The application of AI to analysis of site photos and digital scans is set to boost construction productivity. Speakers addressing the topic at a recent webinar urge companies to embrace AI.

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is here and probably going to be around forever,” Austin Lay, reality capture technologies manager at Layton Construction, told attendees of a June 19 webinar, “Why construction companies need to embrace digital transformation."

AI is "here, and we need to look at how we use it, how we can benefit from it, and not shy away from it," Lay said. Lay specializes in using drones, indoor capture, and laser scanning to improve project accuracy and efficiency. 
Fellow panelist Kyle Tarr, product manager at FARO, was equally bullish on AI's future and its reality that it's here to stay. "We need to embrace AI," he told attendees. Tarr’s professional focus has been on MEP coordination and project management throughout the building lifecycle.

Noting that AI is not “brand new,” Tarr nevertheless suggested it is poised to have a significant impact on construction project management. "It's become a buzzword and hot topic, but I think it's really going to help us in projects, [such as] analyzing data we have captured," he said.

Tarr looks into the near future and sees construction industry experts using AI to analyze large groups of photos. "AI can identify issues without us having to manually identify that," Tarr said. Projects will be "much easier" for project managers and their teams.

Lay echoed Tarr’s enthusiasm for AI's potential today and tomorrow. "It's better to be on board [leveraging AI] than to push against it,” he told attendees.

Meanwhile, a new survey from GlobalData also sounds bullish, noting, "AI is driving innovation in the construction industry, with recent patents showcasing advancements in safety, efficiency, and accuracy."

The study cites recent patents in the field, including systems for detecting a person in a hoistway, hand washing verification using contamination sensors, cableways for transporting goods, identifying telemetry data using AI, and trajectory and intent prediction.

"These technologies offer benefits such as improved safety, efficiency, and accuracy in construction processes," the report says. "AI can help detect and prevent accidents, ensure proper hand hygiene, optimize transportation systems, and predict user intent for access control devices," the report adds.