Tip of the spear. Cutting edge. Vanguard. These are not words anyone would associate with the construction industry. And when it comes to the nascent technology of artificial intelligence, the construction industry is right near the bottom for both current and future AI adoption.
According to a McKinsey & Company report, only the travel and tourism and professional services sectors have a lower percentage of firms adopting one or more AI technologies at scale or in a core part of their business. When it comes to the average estimated percentage change in AI spending over the next three years, it only gets worse for the construction industry: it’s dead last.
Being last isn’t always such a bad thing, however. Just like how the youngest child gets to watch their older siblings grow up and learn from their mistakes and capitalize on their successes, the construction industry can look at how other industries are leveraging AI, what works and what doesn’t, and take the fast-track to AI dominance.
The McKinsey report identified five current AI applications being used by other industries that could cause an immediate impact in the construction sector:
• Transportation route optimization algorithms for project planning optimization
• Pharmaceutical outcomes prediction for constructability issues
• Retail supply chain optimization for materials and inventory management
• Robotics for modular or prefabrication construction and 3D printing
• Healthcare image recognition for risk and safety management.
In each of these instances, the construction sector would benefit from the work other industries and sectors are putting in to develop the technology. All construction firms would have to do is swoop in and perfect the technology for their own purposes—easier said than done, but still a better option than starting from scratch.
Related Stories
Sponsored | BIM and Information Technology | Mar 3, 2015
The great debate: Is 3D PDF really BIM?
You can pull apart buildings, cut through floors, and view simulated animation for assembly instructions all within a PDF.
BIM and Information Technology | Feb 23, 2015
9 best practices for effective laser scanning
JE Dunn’s National BIM Director, Trent Nichols, offers tips and advice for mastering the art of laser scanning.
BIM and Information Technology | Feb 10, 2015
Google's 3D scanning camera leaves the lab
Google is said to be partnering with LG to create a version of the technology for public release sometime this year.
BIM and Information Technology | Feb 8, 2015
BIM for safety: How to use BIM/VDC tools to prevent injuries on the job site
Gilbane, Southland Industries, Tocci, and Turner are among the firms to incorporate advanced 4D BIM safety assessment and planning on projects.
Architects | Feb 5, 2015
Toy around with Ittyblox's ultra-detailed building blocks
For Lego fanatics, time is no object when building a model. For those of us with a little less time, Ittyblox is a good solution.
BIM and Information Technology | Jan 29, 2015
Lego X by Gravity elevates the toy to a digital modeling kit
With the Lego X system, users can transfer the forms they’ve created with legos into real-time digital files.
BIM and Information Technology | Jan 28, 2015
5 crucial lessons from moving BIM/VDC workflows to the cloud
Early adopters of cloud-based model collaboration share what they learned in overcoming their toughest hurdles.
Mixed-Use | Jan 26, 2015
MVRDV designs twisty skyscraper to grace Vienna's skyline
The twist maximizes floor space and decreases the amount of shadows the building will cast on the surrounding area.
| Jan 21, 2015
Schneider Electric and Autodesk begin collaboration on building lifecycle management
Schneider Electric has announced the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding, which states that Schneider Electric and Autodesk plan to collaborate to enhance current practices for building lifecycle management based on BIM.