Auburn expert: Using AI can make construction work safer, more productive

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is everywhere these days, and the United States’ booming construction industry is no exception. So, how might the use of AI change the industry in the future?

Wes Collins is an associate professor in Auburn University’s McWhorter School of Building Science who recently began researching the implications of AI on the construction industry and construction education. In addition to teaching and research, Collins is a coach for Auburn’s construction management competition teams, serves as editor for the Associated Schools of Construction’s (ASC) annual conference proceedings and leads ASC’s faculty training boot camp focused on preconstruction.

 

What are the top ways AI is being utilized in the construction industry?

Worker safety is paramount, and AI is being used to reduce risk and improve safety throughout preconstruction and construction. For example, AI is being used to proactively assess safety hazards in real-time via tools that include computer vision for hazard detection, wearable technologies and proximity warning systems.

AI may also be able to address the industry’s consistent issues with labor shortages. Some companies are developing AI-driven equipment for use on construction sites, including a semi-automated mason named “SAM,” which is a robot that lays brick. On the office side, the prevalence of estimating software such as TOGAL.AI that automates quantity takeoff with the click of a button will also continue to grow and gain market share. 

What kinds of construction firms are most likely to be using AI right now?

I would venture to say AI is mainly used by larger, more technologically savvy commercial and residential contractors on all the projects they manage, at least on the customized side. But off-the-shelf versions of ChatGPT, TOGAL.AI or Procore are being used on a daily basis by construction managers from firms of all sizes. A growing number of firms will leverage AI moving forward as easily customizable software becomes more prevalent.

What kinds of data do you use in the construction industry that AI can help manage?

I think every aspect of construction has data that can be collected, analyzed and leveraged in some way to improve the lives of those who work in the industry, as well as firms' bottom lines. For example, preconstruction managers and estimators leverage various cost and productivity data when developing cost estimates. This data is generally scattered across various spreadsheets, documents, email and financial management software. AI could be leveraged to sort and compile that data in a structured way that estimators can quickly and accurately access. Moving forward, those of us in academia can definitely help firms understand what new AI tools or processes can be developed to leverage the data they have in a positive way. 

How is Auburn teaching students about the growing importance of using AI?

There is a lot of chatter across all industries about how AI will take jobs in the future, and the rebuttal you’ll often hear is that AI won't take your job, but someone who knows how to use AI will. We are focusing on addressing this sentiment in several ways, mainly through incorporating software with AI capabilities into our classes so students know what it can do and how to use it. One of my colleagues is also developing a course specifically about AI in construction, which will focus more on the technical aspect of AI, including robotics, coding and the development of other relevant software.