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Artificial Intelligence - The Next Technology Wave in Construction
The construction industry has always been identified as slow to change. Many factors play into this perception. Specifically, our industry still relies on skilled individuals performing daily hands-on work to get tasks completed. However, my years of experience in the industry tells a different story...
The construction industry has always been identified as slow to change. Many factors play into this perception. Specifically, our industry still relies on skilled individuals performing daily hands-on work to get tasks completed. However, my years of experience in the industry tells a different story. Construction firms do embrace change if it benefits and fits their specifc company needs.For example, the AGC office provided a physical plan room for job take-offs for our members for decades. This began in the late 1950's and lasted until around 2010. Many of our members spent countless hours at the AGC office plan room estimating jobs. Around 2008, digital plans became readily available within the industry. Contractors of all sizes immediately incorporated this technological change within their own offices. Firms can now receive, display, and print out blueprints from their own desktop computers. Estimating projects now happens entirely in-house. Traveling to an offsite physical plan room does not happen anymore.
A common way of doing business changed overnight with this technological advancement. During this period, other technologies became readily available within the industry. This wave of advancements produced mobile phones, tablets for field use, new estimating software, digital plan rooms, and paperless site plans; use of lasers, drones, GPS, and computer-based guidance on heavy equipment; and virtual reality technology such as Building Imaging Modeling (BIM). Each of these tech tools plays an important role in the daily business operations of our industry. Embracing these changes has made construction firms more efficient and productive in their day-to-day operations.
In 2024, the next major technological advancement, Articifical Intelligence (AI), is hitting the industry. Just in its infancy stage, AI is being introduced to the world. Construction-related technology groups are already exploring how AI can be adapted to our industry. Many are predicting it will be beneficial for estimators, project managers, safety directors, and lead field personnel. AI is expected to use specific jobsite data to increase productivity, grow profitability, identify and reduce hazards, and decrease rework of potential projects awarded to contractors. Much trial and error will occur with AI's introduction into the industry. It will be interesting to see how AI will impact AGC members' businesses. Only time will tell.
Once again, change is at our industry's doorstep. AI presents a whole new realm of technological tools for industry use. Through the process of utilizing these advancements. AGC members will have the opportunity to become more productive and profitable. Similar technological advances were embraced in the past. Will the construction industry continue to embrace these new technological advances? I believe it will!
by Chris Nelson