The Ways Artificial Intelligence Will Change Construction

Artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction industry has the potential to boost productivity, safety, and other aspects of business success, according to an article published by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

An AI system can enable such services as predictive maintenance, which multiplies the value of the Internet of Things (IoT).

“With AI, users can learn patterns that lead to failures and make predictions such as construction equipment failing if it is not serviced after a certain amount of time,” says Maciej Kranz, IoT expert and VP of strategic innovation at Cisco.

“The AI system might also recommend how to operate the equipment to maximize its useful life, offering trade-offs between performance and longevity.”

Machine learning makes the analytics systems “smarter” as time goes on and more data sets and patterns are available.

Kranz makes the analogy that AI is the brain and IoT is the body, with IoT providing both input (data) and output (action) for the smart computing and analytics function of a centralized AI system.

“By working smarter together, users can make better day-to-day or planning decisions, whether on a construction site or in a manufacturing facility or in a retail store,” says Kranz.

About 60 percent of companies believe their future success depends on the implementation of artificial intelligence, according to Harvard Business Review. Another 36 percent say their organizations were in pilot or production use with machine-learning technology.

AEM has offered some guidance on overcoming barriers to AI adoption and its long-term implications for construction.

While this type of technology can better empower construction teams to handle critical tasks, there are a number of challenges holding back widespread adoption that need to be addressed first before finding success with artificial intelligence, AEM says. These include:

• Fear among workers: Some employees believe that AI is a job killer and that it will require a deeper understanding of data science. However, as newer tools come out, AI is becoming an easier-to-use tool.
• Cultural resistance: There is also a cultural resistance to new groundbreaking technologies that needs to be overcome. Cisco’s Kranz emphasizes that it is important that people understand AI is here, and that movement on adoption should be a priority, but only once a company’s needs and values have been assessed.
• Security: From an IT perspective, security is a huge issue, and the security industry is finally addressing the special requirements of IoT, inclusive of AI, according to Kranz. “Just as they responded to Wi-Fi 15 years ago, they are now focusing on security standards, interoperability, and certifications, from the device level through the network and to the cloud,” he says.

The technology combination of IoT and AI will change construction for the long term with new business opportunities and revenue streams as well as new business models and structures that take advantage of IoT and AI capabilities.

Artificial intelligence is expected to alter business models in the construction industry in areas including logistics, customer-relationship management, support, workflow automation, and finance.

Even more, AI can help in recreating realistic situations for training, reducing injuries and costly mistakes and making operations more efficient. This can enable operators to better use existing labor resources, helping with the skilled labor shortage in construction, according to Kranz.

In the future, cobots and robots can work alongside workers, helping to speed construction, make better decisions, and reduce costs and injuries.

In case you’re wondering, cobots are “robots intended to physically interact with humans in a shared workspace.” That’s in contrast to traditional robots, which are designed to operate autonomously or with limited guidance.

Either way, changes in the construction industry are rapidly approaching.