions due to the sheer amount of ability to analyze data.

Artificial Intelligence or machine learning can be commonly employed interchangeably, but machines learning can be described as a distinct subfield of artificial intelligence.

Construction is an industry Full of Data, Lots and Lots of Data

The construction industry’s data is more volume-driven complex, variable and ambiguous and is produced faster than ever before. Data can help make better decisions. Of course, data does no good unless you can use it. However, when analytics, data and human insight are combined and enhance operational efficiency, provide expansion opportunities, and aid in smart decision-making. Technology acts as a connecting point between the data and the positive results that can result from analyzing and processing the data.

Opportunities and Challenges Artificial intelligence is a major issue in the Construction Industry

There are six different areas in which artificial intelligence may help the construction industry, and their obstacles to getting it done. Artificial intelligence examples have been used successfully in fields like telecommunications and manufacturing, to increase productivity, efficiency, and security.

Machine Learning

What is it: Computers designed to be like humans to make and take well-informed decisions based on vast and variable sets of information.

What it could do: This technology has the potential to cut expenses and cut down on waste by predicting cutting cuts that can be optimized made in steel beams that are in a building in construction. Amazon made use of machine learning to identify the ideal size of package to safely ship goods. The savings were equivalent to the size of 2 billion shipping containers. Building performance simulations as well as engineering analysis could improve efficiency in design and construction by creating the digital representation of an actual construction.

The challenge: Construction industry data is extremely complex, meaning it is a mix of variables, such as the dimensions and shape of buildings or the conditions at work. The larger amount of parameters (i.e. more dense) make it difficult for making precise forecasts.

Robotics

What does it mean:Robots are automated devices that carry out physical tasks that look like human physical activity.

What it can do: Robots are already being used in areas such as welding facilities for automobile manufacturing and replacing knee joints with doctors, and transporting goods to remote areas. Construction has seen robots being used for bricklaying and rebar tie-up. Robots may be more active in the field of construction, to carry out special, repetitive tasks, or work in dangerous environments with less risk, such as high-rises. When a robot is on a construction site, general contractors, engineers and tradesmen could shift their attention towards jobs that require more expertise.

The challenges: Robots perform best in working environments with a structured structure and pose a problem in many workplaces where a lot of there is a lot of variation in the operating conditions as well as design elements. The initial costs as well as the maintenance and repair costs of robotics can be significant.

Knowledge-Based Systems

What does it mean: Knowledge-based systems are artificial intelligence, a field that computers use to make decisions based upon existing knowledge.

What it can do: Knowledge-based systems can be able to collect and process large amounts of data from different sources and utilize that data to make complicated decision-making. The two major components of a knowledge-based system include the knowledge base, which holds the data, and an inference engine that processes the information within the knowledge database. These tools can store huge quantities of information , and generate insights that help people make better choices. They also excel at showing how they arrived at the conclusions they arrive at. Systems based on knowledge are used by doctors to provide more precise diagnosis.

Artificial intelligence can aid construction contract managers to comprehend complex issues and increase the accuracy of their decisions. Similar applications of AI can improve the safety and health of workers by storing information from incidents, and then using those acquired experiences to anticipate hazards and offer preemptive safety guidelines.

Problems: Knowledge-based systems can handle massive amounts of data. The issue for all of this data is to ensure it’s “good,” meaning relevant as well as accurate and of high value. Data needs to be collected and verified. Because the complexities of the construction industry require several companies, materials people industries, and so and so on for a specific project, the information would come from a variety of sources and have different degrees of accuracy. Legal and proprietarian issues associated with sharing information are another obstacle in this particular area.

Computer Vision

What is it? Training computers and equipping them to understand and comprehend images through video, photographs or in real-time.

What it can do:Having “an extra set of eyes” using computer vision is being used in safety-related applications for construction as well as progress checks. Analyzing, collecting, and recognizing images through computer vision is a possibility to enhance the capabilities of managing materials or to streamline processes.

Problems:Computer vision successfully deployed must be able to comprehend the complete context within which it operates including the workers, materials and activities. This requires a substantial spending on computer vision equipment that monitor and analyze complicated and diverse building environments and scenarios.

Natural Language Processing

What does it mean:Natural Language Processing, or NLP allows computers to emulate human speech and text abilities. NLP technology is designed to process voice or text data and understand its meaning in the context that the author or speaker was trying to communicate.

What it can do: Voice commands on virtual assistants such as Alexa from Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri and software for speech-to-text dictation are now an integral part of our daily lives. NLP is also gaining traction in areas that help simplify processes in the workplace and increase productivity. Processing text that is not structured in construction documents and extracting information for better planning of projects safety, planning, and management of materials could benefit tradesmen as well as architects, contractors, and engineers.

The challenges: With multiple meanings as well as complex variations and endless possibilities within human-languages, language-driven programming applications can be a challenging and challenging task for the new field.


Optimization

What does it mean: Optimization by artificial intelligence is a technology for problem solving which finds the best solution by studying and anticipating possible results.

It can accomplish: Optimization aims to boost efficiency and productivity as well as help save time and money by making better choices with the limited resources. The healthcare company, Cardinal Health, uses optimization to determine which patients are at risk and offer personalized and prioritized advice for better results. Optimization can help improve work schedules, reduce costs for materials, or increase efficiency of energy for the industry of construction.

Problems: Optimization needs quite lots of information to make predictions and take decisions. Construction variables could comprise building design and site conditions, as well as material properties and construction strategies. Real-time processing and huge volumes of data require high-performance computing.

Integration as well as Scaling AI Technology

Don’t be shackled into thinking they can be used in isolation and without. They can be integrated and evolve with the people who use and operate their capabilities to increase efficiency as well as safety, efficiency, and efficiency. For instance, we could find ways to create better supply chains through the use of combinations of highly skilled AI workers robots, software and predictive technology fueled by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been implemented together with AI to some extent, but however, with mixed outcomes making this area ready for exploration, and growth.

Building Information Modeling, the most advanced system in the field of construction, might also incorporate artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and accuracy in estimating the time and cost. The system could assist owners and architects, engineers as well as the trades maintenance and support personnel by providing detailed automated systems that plan, test for compliance with codes, and identify problems prior to they arise. Robotic systems can display BIM pictures and guides for installation onto the workspace, such as an area on the floor or wall, or uncover hidden objects in walls for HVAC or plumbing maintenance.

Stay tuned for developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence

We have been benefited by the direction and speed of technological advancements in the way technology enhances our lives and the environment. Construction industry is ready to benefit from the process of health and safety, and production advantages from creating and implementing artificial intelligence. It is impossible to know which direction this technology might take however the idea of robots reclaiming the world are firmly within the realm of writers and screenwriters.

Future systems could allow teams to collaborate and enhance performance by recording information and using one, unifying and shared data stream throughout the entire duration of a construction project starting with preconstruction and ideation, and continuing through construction and even maintenance.

It’s an exciting as well as exciting moment to look at the incredible capabilities of artificial Intelligence, and observe the advancements in this field. Stay informed about the developments and keep an eye out to find out what artificial intelligence could bring to the construction industry.