ABC releases technology guide for AI in construction

Associated Builders and Contractors has released an artificial intelligence (AI) technology guide for the U.S. construction industry. AI in Construction — What Does It Mean for Our Contractors? outlines definitions, construction use cases, and considerations for the implementation of AI in construction.  

“The purpose of the guide is to provide a level of knowledge to ensure contractors can be active participants in the construction AI conversation,” according to Associated Builders and Contractors.

The guide describes uses of AI during the construction project lifecycle, including preconstruction, construction, and building maintenance. It also provides definitions of terms such as deep learning and predictive AI, as well as best practices in drafting office AI policies.

“The possibilities of AI technology may sound endless, but we must first educate ourselves on the basics, and this resource is a starting point to understand AI and its potential impact on the construction industry,” said Patrick Scarpati, ABC Director of Construction Technology and Innovation. “The industry has immense opportunities to evaluate how we can better deliver projects, and we can lean on AI in achieving essential goals like upskilling, workforce development, knowledge transfer, supply chain optimization, enhanced safety design and planning, and much more.”

Use cases for AI in construction 

The guide offers more than 20 uses cases and project management impacts across preconstruction, construction, and building maintenance, including: 

Predictive Analytics: Analyze historical project data and current conditions to optimize construction schedules, resource allocation and task sequencing.

Supply Chain: Throughout the procurement process for self-performing contractors, artificial intelligence will empower the purchasing team to quickly identify availability and best pricing within a certain region.

Contract Review: Empower legal teams to quickly identify critical risk factors in construction contracts

Computer Vision/Intelligent Site Monitoring: Increase safety and security on jobsites. Through machine learning, video footage is trained to detect things like the number of workers entering/exiting the jobsite, workers in proximity of heavy construction machinery and even safety violations, such as the lack of face protection while saw-cutting concrete

Energy Management: Analyze energy usage patterns and optimize HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption and overall costs

Predictive Maintenance: Through the expanded use of building automation and control networks, AI can predict when building equipment is likely to fail, allowing for a proactive response.

According to ABC, “This resource is meant to act as a starting point in your journey to understand AI and its potential impact on the construction industry. By reading through definitions, construction use cases and considerations, the reader should walk away with a level of knowledge to ensure they can actively participate in future conversations on AI in construction.”