Waltham, MA – Digitalization is one of the main drivers of global economic growth in the next 5-10 years. The construction industry is not an exception and is rapidly embracing it. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and especially public availability of large language model implementations like ChatGPT attracted attention to the potential benefits these technologies could bring to the industry. The experts from Hypar, Togal.AI, and Ryan Companies, together with AMC Bridge, delved deeper into exploring if such technologies hold significant potential. Continuing the executive series of expert panel discussions, AMC Bridge hosted a live session on the role of AI in construction.

This time, the expert panel comprised Lucas Manos, IT Director of Business Operations, Ryan Companies; Anthony Hauck, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Hypar; Patrick Murphy, CEO and Founder, Togal.AI; and Igor Tsinman, Co-Founder and President, AMC Bridge. The discussion was expertly moderated by Jim Brown, Founder and President of Tech-Clarity.

Please find below the most valuable highlights of the webinar. If you want to learn the insights shared by the speakers in more detail, visit AMC Bridge Webinars to watch the webinar recording.

What does the poll say?

Traditionally, we encouraged attendees to participate in a poll to better understand the audience’s perspectives. When prompted to share what was their level of AI adoption for construction, attendees indicated the following:

• 54% admitted they were still in the state of research.
• 36% confessed that their companies had only plans, small projects, or no AI adoption.
• 10% shared they were among early adopters and were using AI significantly.

Technological maturity. Readiness for AI

With recent advances in AI and all the excitement about it, especially the public availability of big language models like ChatGPT, there is a lot of talk about how AI can improve performance and profitability in almost everything. These advancements bring about the possibility of applying AI approaches and techniques to enhance productivity in AEC. At the same time, the construction industry still suffers from a lot of inefficiency and can’t boast a high level of digital maturity. So, the question remains: Is the industry ready for AI?

“I think the technology is certainly ready, but it’s worth mentioning the state of the data. I think the industry is more than ready. It’s just a question of whether it is adoptable quite yet,” Anthony Hauck, Hypar, comments on the maturity of technology, digital tools, and readiness for AI.  

Problems and opportunities

The construction industry is generally complex and still has to fully embrace digital transformation. However, it’s important to realize that such a lack of maturity leads to a significant space for improvement.

Igor Tsinman, AMC Bridge, shares his observation: “There’s always hope that the particular technology will solve all our problems. And the reality is that the foundation is always shaky. There are many underlying issues, such as data compatibility, data quality, etc.”

While the availability of new tools and libraries opens up new opportunities, there is a lot of work in the AEC industry that needs to be done before AI/ML approaches can be fully utilized. One of the major problems is the availability and fidelity of industry data. So far, it is characterized by the disjoined datasets and lack of interoperability. The “good data” problem is well-recognized by the industry, and many companies are working to address it.

“With the new emergence of AI, we’re able to take our business to the next level. We’re now looking at AI and its ability to move and connect tools in new and different ways. We have a long way to go. But we have taken that foundation and are building upon it with our digital architecture strategy. We’re in the midst of rearchitecting our data storage to be AI-focused and ready,” emphasizes Lucas Manos, Ryan Companies, regarding AI advances in their business.

AI approaches

The generative nature of ChatGPT is one of the main reasons it gets so much attention. The AI-driven solution applies various approaches to create something new. Nevertheless, even though the abilities of ChatGPT and similar AI models are impressive, there are important considerations when using generative AI.

Patrick Murphy, Togal.AI, shares his vision: “It’s early days. But the tech will continue improving, and I fully expect generative AI to have a massive transformational impact on the industry.”

Common uses of AI in construction

AI-powered virtual assistants, social media algorithms, email filters, online customer support chatbots, predictive text and autocorrect, language translation, smart home devices, and so on are just a few examples of how AI technology is increasingly integrated into our daily lives, making tasks more convenient, efficient, and personalized.

However, there is still a long way to go before models like the one backing ChatGPT become widely available for the construction industry. At the same time, there are quite a few areas where AI/ML techniques could improve productivity right now: image/point cloud processing (construction site inspection, as-built evaluation, safety, and security inspections), cost estimation and takeoff, design automation, supply chain management, smart scheduling, and so on.

“From my perspective, image processing and scanning processing is the area where a lot of benefits could be extracted using artificial intelligence approaches and algorithms,” Igor Tsinman adds.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in estimating in preconstruction for artificial intelligence, things like e-takeoffs,” Patrick Murphy confirms the thought.

Summary

During this inspiring discussion, we tried to shed light on how technological advancements, such as AI, can revolutionize the construction industry’s outcomes.

ChatGPT and similar AI models hold promise for the construction sector. They can be valuable for architects, engineers, and project managers, aiding in various stages of construction projects. However, human oversight and expertise remain essential to harness the full potential of generative AI, ensuring that the generated ideas are not only creative but also feasible and safe in real-world applications.

Currently, the construction industry is still in the early stages of adopting and implementing AI. However, we already see a great potential value in this technological advancement. Industry players like construction companies, software vendors, and contech startups are actively exploring new venues opening due to the recent progress in AI. Panelists are quite optimistic that we will see the results of such innovations soon.

At the same time, the true essence of AI often gets lost amidst the hype. That is why it is very important when embarking on the AI journey to choose a partner with deep expertise in both AI and various technologies. It will ensure that you have a trusted collaborator who can integrate innovative AI with other, more traditional technologies, enhancing your workflows and processes effectively.

Acknowledgments and helpful links

We thank our panelists for their expert opinions and the audience for their active participation and exciting questions asked during the Q&A session of the webinar. The discussions revolved around AI’s ability to help the construction industry reach sustainability goals (net zero), the industry’s willingness to share the data sets to facilitate faster adoption of AI, and other questions. Review the full recording to find out the answers.

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For more information about AMC Bridge’s expertise and experience in implementing AI in construction, please visit our website www.amcbridge.com.

About AMC Bridge

AMC Bridge is a global software development consultancy serving engineering, manufacturing, and construction industries. Since 1999, we have enabled digital transformation for our clients by creating custom software solutions that eliminate data silos, connect complex applications, unlock internal innovation, and democratize cutting-edge technologies. AMC Bridge’s software development experts use extensive experience with APIs of the majority of engineering software solutions and platforms, as well as in-depth knowledge of computational geometry, 3D visualization, and other advanced technologies to solve our clients’ critical business needs.