AI and the construction industry

9.7.24

AI is suddenly everywhere. Phone, email, image editors, social media – AI powers them all. We've a rich history of construction innovation in the UK, so let’s look at AI and the construction industry and how it’s leading to smarter, safer, more efficient building processes that should only build on all that’s gone before.

Will AI replace my job?

AI and its subset, machine learning, is the equivalent of having a colleague with an extraordinarily high IQ who can turn things around in seconds, is never ill, never moody or complaining, or hung over. So, naturally, the first question is: do people feel they’ll lose their jobs to AI? The answer, according to the latest research by Randstad, is no. Well, sort of.

A quarter of UK workers now use AI regularly, with one in ten using it daily, says the research. Over half of respondents believe AI will affect their role in the next five years — but only 4% expect to lose their job to AI. While over a quarter said they were ‘very worried’ about losing their job to AI back in summer 2023. Globally, over half of the people asked (52%) believe AI will boost their career growth and promotion prospects rather than lose them their jobs.

This is backed up by PWC and its recent research. It found that UK employers are willing to pay a 14% wage premium for jobs which require AI skills and that almost two in five UK employees (37%) are excited about the prospect of an AI workplace, with only one in three (33%) expressing concern.

AI and future construction industry jobs

But when we isolate the construction industry, the picture is a bit more mixed. When compared to UK employees as a whole, 11% fewer are excited by the prospect of AI, with 34% of construction workers worried about the impact of AI on their jobs.

Construction and AI

Being one of the least digitalised industries globally means construction is in the early stages of AI technology adoption. Forbes says that productivity in construction has grown at only 1% in the past two decades compared to manufacturing at 3.6% and the whole world economy at 2.8%. But given that construction provides at least 6% of the UK’s GDP, technology adoption would help increase productivity and help with sustainable building practices.

The UK’s construction workers agree, again according to Ranstand’s research, that tech and AI could be the gateway to opportunity, with 46% of those surveyed believing that upskilling in technological skills (among them, AI) will be essential in their role over the next five years.

how does the construction industry benefit from AI?

AI and project planning in the construction industry

AI is a whizz when it comes to planning. Architects must no longer spend hours poring over blueprints and schedules. AI and machine learning algorithms can analyse great swathes of data to predict any potential issues, optimise timelines, and allocate resources in ways that are so much more finely tuned. So, potentially, delays and overruns might be minimised and project managers won't be tearing their hair out.

AI can likewise analyse weather patterns and predict when it might be best to pour concrete or install timber structures, reducing the risk of weather-related hold-ups. This level of precision ensures that projects stay on track and within budget.

Site safety and AI

How is AI contributing to site safety? AI-powered surveillance and monitoring systems in place mean that potential hazards can be identified in real time. Drones equipped with AI can scan construction sites for safety compliance, ensuring workers follow safety protocols.

Then comes the real Bladerunner stuff. Wearable technology. AI capabilities can monitor workers' vital signs and alert supervisors if someone is at risk of injury or exhaustion, thereby avoiding accidents.

Predictive Maintenance and Asset Management

AI is also transforming how construction equipment is managed and maintained. Predictive maintenance uses AI to monitor the health of machinery and predict when maintenance is needed. This proactive approach prevents unexpected breakdowns and extends the lifespan of equipment, saving time and money in the long run.

Supply Chains

AI simplifies the construction industry’s complex supply chain. AI algorithms can predict demand for materials, including timber, more accurately, ensuring that the right amount of materials is available when needed. This reduces delays caused by material shortages and helps keep projects running to time.

AI can likewise optimise delivery routes and schedules, ensuring that materials arrive on-site at the right time and minimising on-site storage requirements. This reduces the risk of damage or theft.

Improved Quality Control

AI can monitor the quality of construction materials and identify potential flaws. It recognises when certain products or materials are incompatible with specific systems. Identifying this in the early design stages can reduce the need for costly rework further down the line.

The human touch in construction

Construction technology still takes highly skilled minds to cross-check and fact-check. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, are fallible and only know what they learn, so human intervention is still very much required.

What the future might bring for AI and construction

AI seems unstoppable. Generative AI will become part of day-to-day operations in architectural and engineering offices. Early-stage, multi-objective optimisation including all the architecture and engineering disciplines will, it's generally thought, become the norm.

This will inform and help eliminate the risk factors from projects from the start, including cost analysis, code and planning compliance and carbon emissions reduction. In the 2030s, we might also start to see automated construction sites. A decade later, it might be that most processes will be automated and optimised.

Sources:

randstad.co.uk

building.co.uk

pwc.co.uk

commonslibrary.parliament.uk