Transforming the field
AI plays a large role in engineering and has significantly improved the way work is done in the industry. A leading construction company is turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make faster, safer, and more efficient progress. We interviewed Hakan Ince, a civil engineer working at a Construction Consultancy Firm for the company Mace and heard from him about his thoughts on AI. Hakan talked about his company using AI for risk assessment and explained how AI is managing his company’s costs.
One key area where AI is making a difference is in design and planning. Instead of engineers manually going through thousands of plans, AI can quickly suggest the best ways to build, helping to cut down on costs and environmental impact. For example, AI has been trialled to automatically calculate carbon emissions for different construction materials, helping people, choose cleaner options for their projects.
AI is also proving important for maintenance and safety. Special AI-powered cameras and sensors are being used to monitor sites and equipment, spotting problems before they become serious. This approach aims to make completed structures incredibly reliable. Imagine AI checking for tiny cracks in a new bridge or unusual movements in a building’s foundations – it can alert engineers to issues that might be missed by the human eye.
The company is also experimenting with robotics alongside AI. Some repetitive and difficult tasks on site, like certain types of installation or heavy lifting, could eventually be handled by robots that learn to do the job more efficiently over time. This video explains how houses are already being built with an AI powered 3D printer.
While AI brings a lot of benefits like increased speed and lower costs, Hakan emphasised the importance of humans overlooking the AI. Hakan explained that “AI helps with the Cost management and risk management side of things”.
Looking ahead, AI is expected to play an even bigger role in the ongoing management of buildings and construction, like predicting maintenance needs.
The use of AI by this construction company highlights how technology is becoming an essential part of building and construction.
An AI-generated image of a construction worker using the AI tools. This image shows the power of AI in creative work.
Reported By Berik I and Rayan S