Many news, articles and stories have been floating around regarding artificial intelligence. Half have favored AI, half have been against it and some have been neutral. AI has somehow been able to cause headlines for the wrong reasons too. It is also being proven that it cannot replace a human’s job completely.
Construction industry executives and professionals have been thinking about the way AI will change the industry for good. Though computers cannot replace humans they have been looking for ways to help avert construction claims. The construction industry still uses legacy systems and it cannot allow AI to easily overtake them in a matter of seconds.
The construction industry continues evolving to this day. However, it has been slow in adopting and embracing new technology. Construction planning is a complicated process. Yes, it is multifaceted. Among the many tasks present are project management, resource allocation, risk management, and scheduling.
Will robots be replacing human employees in the industry soon? Experts don’t think so. Is it because of the industry’s reluctance to adopt new technology? Maybe it’s because AI crosses the line unnecessarily. Or it may be due to governmental regulations.
AI systems under development at the moment aren’t really AI systems. They have been quite a misnomer to the original term. Chatbots haven’t moved on from stealing and scraping data. Real-time applications are a far cry from development and testing. AI hasn’t become what it was supposed to be.
Let us however have a good look at AI’s role in construction.
Does AI provide advantages in construction planning?
A lot of new-age tech experts are supporting AI. They are overly optimistic about it. Half of it has been good but half of it just hasn’t done anything right. Here are some advantages AI is rumored to bring to construction companies, based on findings of experts in Quantum Analysis Dubai UAE.
Task Automation
Artificial intelligence has the capability and capacity to process huge amounts of data more quickly than humans. It can hence automate and fasten tasks that consume time. Through proper analysis of resource requirements for any project, AI can do the following:
- Generate appropriate schedules.
- Optimize monthly workflows.
- Produce timely reports on a weekly, quarterly, or monthly basis.
Yes, these processes should be based on information fed to systems. This will help reduce redundant human involvement. Yet if AI were to conduct these tasks, human planners can easily focus on the problem-solving and decision-making areas.
Risk management and reduction
In all honesty, construction projects are risky by inherited nature. Delays, cost rises, and project overruns are common. Artificial intelligence can help identify those risks and control construction claims.
AI can also help review historical data and simulate several scenarios. This can help provide early warning signs and can also help in formulating the right risk management tactics. Having such information helps raise a project’s rate of success.
What disadvantages does AI provide in the construction industry?
Despite the theoretical advantages, AI has its share of disadvantages and they are quite concerning. We will now have a good look at them.
Each decision needs human judgment and AI is void of that
AI bases its decisions on analyzing available data and selecting the one with the best chance of success in statistical terms. It struggles in areas focused on unforeseen events. Human intervention is still needed for validating and interpreting what AI has generated.
Planning requires making well-thought decisions. Human judgment can help make such decisions. At the moment, AI is still in its infancy. It may improve in the future but current trends are suggesting otherwise.
AI currently lacks the ability to predict the needed amount of changes. Ranging from adjustments in design to managing delays due to personal issues and the like, computers do not know everything.
Quality of Data and Records
It is true without a doubt that AI relies heavily on data. It requires top-notch information and records to produce an accurate analysis. They are also needed to make the needed decisions as well. It is quite known that in the construction industry, record-keeping needs to be consistent. AI needs to work with consistency and sync between data input and record keeping.
A difference in the environment
Construction projects are usually subject to frequent changes. They are in design and development along with funding. Unforeseen weather events and changes in resource reserves, levels, and requirements are hard to predict. On-site and off-site events plus emergencies are quite common.
AI must have the ability to react as quickly as it can to such events. It should so it can remain effective. AI needs to handle real-time data accordingly and must adjust accordingly too. This data also needs a way of being input properly into the system.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence may have great potential in improving a construction company’s functions. However, at the moment it cannot fully replace humans and will never be able to do so. Its role in the construction industry is a good one but somehow, will be limited because of the way the industry works.
Human expertise and judgment are still needed in the industry. Even its current form is an unfortunate misnomer. Humans still have a role to play in construction, especially in areas that machines cannot understand.
Moreover, the use of AI in construction planning has its benefits. It can help reduce risks improve efficiency and provide the much needed valuable insights. This will be an interesting area of development in years to come.
Experts believe that construction projects still require human employees. They will do so for a while. Planners make judgments that are never easy. Yet they take the preferences of shareholders into consideration. They also need to adjust to rapidly evolving environments.
On a construction site, AI can be capable of negotiating and engaging with people but that’s what proponents think. The reality is different. AI can only play a supporting role in the near future that is. Otherwise, it will just be a misnomer as most tech enthusiasts have made it look like.