AI can help address some of the long-standing inefficiencies in the industry, among other things.
Construction projects are complex and require consistent, expedient interpretation of vast amounts of data. This is true across a wide spectrum of projects and yet the current model of construction data management is frankly archaic. Not only is data difficult to collect and share, but there’s also simply too much of it to process and use efficiently.
That’s where AI comes in. We’re looking at a future in which AI makes data easier to collect, manage and utilize. It’s a game changer—eliminating the need to manually sift through never-ending data.
George Goubran, Co-CEO of Built On Vision, is an outspoken advocate for the benefits of AI in construction, stating that “manual data-keeping is a thing of the past, yet there is no viable solution in the marketplace. AI will help thousands of construction companies currently struggling to meet deadlines and reduce costs by streamlining the data collection, enhancing data accuracy and improving data analysis.”
Following is a breakdown of how AI will change the face of construction data management as we know it.
Scheduling and Coordinating Logistics
Delays are an all-too-common disturbance in the construction industry. According to a 2021 global construction survey by KPMG, as much as 70 percent of construction projects experience delays, resulting in 60 percent of them missing deadlines.
With delays affecting well over half of all construction projects, there’s a desperate need for better planning and better project controls—which is possible with AI technology. AI takes the guesswork out of coordination and strengthens the use of construction data management. This enables enhanced planning and project controls, with no room for conflict or surprises, which can cause delays.
Additionally, AI is always spotting opportunities to streamline logistics, such as equipment rentals and purchases. It provides opportunities to predict and avoid the risk involved with skilled labor, equipment and commodity availability.
AI won’t replace human jobs—but it will enhance them. We’re talking about software that can learn what a construction company needs, then facilitate, organize and predict outcomes more accurately than ever before.
Revolutionizing Problem Solving
AI is the ultimate problem solver. Not only can it interpret staggering amounts of data, but it can also use this data to make advanced decisions.
This includes assessing swaths of information like weather, cost, safety and material usage data to understand complex construction challenges.
AI doesn’t stop at just understanding these challenges. By harnessing machine learning algorithms, it predicts and prevents errors, optimizes resource allocation and enhances project scheduling accuracy.
AI can also identify patterns and provide actionable insights that human analysis may overlook. This helps construction companies find solutions faster. Perhaps more importantly, it reduces the risk of trying costly solutions that just don’t work.
Making Proactive Recommendations
AI software learns needs based on human input and training, then goes beyond just problem-solving. The latest software helps companies pivot to the most pressing items on their agendas before problems even occur.
Similar to a trusted copilot, AI will work with construction companies to plan and sift through time-consuming information. Machine learning and historical analysis can forecast potential project delays or cost overruns, allowing managers to take preemptive actions.
It can also optimize resource allocation, recommending the most efficient use of workers and materials based on patterns from past projects. This ensures that every project is approached with the best foot forward.
Cutting Down on Waste
Time, equipment, money and materials—many things are wasted in the construction industry. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report concluded that around 600 million tons of waste were created from the United States construction industry in 2018 alone.
Preserving resources and reducing landfill buildup for the sake of our environment is essential. To combat this, more construction companies are adopting a circular economy approach, which encourages the reuse, recycling and regeneration of materials.
AI can assist in solving this massive problem as well as other wasteful issues that come up in the construction industry.
AI is adept at picking up on patterns and finding novel approaches to common issues. Thus, it serves as both a quality control tool and a way to trim the fat in the construction industry. With extreme accuracy, it can account for excessive materials, equipment and labor usage—providing cost- and resource-efficient solutions.
Eliminating Manual Inefficiencies
Construction data management can be overwhelming. Right now, many construction companies are wasting countless hours of time on manual tasks, such as connecting data from different software or physical site surveying.
The 2020 National Construction Payment Report found that only 28 percent of contractors report finishing projects on time. Moreover, many contractors say that coordination becomes the biggest hurdle in reaching deadlines.
AI will eventually automate and streamline many monotonous, time-consuming tasks, helping to ensure that construction projects can be hassle-free and time efficient. These include tasks like scheduling, logistics, surveillance and material procurement, to name a few.
As these tasks require significant time and effort, they can be prone to human error. AI reduces the chance of errors and inefficiencies occurring and improves overall construction timelines.
Notifying Stakeholders of Changes
Stakeholders are crucial in construction projects as they directly influence outcomes. This includes owners, contractors, architects, suppliers and community members. Their input, resources and expertise can ensure a project meets its objectives.
Constant communication with stakeholders is a top priority. AI makes it easier to keep relevant stakeholders up to speed by automatically sending notifications regarding updates or changes.
As AI reads various data points, it can quickly summarize and convey them into messages. This happens in seconds, ensuring that no time is wasted. This will prevent important things from being overlooked and keep note of the most critical evolutions in construction projects.
With automated and accurate communications, stakeholders are more involved in the project and are better positioned to provide valuable insight if needed.
Conclusion
The construction industry has been dealing with frustrating delays, inefficient scheduling and waste problems for far too long. Construction data management is in serious need of transformation.
AI is the way of the future. Even now, it’s helping companies save valuable time and money. It’s becoming clear that the companies most likely to succeed in the future are the ones that are quickest to leverage AI in their processes.
