The construction industry is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday tasks such as scheduling and document analysis. But generative AI is a game changer. Francesco Iorio, CEO of Augmenta – one tWe promise to transform the way buildings are designed to reduce costs, increase productivity and reduce waste.
Tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E use large-scale machine learning (ML) models to access large amounts of labeled and meaningful data to provide insightful answers to text and image queries. provide a response. However, some industries have limited access to datasets for training ML models, making it difficult to reap the benefits of using generative AI to solve real-world problems. .
The construction industry is a good example. There is no single repository containing labeled data for engineering drawings of buildings. This is because engineering firms tend to keep their data private and not share their intellectual property. One of the results is The construction industry has been hampered by outdated design methods. The existing legacy tools used to design buildings and their systems are little more than an electronic pencil on paper, making design impossible, inter-industry coordination and rework. It wastes time and materials when it should.
That said, even state-of-the-art generative AI models such as ChatGPT, which utilizes very large, diverse, and detailed datasets to train complex models, show complete confidence in their output while producing erroneous results. may generate For ChatGPT, the impact of mistakes is relatively small. But the stakes in engineering are simply too high. Safely and effectively adopting generative AI requires more than large-scale black-box mathematical models.
A paradigm shift in architectural design
Thankfully, there are novel hybrid approaches to rule-based AI systems that can generate new valid data in the form of generated designs that can be used to train ML models. The most valuable application of this approach is to automate the design of buildings. Helps developers, architects, and engineers make more informed decisions about cost, schedule, and efficiency, as well as shortening the end-to-end design process from months to days It also provides an unprecedented level of insight.
see next: The risks and benefits of generative AI
Benefits of automated building design in construction
Let’s take a closer look at what the construction industry can achieve by automating the building design process.
1. Design compliant, high performance buildings – reduce risk, delays and rework
today, Architects and consulting engineers who perform high-level architectural design I don’t have the time or enough information needed to develop a buildable system. For example, mechanical, electrical, Piping and structural systems (MEP/S) are highly complex, time consuming and error prone. It is also one of the leading sources of error, delay, risk and uncertainty.
Design automation can dramatically accelerate the speed of the design and construction process, shaving months off construction schedules and creating functional residential and commercial buildings faster.Also, by reducing risk and uncertainty and eliminating rework, the average 6 percent On the cost side, developers can better plan and budget for projects, and contractors can bid for work more accurately.
2. Build a better, more sustainable world
The construction industry is a major consumer of energy and materials.according to Digital Transformation and Waste Management in the Building, Engineering, Construction and Operations Industry report According to Frontiers in Energy Research, up to 30% of new building materials are scrapped due to design errors or rework. These errors can be largely eliminated using automated design systems.
Generative AI can also create multiple design iterations in parallel, Help us find ways to develop better performing buildings with less material. It also helps improve energy efficiency, given the United Nations Environment Programme’s findings that buildings consume about 40% of the world’s energy and resources. Developers can now understand the choice between optimizing for cost and schedule alone or designing for more sustainable material use and operations. By automatically creating designs with a high level of detail, you can order only what you need and reduce material waste.
3. Improved efficiency and cost effectiveness
By leveraging generative AI to optimize building design and performance, the industry can not only reduce its carbon footprint, but also improve productivity and cost efficiency. A few years ago, it was estimated that architects, engineers, and construction (AEC) professionals spent approximately 20% of their time resolving mistakes and conflicts arising from design and coordination errors.Globally, this is $280 billion reworkThese numbers are undoubtedly increasing as manpower shortages and demand for new construction increase (more on this below).
Generative AI brings a level of automation to the design and construction process, enabling AEC experts to create optimal designs in hours instead of weeks, dramatically reducing construction errors. And because designs are created with a high degree of certainty, design professionals are more productive and spend less time on rework and errors.
4. Relieve the pressure of talent shortages
The construction industry faces a significant shortage of trained and experienced manpower to meet the current pipeline of greenlight projects. In fact, some of the industry’s largest unions are predicting a shortage of skilled workers in the United States.
Design automation means making the experience of experienced foremen readily available to architects, engineering firms, and contractor individuals, making it possible for less experienced designers and engineers to build Enables you to create code-compliant designs. It also frees those same individuals from the traditional and tedious approach to design work. Instead, you can spend your time truly understanding your customer’s needs, exploring design options and trade-offs, and arriving at the best possible design.
5. Expandability to meet demand for new construction
According to the engineering and construction industry outlook for 2023 Reported by Deloitte, there is no shortage of investment in new construction projects.In the US, new housing units are expected to reach 1.55 million per year – Up from 583,000 in 2009. Given the shortage of skilled workers and high turnover, the industry must learn how to do more with less.
Generative AI promises to provide scale across the construction ecosystem. Contractors can expand their design capabilities without being restricted by the availability and retention of talent. Component suppliers can automate and extend prefab services, including the ability to sell entire purpose-designed assemblies, not just parts. The construction industry can finally catch up by embracing this new technology.
A solid foundation to build on
There is no doubt that the construction industry is ripe for disruption. Generative AI has the potential to fundamentally change the course of construction history. It fundamentally transforms the way buildings are designed and the design of those buildings themselves. AI has already made some progress in this area, but it is clear that the best is yet to come.
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