L'intelligence artificielle : Oui, elle change la donne dans le secteur de la construction
Anirban Basu est président-directeur général de Sage Policy Group et économiste en chef du Modular Building Institute.
C'est pour de vrai
In 2023, the U.S. construction industry, valued at nearly $2 trillion, began embracing artificial intelligence (AI) in building construction to tackle several of its most pressing challenges. These include labor shortages, increasing efficiency, and enhancing worker safety.
Much like other sectors of the economy, AI is reshaping construction, revolutionizing how projects are planned and executed across the country. While it is obvious that AI in building construction cannot do certain things by itself, like laying bricks, paving roads, or shingling roofs, its impact stands to be both massive and positive. Specifically, by integrating AI into project management, safety monitoring, autonomous machinery, and supply chain operations, the industry is positioned to boost productivity while cutting costs. America needs that as resource availability dissipates and need expands. Projections estimate that AI’s footprint in construction will grow from a bit more than $200 million in 2023 to more than $1.1 billion by 2028.
Where it has been introduced, AI for building construction is already generating significant impact on project management and planning. In the U.S., approximately 75 percent of construction projects experience delays, typically extending timelines by approximately 20 percent. These delays are often caused by factors beyond contractors’ control, including unpredictable weather, hiring challenges, unanticipated subcontractor capacity limitations, or material supply issues. AI’s predictive capabilities help mitigate these disruptions by analyzing historical data and comparing it to current conditions. This proactive approach allows stakeholders to adjust schedules and reallocate resources as needed, reducing delays by up to 25 percent in certain instances.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is currently utilized in more than 60 percent of large-scale construction projects. AI-powered BIM enables teams to simulate the entire project lifecycle, reducing rework and enhancing design accuracy. Studies indicate that AI-enhanced BIM systems can reduce design errors by up to 40 percent. Additionally, real-time data analysis, combined with AI for building construction, helps track project progress and optimizes scheduling, cutting overall project time by 10 to 15 percent, allowing contractors to meet deadlines and stay under budget.
While that has obvious industry-wide implications, there are also implications at the microeconomic level. All things being equal, those contractors that strategize around AI and actually integrate it as fully as possible in product design and executions are likely to be more profitable, prestigious, enjoy greater pricing power for their services, and quickly acquire market share. But many contractors are likely to lack an AI for building construction strategy, in large measure because the technology can presently be characterized as esoteric and intimidating.
Vers des sites de travail plus sûrs
Worker safety remains a critical concern in the construction industry, where risks are substantially higher than in other segments. Nearly 1,000 construction-related deaths occur annually in the U.S. Predictive safety models powered by AI in building construction analyze data from past incidents, taking into account environmental conditions and worker behavior to flag potential hazards. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of accidents, with industry estimates suggesting workplace accidents could decrease by as much as 25 percent.
Les dispositifs portables dotés d'une intelligence artificielle sont également de plus en plus populaires, car ils surveillent les signes vitaux et les niveaux de fatigue des travailleurs en temps réel. Cela permet aux superviseurs de prendre des décisions éclairées quant à l'opportunité de retirer les travailleurs de leurs tâches s'ils risquent de se blesser en raison de l'épuisement ou d'autres facteurs. Pasha Ameli, conseiller principal au Berkeley Research Group, note que "les outils de sécurité pilotés par l'IA contribuent à réduire les accidents liés à la fatigue, qui sont l'une des principales causes d'accidents du travail". L'importance de l'IA dans ce contexte va bien au-delà de la construction, englobant les départements de travaux publics et ceux qui travaillent dans divers aspects des chaînes d'approvisionnement.
On projects associated with substantial scale, including large-scale public works, AI-powered drones provide aerial inspections, helping supervisors identify potential problems before they put workers or deadlines at risk. These drones ensure safety compliance and allow for real-time monitoring of hazardous areas. As AI in building construction advances, its ability to quickly detect and analyze risks makes projects safer while chiseling away unnecessary costs. By leveraging these tools, the construction industry is poised to make gigantic strides toward a safer, more efficient work environment, saving lives and reducing injury-related expenses in the process. Safer, more predictable work environments will also inure to the benefit of industry recruitment.
La nécessité est la mère de l'invention ou, en l'occurrence, du changement de processus. La pénurie de main-d'œuvre et de compétences a incité de nombreux entrepreneurs à adopter des solutions alimentées par l'IA, notamment des machines autonomes pour effectuer des tâches répétitives ou dangereuses. Des bulldozers, des excavateurs et des camions contrôlés par l'IA sont déjà utilisés sur les chantiers, réduisant le besoin de travailleurs engagés dans des tâches dangereuses tout en augmentant la productivité. Des études indiquent que les machines autonomes pourraient réduire les coûts de main-d'œuvre de 30 % d'ici à la prochaine décennie.
L'IA transforme également la construction robotisée. Les robots alimentés par l'IA sont utilisés pour des tâches telles que la maçonnerie, le coulage du béton et la démolition. Ces robots offrent une plus grande précision et une plus grande rapidité que les méthodes traditionnelles, ce qui permet d'accélérer l'achèvement des projets et de réduire le nombre d'erreurs. Atul Khanzode, directeur de la technologie chez DPR Construction, souligne que "l'IA et l'apprentissage automatique aideront à automatiser les processus inutiles, améliorant à la fois la productivité et les résultats des projets au cours des cinq prochaines années."
When combined with 3D printing, AI in building construction presents a game-changing solution to the housing crisis. The technology enables the rapid construction of affordable homes with minimal waste, reducing building time by up to 60 percent and labor requirements by 70 percent. AI optimizes material use, automates design, and predicts potential construction challenges, ensuring efficient and sustainable projects. This technology allows for the creation of customizable, energy-efficient homes, addressing both cost and supply issues, particularly in regions facing severe housing shortages.
Le mot de la fin
AI in building construction is also able to contribute to mitigating the types of problems that has characterized construction delivery during the pandemic and immediate aftermath. AI can forecast disruptions in materials and equipment delivery, enabling contractors to adjust orders and timelines accordingly. Critically, AI can monitor global supply chains and weather conditions, forming predictions that help construction companies avoid bottlenecks. This can be the difference between a happy client and an unhappy one; between a lawsuit and idle attorneys. As if all this were insufficient, AI can be and is used to analyze supplier performance based on pricing, delivery speed, and reliability, supporting more timely materials delivery at the most advantageous prices. In short, the AI revolution is real and not to be ignored.
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