______________________________________________________________________________ Construction management and will continue to do so . Construction companies should prepare to embrace these solutions , as AI ’ s influence grows and gives those that are willing to embrace it , a competitive advantage .
Transforming quality control and defect detection
Construction management is being further transformed by the use of AI and ML to improve quality control and defect detection , improving safety , accuracy and efficiency while minimising cost for construction companies . There is growing demand for construction companies to mitigate structural deficiencies , as pressure mounts on them to pay to fix structural problems that were caused or missed during the construction management process . This has ignited a growing trend of AI being leveraged to power computer vision systems that can analyse images and videos from construction sites . From this analysis , the systems can identify defects , structural issues , or deviations from design plans , helping construction companies to have real-time quality control .
Last year , data collected by the Scottish government was said to have recorded 1100 instances of items falling from buildings in two years , demonstrating the problem with structural building issues and the likely cost for subsequent remedial work . AI-powered solutions help to prevent this , and at Digital Catapult we are continuing to explore how AI can be converged with other emerging technologies like immersive technology , to transform the construction management process .
A growing number of inspectors can now use virtual reality ( VR ) headsets to take virtual tours of construction sites from the comfort of their offices . This allows for immersive experiences where they can navigate through the entire site , examining structures , equipment , and potential issues in a highly realistic 3D environment , further improving the construction management process , and increasing safety and efficiency .
As these solutions are increasingly adopted by construction companies , more businesses should be prepared to embrace AI and emerging technologies , or risk falling behind in a rapidly changing industry . Such adoption would also naturally lead to increased digitisation and digital transformation which in turn will help organisations gain better value out of the emerging technologies and make the adoption more cost-effective .
The UK construction industry is undergoing a rapid transformation , driven by the integration of emerging technologies , and sustained success lies in the adoption of AI and ML . Programmes like BridgeAI at Digital Catapult demonstrate the crucial role of technology in addressing challenges faced by leading construction companies . As the industry embraces these innovations , construction companies will gain a competitive advantage and reshape the future of construction management , but only if they are committed to embracing this technology as its influence increases . Any company interested in learning more about BridgeAI , should visit https :// www . digicatapult . org . uk / expertise / programmes / programme / bridgeai ■
For a list of the sources used in this article , please contact the editor .
Hema Ramamoorthy www . digicatapult . org . uk
Hema Ramamoorthy is Data and AI Lead at Digital Catapult , the UK authority on advanced digital technology . Bringing together industry leaders , researchers and start-ups , we accelerate digital technology adoption to benefit the UK – breaking down barriers , de-risking innovation , opening up markets and responsibly shaping the products , services and experiences of the future .
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