In the real estate and construction sector (KIRA sector), artificial intelligence enables numerous ways to improve productivity, reduce errors and optimize resources throughout the life cycle of the built environment. Artificial intelligence can also handle many routine work steps, leaving people time for productive work and managing people.
In the KIRA industry, artificial intelligence can be utilized practically throughout the building's life cycle: from the planning phase to construction, building maintenance, and as support for customers and end users, and finally also when the building's life cycle comes to an end from a circular economy perspective.
Artificial intelligence in the project planning phase
One key area where artificial intelligence is already helping KIRA industry players is project and real estate development and planning. Artificial intelligence-based planning systems can analyze data from different sources and produce optimal solutions for the placement, massing, life-cycle costs and other effects of various buildings, as well as structural solutions. They can also help identify potential risks and errors before construction begins.
Artificial intelligence during construction
Another important application area is construction site management and safety. Applications based on artificial intelligence can help in more precise planning of work and optimize the use of labor and materials. In addition, they can monitor the operation of construction sites in real time and detect deviations, such as safety risks or inefficiencies. Artificial intelligence can help project management with routine tasks such as writing memos and decision-making by analyzing large amounts of data and providing predictions and recommendations. This covers, among other things, cost management, scheduling and resource management.
Artificial intelligence in building maintenance and customer service
In maintenance, artificial intelligence can predict the occurrence of faults in equipment and structures by analyzing historical data and identifying deviations from normal operation. This enables proactive maintenance and fixing faults before they cause bigger problems, this is also commonplace, e.g. for elevators or IV machine rooms.
Similarly, when it comes to customer service, we are all certainly familiar with various chatbots that combine various artificial intelligence applications such as text understanding and production as well as company operation data.
Artificial intelligence in building reuse and circular economy
In the last stage of the life cycle, i.e. in the planning of reuse, circular economy and dismantling, artificial intelligence applications can help to optimize the best possible end result from the point of view of the whole and thus ensure resource-efficient construction.
Artificial intelligence as a work enhancer
A common fear is that artificial intelligence will take our jobs. However, it makes our work more efficient when many routine tasks can be handled by artificial intelligence. In this way, we humans have time for the most important tasks, i.e. for managing people and creating the conditions for success with site management, for example. This is reflected in direct productivity improvements, and when productivity increases, everyone wins.
In my first blog about artificial intelligence, I stated, that the introduction of artificial intelligence requires a systemic change in terms of standardization of processes and information, as well as purposeful training of personnel. It would be time for every organization to start its own artificial intelligence learning path at the latest.
On May 17.5.2024, XNUMX, we are organizing the "Artificial Intelligence in the Construction Industry" event, which introduces the basics of artificial intelligence, how artificial intelligence has been applied in the construction industry and how to start your own artificial intelligence path. Read more about the event and register here.
Artificial intelligence in a nutshell
Artificial intelligence has developed wildly in recent decades. This has been made possible by a significant increase in the computing power of processors, a huge increase in the amount of data, and improved availability of algorithms. In practice, different forms of artificial intelligence include different image and video recognition, speech understanding, generative artificial intelligence, i.e. producing new content, and data analysis and automated decision-making that support companies' business operations.
Useful links:
- WDBE 2024 (World of Digital built environment) forum October 3-4.10.2024, XNUMX, registration
- FAIR (Finnish AI region) general trainings and events
- KIRAHub: Artificial intelligence in the built environment course
- KIRAHub: Group learning sessions
- KIRAHub: Artificial Intelligence Accelerator
- Reinventing Construction: A Route to higher productivity (McKinsey, 2017)
Antti Aaltonen
Director, Construction Development
antti.aaltonen@rt.fi + 358 40 514 3626Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (CFCI)
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