Artificial intelligence in the construction industry is here. It has emerged as a technology that is poised to transform our industry. As we enter this next frontier of construction technology, it is essential to understand what artificial intelligence is and how it offers unique solutions to advance the productivity and performance of the construction industry.   

This article provides a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence in preconstruction. We’ll explore how AI offers ways

Artificial intelligence in the construction industry is here. It has emerged as a technology that is poised to transform our industry. As we enter this next frontier of construction technology, it is essential to understand what artificial intelligence is and how it offers unique solutions to advance the productivity and performance of the construction industry.   

This article provides a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence in preconstruction. We’ll explore how AI offers ways to enhance the processes that drive business for better decision-making and strategic preconstruction planning.  

What is Artificial Intelligence? 

The data-rich, complex modern construction environment offers a potential advantage to those businesses that can harness data, produce intelligible insights, and make informed strategic decisions. AI is establishing a footing in the construction industry following years of development and imagination.  

AI is here now because of advances in computing power, algorithms that follow precise steps, the large sets of data the industry produces, and innovations in the systems that combine these advances. The time to understand and integrate AI into your business is now.  

Artificial intelligence is not a new idea, its roots can be traced back to the 1950s. Arthur Samuel, a pioneer in the field, defined it as “the field of study that gives computers the ability to learn without explicitly being programmed.” In other words, AI involves computers and systems that learn from experience. The purpose of AI is to make machines do things that humans are presently doing, but do them better and faster.  

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning 

Artificial intelligence is a field in data science that blends computer technology with hefty amounts of data to enable problem-solving. You may have experienced AI in a voice search with Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. Search engines also power results with AI to collect and retrieve relevant information based on user inquiries. Videos suggested to you by YouTube or Netflix are AI-driven results that recommend titles based on learning your preferences and viewing habits.  

You may hear machine learning mentioned in the same breath as artificial intelligence, but the terms are not entirely interchangeable. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that learns from experience, adapts, and improves performance without being explicitly programmed.  

A third part of artificial intelligence getting a lot of exposure today is deep learning. All AI aims to mimic human thinking, and deep learning is designed to extract maximum value from our way of processing information. Our brains use what scientists call neural networks, which are the collection of brain cells that help us process information by connecting signals. Deep learning uses artificial neural networks to process large amounts of data and solve problems with limited human help. These artificial intelligence networks are valued for their ability to handle lots of data, continue to improve as it trains and learns, and solve complex issues.   

Artificial Intelligence in Preconstruction 

Before building starts on a commercial construction project, a variety of people and teams from different disciplines and expertise must collaborate and plan how the project will proceed. Preconstruction, as it’s called, refers to the phases of construction that take place before the actual construction work begins. Building owners, architects and engineers, trade contractors, general contractors, building product manufacturers, and many others take part in preconstruction. 

The preconstruction process in commercial construction helps to ensure that the project is completed on time, within budget, and to the client’s satisfaction by identifying and addressing the sequence of people and events that will get the project completed.  

Just like the projects being built, solid foundational work in preconstruction carries over greatly into the strength of the project. Variations in preconstruction stages occur depending on variables such as the type of structure or project (e.g., hotel, school, road, or bridge), project delivery methods, the scope of work involved, or if it is a public or private construction project. 

AI In Preconstruction Project Stages 

The following preconstruction project stages provide a framework for the steps before construction starts and how artificial intelligence is changing how this planning is performed.   

Pre-Design: This phase includes the conceptual design, initial project planning, project development, and feasibility studies. The project team typically begins with the concept of the structure, performs a site analysis to identify potential obstacles, and develops a plan to address them. This phase also includes the development of a rough or working project scope and budget. 

AI in the pre-design or initial project planning and development phase is helpful for feasibility studies to determine if a project is viable. Risks can be identified and analyzed with various data, including financial data, market data, and data on the project's potential impact on the environment. Risk analysis can assist in deciding whether to proceed with the project. AI is a powerful tool at this stage because it offers thoroughness and accuracy, along with a general lack of bias.   

Design Development: This phase includes the development of detailed design documents that steer the project. Documents included in this stage include architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans.  

Design development is a critical phase in the project development process. It involves taking the conceptual design and turning it into a more detailed and buildable design, moving from general ideas to more specific ones. The design development phase is where many important decisions are made that will shape the final project, including cost, energy efficiency, and overall functionality. Artificial Intelligence can play a significant role in this phase by providing new tools and techniques to improve the efficiency and quality of the design development process.  

Construction Documents: This phase includes the development of final construction documents, including detailed construction plans, building product specifications, and contract documents. The finalization of the construction schedule is prepared, which outlines the sequence and expected duration of all activities required to complete the project.  

AI-based tools can be used to automate the process of extracting, analyzing, and processing data from construction documents. For example, natural language processing (NLP) can be used to analyze project requirements and create a detailed project scope document based on two-dimensional construction plans like PDF files. NLP has been around for over a half-century and is the component of AI that understands and interprets human language, written and spoken. This can save time and resources compared to the tedium of traditional methods, such as manual data entry or spreadsheet calculations. 

Bidding and Negotiation: This phase includes distributing the plans to trades, contractors, and manufacturers for bidding. The project team will review the bids, negotiate with contractors, and select winning bids. For general contractors and trade contractors, this is the essential phase that includes producing and delivering detailed takeoffs and estimates to submit a competitive bid.  

Trade contractors, general contractors, and building supply manufacturers assess the project scope, identify opportunities to pursue, analyze bidding strategies, and decide which projects clear the hurdle for success. Trade contractors can use the power of AI to streamline processes, automate repetitive tasks like takeoffs, and improve the speed at which decisions like vetting profitable projects are made.  

Permitting and Approvals: This phase includes the submission of the construction documents to the appropriate governmental agencies, where appropriate, for review and approval. Artificial intelligence is used in this phase to validate building code compliance and manage the building permit process.  

Finalize Preconstruction: This phase includes finalizing contracts, mobilization of the contractors, and the start of construction activities. Effective preconstruction planning and strategic decision-making are key components of profitability for trades, general contractors, and building product manufacturers.  

The finalization of the construction schedule is prepared, which outlines the sequence and expected duration of all activities required to complete the project.  

The preconstruction stages can become more complex due to the nature of the project, the inherent need for effective communication and collaboration among teams, and local and national regulations, among others. Time and budget issues are consistently make-or-break drivers of a profitable construction project. Technology like AI offers an opportunity to improve performance throughout the preconstruction lifecycle.  

Where Else AI and Construction Are Teaming Up 

Aside from preconstruction, AI is a technology continuing to emerge in other areas of construction, enabling improvements in performance and safety. Some examples include:  Predictive maintenance: AI can be used to analyze data from building systems, such as HVAC and electrical systems, to predict when maintenance will be needed and prevent equipment failure  Site safety: AI-powered cameras and sensors (even some worn by workers) can monitor construction sites for potential safety hazards and alert workers and managers to potential dangers. 

Robotics: The efficiency of AI and machine learning have found their way into robotic bricklaying, welding, and even building entire structures with 3D printing.  Project management: AI can optimize the allocation of labor and materials, making the scheduling of construction tasks more efficient and cost-effective.  Quality control: AI-powered cameras and sensors can monitor the quality of construction work, identify defects, and alert workers and managers to issues that need to be addressed.  Building performance: AI could be used to analyze data from building systems to optimize energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and other performance metrics. Simulating building efficiency with AI, for instance, allows the identification of potential energy-depriving areas for better design and construction.  

The Knowledge and Insight Enhancer 

It is common to hear that computers trained to think like humans are a threat to stealing jobs from people. But construction is inherently reliant on the vast institutional and individual knowledge, something that AI cannot replace. Where human judgment is involved, and we know that’s everywhere throughout the construction project lifecycle, AI does not have the capability we humans do.  

It's more likely that certain roles and responsibilities will change as AI is implemented. AI combined with a company’s organizational knowledge will offer much greater strategic opportunities than those not adopting the technologies to streamline performance and make better data-driven decisions. 

Bright Future for AI in Construction

The present and future of AI in the construction industry are promising as more AI-based tools and techniques become integrated into workflows. As technology advances, AI is expected to become an even more integral part of the construction process, helping to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance construction performance outcomes. AI in the construction industry has landed. Get ready for it.

Want to see AI in action? ConstructConnect will be showcasing Takeoff Boost™, our AI-powered add-on feature for On-Screen Takeoff, at CONEXPO 2023 in Las Vegas from March 14 - 18. Be sure to stop by and see Takeoff Boost in action at Booth #N11076.

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ConstructConnect is honored to announce they have been recognized in the top 40 on Comparably’s Best Companies for Women in 2022. This award is the result of a dedicated effort across the organization to create an inclusive and equitable culture with women at the forefront.  

With initiatives focused on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI), ConstructConnect has raised the stakes for women in many areas, including career growth pathways, and a flexible work environment. The company recognizes

ConstructConnect is honored to announce they have been recognized in the top 40 on Comparably’s Best Companies for Women in 2022. This award is the result of a dedicated effort across the organization to create an inclusive and equitable culture with women at the forefront.  

With initiatives focused on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI), ConstructConnect has raised the stakes for women in many areas, including career growth pathways, and a flexible work environment. The company recognizes that the recruitment, empowerment, and retention of women only strengthens the core principle of People First at ConstructConnect.  

“ConstructConnect is proud to be recognized as a company where women can thrive in their careers and are genuinely appreciated for their contributions,” said Hope Needham, Chief People Officer. “It is a testament to the incredible culture we’re building and shaping to ensure everyone feels welcome and empowered to grow professionally.”  

The DEI Board and Women’s Group, both of which exist to advance the progression of minorities and women, offer collaborative meetings, discussion forums, educational events, mentorships, and more to encourage positive change through engagement. The overarching mission of these groups is to unite a diverse team of leaders to empower and strengthen women and minorities to promote excellence company-wide. 

Megan Kirby, a Team Lead on the Customer Success team and member of the Women’s Group, reflected, “It is so wonderful to work for a company that supports and encourages women to pursue their endeavors, whatever they may be.” 

ConstructConnect aims to achieve equity for all while encouraging more females to break ground within the technology industry and beyond. Tisha Kinsey, Senior Customer Success Manager, summed it up perfectly: “Every organization strives for greatness in its respective markets, and ConstructConnect has found and utilized its golden key(s): women. Women provide diversity in thought, strength in embracing technologies, and forward-focused, caring leadership.”  

With the most comprehensive database from over 70,000 organizations spanning 20 industries, we are honored to be included in Comparably’s top 40 for the Best Companies for Women in 2022. 

As we bid adieu to 2022, it’s once again time for our end-of-year annual tradition. No, I’m not talking about plotting revenge against all those people who sent me fruitcake again this holiday season. It’s finally time to reveal ConstructConnect's Top 5 Coolest Buildings of 2022.

Criteria for inclusion on the list are twofold. First, the building must have been completed, topped out, or opened within the calendar year, Second, there has to be some aspect that makes the building cool. This could

As we bid adieu to 2022, it’s once again time for our end-of-year annual tradition. No, I’m not talking about plotting revenge against all those people who sent me fruitcake again this holiday season. It’s finally time to reveal ConstructConnect's Top 5 Coolest Buildings of 2022.

Criteria for inclusion on the list are twofold. First, the building must have been completed, topped out, or opened within the calendar year, Second, there has to be some aspect that makes the building cool. This could be the architecture, sustainability elements, unique construction methods, technology, building materials used, cultural impact, or some combination of these elements.

Here's a look at this year’s list.

1. 111 West 57th – New York, New York

Who doesn’t love a good superlative skyscraper? And while Burj Khalifa isn’t losing its crown as the world’s tallest, 2022 saw the completion of the world’s skinniest skyscraper: 111 West 57th. Also known as the Steinway Tower, the new residential tower overlooking Central Park has a height-to-width ratio of 24:1.

Designed by SHoP Architects and developed by JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group, 111 West 57th sits on the site of the second Steinway Hall in the city, which was designed by Warren and Wetmore and built in 1925 to be closer to the recently opened Carnegie Hall. The historic building, which served as a showroom, concert hall, and offices for the Steinway & Sons piano company, was integrated into the design of the adjoining 1,426-foot tower, renovated, and converted into apartments.

The new tower, clad in terracotta, bronze, and glass, in addition to being the world’s skinniest skyscraper, is also the third tallest building in New York City. For all the Led Zeppelin fans out there, the tower’s pinnacle has a series of setbacks on the south side, earning it the nickname “Stairway to Heaven.”

2. DJI Sky City – Shenzhen, China

DJI, the world leader in drone technology, opened its new headquarters, Sky City, this year in Shenzhen, China. Designed by Foster + Partners, Sky City is comprised of two skyscrapers using asymmetrical suspended steel structures. Each tower features six glass volumes cantilevered around their cores at varying heights that are supported by massive steel trusses and suspension tubes. The twin towers are connected by a 295-foot sky bridge that sits 345 feet above the ground on the 24th floor.

The suspended steel structures reduced the need for interior columns allowing for more open and uninterrupted office spaces. The massive V-shaped trusses were used to create four-story tall drone testing labs. A zen garden in each tower lobby welcomes workers as they enter the building, and rooftop gardens on the glass volumes and podium offer a network of green spaces.

The towers were designed to make use of daylighting, and additional sustainability measures include the use of an intelligent control system to reduce energy consumption, rainwater harvesting, and recycling greywater for irrigation. In addition to the flight labs and office spaces, Sky City has auditorium space, research and development areas, and a community health center.

What better way to explore DJI’s new headquarters than with a video filmed using the new DJI Avata drone?

3. Rosewood Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil

Next on our list is the Rosewood Sao Paulo hotel, designed by architect Jean Nouvel and artistic director Philippe Starck. The new hotel is actually comprised of two buildings. The first is the renovated Condessa Filomena Matarazzo Maternity, which was built in 1943 and saw the birth of half a million babies during its operation. The second building is the Mata Atlantica Tower, a vertical forest whose exterior is covered with interconnected wooden latticework and interspersed with local trees, plants, and flowers throughout as well as on the tower’s rooftops.

The interior of the upscale hotel is adorned with 450 pieces of unique artwork from 57 local artists covering the walls, floors, ceilings, and elevators. The hotel has 160 guestrooms and 100 private residences as well as six restaurants and bars, including two pool and bar areas. Other amenities include a cinema, event space, music studio, and an Asaya well-being center.

Part of the project also included the renovation of the Chapel of Santa Luzia to its original 1922 architecture. Rosewood Sao Paulo is part of the larger Cidade Matazarro development blending the adaptive reuse of existing buildings with new construction.

Sustainability was a big part of the project, with all the construction completed with locally sourced and upcycled materials. There is also a biodiversity program aimed at repopulating indigenous plants and animals from the Mata Atlantica rainforest. Within a year of opening, the hotel is expected to be powered entirely by renewable energy from on-site solar panels and other renewable measures.

4. Taipei Performing Arts Center – Taipei, Taiwan

The Taipei Performing Arts Center, designed by OMA’s Rem Koolhaus, is a unique take on what a performing arts center can look like, both inside and out. Rather than your typical from and back sides, each of the center’s three theaters jut out from the building’s 10-story glass cube. The exterior of each is clad in aluminum.

There’s the spherical 800-seat Globe Playhouse, the 1,500-seat Grand Theater, and the 800-seat Blue Box. The Grand Theater and Blue Box can be combined to create the 2,300-seat Super Theater. All three theaters share a communal backstage area located in the central hub of the building in part to save space and also to encourage interactions and collaborations between productions.

Another cool feature of the building is the Public Loop which is open to, well, the public. This loop takes visitors from the ground floor all the way up to a viewing platform on the top floor, between the interior and exterior shells of the Globe Theater, and then down an elevator back to the ground floor. Viewing windows throughout the loop allow visitors a glimpse of performances, rehearsals, and the behind-the-scenes action backstage.

The Taipei Performing Arts Center took 10 years to complete due to various delays, with construction starting way back in 2012. The venue finally opened on August 7, 2022, with a performance by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra.

5. Rose Apartments – Venice, California

Rounding out this year’s list is the Rose Apartments, designed by Brooks + Scarpa. All buildings serve a purpose, whether it’s commercial, educational, cultural, governmental, etc., but it’s always heartwarming to see buildings purpose-built to address larger societal issues. In the case of the Rose Apartments, they were built to provide permanent supportive and affordable housing to address homelessness. It’s primarily intended for local youths aging out of state or foster care and for the chronically homeless.

The Rose Apartments is in the courtyard housing style developed and popularized in Los Angeles in the 1920s. The ground floor of the building is commercial space and has offices for the Venice Community Housing, which owns the building and is where their administrative offices were located before the site was redeveloped.

Above the commercial space is the 35-unit, U-shaped apartment building surrounding the landscaped courtyard. The LEED Gold-certified building was partially funded by Proposition HHH, which was a ballot measure passed back in 2016 to address homelessness with affordable apartment housing.

There's over a 50% chance the United States could slip into a recession within the next 18 months according to TD Securities. The construction industry really took it on the chin during the Great Recession. The number of construction firms fell by nearly 150,000 between 2007 and 2013 and over 2.3 million jobs were lost due to layoffs, early retirement, and workers leaving for greener pastures. 

While the duration and impact of the next recession probably won't be as bad as the Great Recession, the

There's over a 50% chance the United States could slip into a recession within the next 18 months according to TD Securities. The construction industry really took it on the chin during the Great Recession. The number of construction firms fell by nearly 150,000 between 2007 and 2013 and over 2.3 million jobs were lost due to layoffs, early retirement, and workers leaving for greener pastures. 

While the duration and impact of the next recession probably won't be as bad as the Great Recession, the construction industry has already been dealing with supply chain disruptions, inflation, and an ongoing labor shortage.

Construction business owners should start looking at ways to recession-proof their construction business now. Even if another recession doesn’t hit, building a resilient business that can weather any hardship is always a smart move.

Whether it’s a recession, a couple of unprofitable projects, subcontractor default, or some other business-ending catastrophe, here are some tips on how to ensure your company’s continued success.

Have Cash on Hand

Squirreling away enough cash to get your company through tough times is a good idea. You don’t want to hinder your company’s growth by hoarding cash rather than putting it to work. If work gets scarce you want to have enough reserves to cover your operating expenses and overhead for a few months to supplement any shortfall.

Don’t Rely on Backlogs

During the last recession, many construction firms saw backlogs of nine to 12 months slowly disappear as projects were put on hold or canceled altogether because no one could get financing. Now’s the time to start strategizing how you’ll keep work coming in when things get tight. This could mean focusing on one or two niche areas or expanding your current offerings to offer more to your clients.

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Keep Your Best People

Construction employment hit a 10-year high last month and has been inching ever closer to prerecession numbers. Despite that, the construction industry is still dealing with a skilled labor shortage. New workers coming into construction don’t have the same experience and expertise as the veteran employees lost during the last recession.

If you want your business to survive another economic downturn, you’re going to need your best workers to get you through. This means offering competitive wages or other incentives and winning enough work to keep them busy.

Know Your Costs

Rising material and labor costs combined with increased project complexity and shorter timelines has resulted in razor-thin profit margins for companies that don’t understand their actual project costs, including job costs and overhead costs. Better knowledge and understanding of how much each job costs will lead to better estimates and higher profit margins.

Play to Your Strengths

What sets your company apart from your competition? Is it the quality of work, your ability to deliver projects on time and within budget, or your expertise in a niche market? Are there certain types of projects or service areas that are more profitable for your company than others? If work starts to dry up, you’ll want to lean into the type of work that you excel at in order to weather the storm.

Cut the Fat

Take a good hard look at your current operations. Are you overextending by taking on too many projects at once? Do you have equipment sitting idle for months at a time? Do you have employees that aren’t pulling their weight? Are you spending money on things that aren’t directly related to your strategic growth? If you answered yes to any of these questions, now is the time to cut the fat and get your company into a lean, mean, recession-fighting machine.

If your construction company is already having issues or struggling, a recession is only going to exacerbate those problems and force you to close up shop. Now is the time to work on things like tightening your cash flow, increasing your productivity on projects, and improving how efficiently your company runs.

Ready to get your construction business prepped for the next recession? Find out how ConstructConnect can help you find the right projects for your business.

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Imagine walking onto a construction site in the near future to find a team of robots doing site grading and layout, laying a brick wall, or even assembling scaffolding trusses. This may seem far-fetched, something you'd expect in a sci-fi flick or a story by Isaac Asimov or Ray Bradbury, but advances in construction robotic technology are quickly making it a reality. 

In fact, depending on the type of work you do, you might already be using robots at the construction site. Robotic heat welders and

Imagine walking onto a construction site in the near future to find a team of robots doing site grading and layout, laying a brick wall, or even assembling scaffolding trusses. This may seem far-fetched, something you'd expect in a sci-fi flick or a story by Isaac Asimov or Ray Bradbury, but advances in construction robotic technology are quickly making it a reality. 

In fact, depending on the type of work you do, you might already be using robots at the construction site. Robotic heat welders and remote-controlled demolition robots have been commercially available for a number of years.

Robots may never completely eliminate the need for human workers in the construction industry, but there are many applications robots could be used to make work on the construction site faster, safer, easier, and less labor-intensive.

The most likely scenario is that robots will be used alongside human workers to augment their work, keep them safer and boost productivity. The current capabilities of existing robots, combined with a growing labor shortage will probably lead to robots handling some of the more menial repetitive tasks, leaving the human worker to focus on other aspects of their job.

Below is a compilation of videos demonstrating some of the technology currently being developed for the construction industry as well as some of the technology already being used.

Brick Laying Robots

Semi-Automated Masonry (SAM) System

The SAM System was developed by Construction Robotics and is intended to work with a mason in order to reduce costs, increase productivity and increase the quality of work. The system eliminates the strenuous work by lifting the brick, applying mortar, and placing each brick in place. The mason is responsible for ensuring accurate placement of the bricks, cleaning up excess mortar, and overseeing the overall project is completed correctly.

Construction Robotics also makes the MULE (Material Unit Lift Enhancer) to help lift and place heavy material on the jobsite, helping improve productivity and safety. Both SAM and MULE robots have been used to complete a number of projects from hotels and offices to retail stores and university buildings. 

Hadrian X

Fastbrick Robotics unveiled Hadrian X last year, a prototype of a bricklaying robot that can lay 1,000 bricks in an hour and can build an entire house in two days complete with pathways for electrical and plumbing and spaces for doors and windows.

Construction Layouts

Dusty Robotics

The FieldPrinter by Dustry Robotics

Theometrics

Theometrics' layout robot can use CAD drawings or BIM models to navigate a construction site to do layouts and measurement tasks. 

Demolition Robots

There are a number of equipment manufacturers that supply the construction industry with remote-controlled demolition robots including Brokk, Finmac, and Husqvarna. 

Self-Driving Trucks & Heavy Equipment

Royal Truck & Equipment Co.

Crash trucks equipped with attenuators have been used for years in highway work zones to protect workers and motorists. You’ve probably seen them in action acting as a barrier between workers painting lines or resurfacing roads. Royal Truck & Equipment has partnered with companies like Micro Systems and Kratos defense to build autonomous crash trucks to help keep road construction workers safe.

Their trucks can be operated by remote control, GPS waypoint navigation, or by following a lead vehicle that would transmit information to the crash truck instructing it when to turn, brake, and what speed to travel.

Built Robotics

Built Robotics’ Automated Track Loader, or ATL, was developed to excavate smaller construction sites. The system uses specially designed LiDAR to accommodate for vibrations in order to see where it is going and to measure the material being excavated. Augmented GPS, a combination of onsite base stations and satellites are used to geofence the site and to move the track loader around the site with precision accuracy.

Instead of building an entirely new piece of heavy equipment, the electronics for the ATL are housed in a cargo carrier that attaches to the cab to retrofit existing compact track loaders. The system also has a collision detection system to prevent the loader from coming into contact with workers or other equipment on the construction site. The ATL also has a kill switch for the person supervising the work should it be needed.

Input from equipment operators was used in designing the software running the ATL and the machine operates at about the same speed as a human operator. 

Komatsu

Komatsu's Smart Construction ties into their Intelligent Machine Control (IMC) construction equipment. The IMC dozer has full automatic blade control and receives real-time information on the blade position from the Global Navigation Satellite System.  The blade is automatically controlled according to 3D CAD construction data with the coordinates computed from design drawings.

Komatsu uses Skycatch drones from San Francisco-based Skycatch to survey job sites from the air and then upload images to computers to generate 3D models of the terrain.  Prior to construction, the 3D drawings will provide an accurate understanding of the area, shape, and volume of earthwork to be moved.

Once construction plans are designed the models will be programmed into the unmanned IMC construction equipment to begin work on the early foundation. Other heavy equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Case, and Volvo CE are all working on developing autonomous construction equipment.

Jobsite Monitoring

Doxel AI

Doxel is using robots and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor jobsite progress with real-time, actionable data. The technology uses autonomous drones and rovers equipped with high-definition cameras and LiDAR to photograph and scan the construction site each day with pinpoint accuracy. Their AI then uses those scans to compare against your BIM models, 3D drawing, schedule, and estimates to inspect the quality of the work performed and to determine how much progress has been made each day.

The AI uses deep-learning algorithms to identify and report errors in work performed. This can be anything from the excavation and site work to the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The AI can recognize a building component based on its shape, size and location even if only a portion of the component is visible.

By classifying and measuring quantities installed, Doxel can tell you how much work was done each day which it can then compare against your construction schedule and alert you if your project is falling behind. The AI also detects deviations between installed components and onsite work with models so you can quickly identify errors and avoid costly rework.

The main goal of Doxel is to improve productivity, eliminate rework and help deliver projects on time and within budget. 

Rebar Work

TyBot

A rebar tying robot might not seem that glamorous, but it does fill a very specific need on construction sites where labor is short. Developed by Advanced Construction Robotics, Inc., the TyBot can continuously tie rebar with only one worker needed to oversee the work. The company is also developing IronBot which can carry and place up to 5,000 pounds of rebar.

Once the rebar for a bridge project has been placed, the TyBot can be set up using the existing bridge infrastructure and set to work. The robot moves along a gantry to identify each intersection of rebar, ties it, and then moves on to the next intersection. The TyBot frame can expand to accommodate a bridge span of 145 feet.

The TyBot has a couple of clear advantages. One, it will allow a crew to be more productive because once they placed the rebar, they can move on to the next job while the TyBot does its work. Bending over and tying thousands of rebar intersections is back-breaking work that can lead to strains and other injuries.

Looking for more project leads? ConstructConnect finds you the best construction projects to bid on and win more work.

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