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With artificial intelligence, especially generative AI, is widely available, this technology dominates the headlines as businesses and workers seek answers and best practices.
Construction companies are being attacked at the pitch of companies that provide AI-supported products, particularly in the field safety field.
“I think the biggest challenge facing our contractors is that they are frustrated because they come so quickly,” Greg Sizemore, vice president of workforce development, safety, health and environment for related builders and contractors, told Construction Dive.
In this complex landscape, safety experts say they have brought skepticism to countless pitches to evaluate the best ways to implement AI in their workflows to improve safety on the field.
“We spend a lot of time telling contractors, 'Beware of what you've reduced,'” Sizemore said. “The attention now is not to take it at face value.”
However, industry leaders who are leveraging AI say the good news is that guidance on using generator tools remains the same. Rather than replacing or adding existing processes, use it as a tool to speed up your workflow.
Data and Governance
February, Skanska announced his partner, AI chatbot. This tool is designed to allow you to explore catalogs of data from numerous projects without introducing secrets or proprietary information into the public domain.
Built using the same technology as ChatGpt, users can ask Sidekick questions and respond with answers based on Skanska's own collection of internal data remaining in the cloud. The product is for internal use only and is not commercially sold.
“You can start to utilize all of Skanska's experience and knowledge. “Hey, I'm learning from my mistakes and not avoiding them, I'm learning from the mistakes of thousands of other Skanska projects.”
With the help of the vast amount of data collected by Stockholm-based contractors and developers, Sidekick will help you identify which projects and tasks pose the greatest risk.
“The success of that effort will depend on the quality of the underlying information you have and the breadth and depth of that information,” Senner said.
According to Patrick Scarpati, ABC's Director of Construction Technology and Innovation, the large amount of information collected on-site can be a good starting point. Even small builders often have photo capture and security cameras built into their work.
“A lot of data is now thrown into the field with many digitally based project management platforms,” Scarpati told Construction Dive. “As an industry, are we still learning how to structure it all? Data governance, that's the true power of AI, right?”
Massachusetts-based Consigli Construction Co. has begun leveraging fixed cameras, drone footage and 360-degree documentation for AI safety analysis, said Jack Moran, senior construction technology director at the company. Consigli has also actively beta-tested DroneDeploy's safety AI platform, which seeks to grasp potential hazards in several K-12 and higher education projects, with plans to use immediately.
Moran said contractors are also using it to collect data.
“We are also exploring AI, machine learning and textbots to streamline the collection and management of safety-related data, including training-related records, certifications, material tracking, and more,” Moran told Construction Dive. “In addition, we are evaluating whether natural language tools can help teams report, ask and retrieve safe documents more easily throughout the project lifecycle.”
I know what AI isn't
Sizemore often makes a “Terminator” reference when talking to ABC members about using AI. The comments are kidding, Sizemore said, but they represent real concern.
“These are 'Will my employees be replaced in X for AI?” Sizemore said. “And we're always going to bring it back to education and understand what AI can actually offer you.”
AI is not an additional tool added to existing workflows, Senner emphasized. Also, it is not completely replacing workers, not someone with particular expertise yet.
“In our opinion, the game at the end of this isn't a chatbot, right? It's not. “Hey, it's a chatbot asking questions about safety,” Senner said. “This is about how to provide people with the right safety insights at the right time.”
And – unlike the goal of the blockbuster film Terminator, Moran said the human element should remain.
“I's importantly, we don't treat AI as an alternative to human judgment. It's a supplement that helps us get our attention and helps us gain better vision in complex, fast-moving fields,” Moran said.
