In the news – Looking ahead, one of the most significant challenges facing the construction industry is the labor shortage threatening productivity. This is just where AI promises to help. An analysis of several studies finds application for AI in six key areas. And a provocative piece in Forbes calls for a return to the master builder, noting that “by augmenting human expertise with computational power, AI has the potential to resolve the complexities of modern construction and rekindle the spirit of the master builder for a new era.” Meanwhile one of President Biden’s final acts was to speed data center construction.
The Return of the Master Builder: How AI Can Revolutionize Construction
The construction industry faces a $40 trillion challenge: Three-quarters of the infrastructure needed by 2050 is not yet built but hundreds of thousands of jobs are going unfilled and productivity is stagnating. Up until a century ago, with fewer resources and simpler tools, societies built monumental structures guided through design and construction by master builders—individuals tasked with architecting, engineering and managing projects, unifying every aspect of the art and science of building. … It’s time for the master builder to return. Forbes
Application of Deep Learning in Construction Engineering and Management
A recent article published in Case Studies in Construction provides an analysis of a multitude of studies of deep learning utilization in construction. Six key application areas where deep learning has been put to effective use are equipment management, schedule management, structural health monitoring, site safety, workforce management and intelligent design. MSN
Delivering on Construction Productivity Is No Longer Optional
Recent research suggests that realizing gen AI’s value is harder than the hype. In this 2024 podcast Rodney Zemmel, global leader of McKinsey Digital, and fellow senior partners and coauthors Eric Lamarre and Kate Smaje join Lucia Rahilly to discuss their book Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI. The McKinsey Podcast
AI-Powered Robot Builders Build Housing with Fewer Workers
AI-powered robots could help house builders in Canada catch up with the housing shortage. Poised to beat labor shortages and high costs, companies like Promise Robotics, Horizon Legacy and others hope to gain traction in housing construction in Canada.
MSN
Biden Issued an Executive Order in January to Speed AI Data Center Development
The executive order “directs the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) to lease federal sites to private companies building gigawatt-scale AI data centers and clean power facilities. It also tells federal agencies to “prioritize” and speed up permitting of AI infrastructure.” The Verge
Revolutionizing UK Construction: Online AI Training Launches February 2025
“The UK construction sector is set to undergo a significant transformation with the launch of a specialised AI training programme. The AI Construction Training (ACT) modules offer free live sessions designed to equip professionals with the skills necessary to lead AI-driven initiatives, bridging the gap between technological innovation and practical application within the industry. The modules form part of the Innovate UK BridgeAI ‘AI in construction: Skills for the future’ Programme, which is being developed and implemented by Trilateral Research.” Building Design & Construction