AI – 4 things the construction industry needs to consider | Kingspan Group | Kingspan

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing across many industries. It has taken off in post-construction and the smart home has become highly developed. As a result of this the construction industry has started to take heed.

Here are four things you should know about AI in construction:

As AI develops, people ask more and more–will AI take my job?

A third of IT decision-makers think that job losses will stem from innovations in robotics and intelligent computer systems.

New technologies like 3D printing and modular construction are already disrupting the skillsets needed to work in construction and it is likely AI will too.

However, many IT leaders are hopeful that AI will create job opportunities for programmers, algorithm designers and software engineers. They also believe it will create entirely new jobs, such as AI trainers, ethicists and lawyers.

The use of AI is also growing in applications involving machine vision for surveying and analysing materials and structures.
In the US, RoadBotics is running an early adopter program that helps local councils manage road maintenance. Cameras mounted on a car’s windshield are used to record the condition of each road. Then this data is run through AI software to create maps highlighting the streets that need maintenance work.

Many companies are already using drones to survey construction sites. Their ability to view sites from any angle is groundbreaking.

But drones used in conjunction with AI trained models will lead to automated understanding of a construction site, allowing for the ability to better plan and allocate resources day to day.

It will also make it easy to choose the best routes for construction equipment to go through building sites.

BIM (Building Information Modelling) has proved to be a game-changer in construction and its use is set to grow, because of advancements in technologies like AI.

BIM is a shared knowledge resource for all the information on a building project – before, during and after construction.

BIM provides a set of interrelated and cross-referenced information. For example, objects in the model are linked to related information including manuals, specifications, commissioning data, photos and warranty details.

AI software can train and improve itself based on experience. There is huge potential for BIM to provide new insights as the digital data of our built environment is compiled and AI software has the potential to learn from this data too.

It is still early days, but AI will likely lead to better safety on construction sites, fewer errors, as well as more on-time completions. Kingspan is a leading innovator in the building industry, constantly working to make buildings better.

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AI – 4 things the construction industry needs to consider

1. Friend or foe?

2. Saving time on surveying

3. Making innovative technology even more cutting edge

4. AI and BIM

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