Construction firms finding strategic advantages with AI
By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor
Construction contractors are looking upon AI with increasing enthusiasm after experiencing its advantages in the field, according to a SmartBrief report.
Although AI in construction is in the early stages of development and needs considerably more refinement, some contractors are seeing its worth on projects. A recent example is a project at San Francisco International Airport that included building a six-story office in the core of a terminal.
An AI-powered system color-coded progress stages and overlayed them on floor plans, that made it easier to visualize completion percentages and spot gaps or errors. The system identified a mis-installed duct that had been placed in the wrong room. Flagging that error prevented further downstream errors such as framing around the mislocated duct. AI also made tracking scheduling and completion percentages more efficient.
Practitioners believe AI will soon enable generative design, more complete drawings, and near real-time design validation. As the technology becomes more affordable, more capable, and easier to use, the pace of adoption may significantly rise.