Construction Industry AI

AI Primer: Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a valuable way. NLP enables the interaction between humans and computers through language.

Can Safety Finally Be Sexy? Maybe with AI

I’ve got a confession. Most of the time, I find a lot of what we do in safety boring. It isn’t that the work is boring. I consider myself lucky to have landed in a profession I honestly like. No, it’s just that many practices, activities, and even sometimes the language around the practice of safety can be ... mundane.

AI and the Hype Cycle – Where We Are

Humans have a tendency toward what Alan Greenspan famously called “irrational exuberance.” Coined in the dot-com era, the exuberance is back with AI. The rapid advance and general availability of generative AI, with early hands-on experiences, has once again spurred visions of a magical future automated by AI. And while various applications are underway, challenges remain.

OpenAI's o1 Models: A New Era in AI Reasoning for Construction Safety?

For those who follow Artificial Intelligence news, the release of a new model from OpenAI has been a long time coming. Rumours about OpenAI’s “Strawberry” model have been stirring for months, and finally, paid users have access to two new models: o1-mini and o1 preview.

Effective Data Sourcing Key to Leveraging AI

The old computer mantra "garbage in, garbage out" is all too relevant today for construction industry professionals hoping to maximize artificial intelligence in their projects. At a recent panel discussion at a Digital Construction Summit on September 24, speakers were bullish about how AI's potential to significantly enhance construction tasks. However ...

Streamlining Subcontractor Management: AI Projects for Intelligent Construction Oversight

The intricate relationships between general contractors and their subcontractors influence each of the pillars of construction management—schedule, safety, and quality. While subcontractors bring invaluable specialized knowledge and expertise to a project, they also introduce layers of complexity in coordination, contractual obligations, and liability.

AI Poised to Boost Lean Construction Efficiency

Over 75 percent of construction projects are delivered behind schedule, plagued by operational problems. But the construction industry can now leverage Lean Construction infused with artificial intelligence (AI) to improve project efficiency, safety and decision-making, says a new white paper How Can AI Help You Drive Lean Construction Performance?

Don’t Let Hype Obscure AI Potential in Construction

The term "AI" is everywhere, along with several associated terms that may be less familiar. There is a lot of hype around “AI” and yet it is not always precisely clear what people are talking about. Hugh Seaton, CDT, CCS, CEO at The Link, helps clear some of the smoke.

Contextualized Learning in Construction: Leveraging Claude 3.5 Sonnet for Interactive Safety Apps

It is a struggle to find engaging ways to communicate important messages to people across different technical understandings and aptitudes. A technical document with facts and figures understandable to an engineer might cause the eyes of an ironworker to glaze over. Conversely, a jargon-heavy document discernible by a qualified tradesperson could readily baffle a young project manager. AI can help.

AI Is Key to Managing Growing Data Demands in Construction

When it comes to successfully managing construction projects today and tomorrow, data is king and artificial intelligence (AI) is the secret sauce, according to panelists at the July 17 AI + Digital Excellence in Construction Virtual Summit. “If we aren’t giving data management it’s proper respect, then things don’t work well down the road,” said Kevin Soohoo, Director of AEC Practice, Egnyte.

AI in Pre-construction Can Minimize Destructive Butterfly Effect

As you approach the preconstruction phase of a project, you may not be thinking about the 2004 science-fiction film "The Butterfly Effect," in which a man travels back in time to change the future. But you should at least be cognizant of the concept, says Preston Robinson, Director of Pre-construction at The Haskell Company.

The Future of AI Collaboration: Claude 3.5's Projects in Action

This article follows Dunham's piece on the recently released Claude-3.5. Here David discusses Claude’s “Projects” feature and one way he's used it to add efficiency to some of his safety-related tasks. You can use it to save time on a wide range of text- and document-generation tasks.