AI is a transformational technology, with the potential to become a significant force for good in the built environment. From real-time safety monitoring using sensors to predictive trend analytics, AI is already helping to design energy efficient buildings and improving operational efficiency for built assets.
The possible future applications of AI for the built environment could be transformative, making it more sustainable and more responsive to society’s needs – spanning everything from design to procurement, construction, operation and decommissioning.
In BSI’s International AI Maturity Model, the sector scores only 1.94 out of 5, second to last after healthcare in terms of how prepared it is for the AI opportunity. This is despite the fact that 60% of sector leaders anticipate using AI to improve productivity and efficiency, while two fifths (41%) expect to use it to manage risk.
Attitudes towards the value of AI investment and the importance of training, guardrails and building trust are some of the measures driving this low maturity score. Nearly a quarter (24%) of built environment sector leaders say their business is not currently investing in AI, while two thirds (63%) say their organization does not have an AI strategy. Despite this, almost three quarters of built environment respondents agreed that if businesses do not invest in AI tools they will be at a competitive disadvantage.
Transforming the built environment
Using AI-powered tools like drones and IoT sensors, alongside digital twins, could allow site managers to coordinate operations more effectively and more safely, day-to-day. AI problem solving could help identify the best way to make buildings sustainable or help monitor and manage emissions. With AI in place, humans on site could be freed from menial tasks to dedicate time to solve more complex problems and be more creative.
However, many in manual roles in built environment may see AI as a competitor. Indeed, four in five sector respondents (81%) expect some manual roles to change because of AI. Certainly, AI paired with robotics could automate some tasks, but it is also likely new jobs will be created, with AI enhancing people’s experience and helping them to do their job.
Equally, the built environment is facing a specific demographic challenge as in many countries retirement outpaces new recruitment, prompting concerns around skills gaps. Technology – especially where it can relieve workers of physical roles -will be critical. By partnering with AI, a world of opportunity could be opened to retain experienced workers and find new ways to leverage their skills.
AI for safety and quality
As a high-risk industry, AI is expected to have an important role to play in improving safety. Take Building Information Modelling (BIM), where a digital representation of a construction site can simulate a real situation, highlighting risks before they become a reality. The opportunity could come from AI enhancing the capabilities of BIM to make it even more accurate and better able to highlight risks and improve safety.
Equally, given the costs of fixing, repairing or redoing poor quality construction, contractors have begun to look to technology. For example, data from drones and IoT can spot quality issues before a project is complete.
AI is the route to carbon neutrality
The built environment accounts for over 34% of energy demand and uses huge volumes of water. With an increasingly growing urbanised global population, demand for new buildings will continue.
Long-term, AI could facilitate greater circularity within construction – whether by using data to assess how best to repurpose materials or building from scratch water efficient designs to avoid costly retrofitting. For the sector value chain tools like automating carbon data collection could allow them to increase project capacity while still ensuring a positive impact.
Using AI for the future
With BSI’s data showing that the built environment has one of the lowest levels of AI preparedness and maturity of any sectors, there are key areas where action is needed to bridge gaps in training, engagement and understanding. To adapt, design firms, developers and contractors will need to prioritise educating the workforce about how they can use AI tools to enhance their existing work and realise its benefits. This must come alongside efforts to upskill and retrain.
Despite the sector coming across as less mature, 77% still say their businesses encourages the use of AI – and 89% say businesses have a responsibility to promote and support innovation in society. Given the opportunity ahead to transform the built environment, this attitude is to be welcomed to create a positive impact for society.
Rahul Shah is global director for the built environment at BSI
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How AI can transform the built environment
By
Rahul Shah
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AI is a transformational technology, with the potential to become a significant force for good in the built environment. From real-time safety monitoring using sensors to predictive trend analytics, AI is already helping to design energy efficient buildings and improving operational efficiency for built assets.
The possible future applications of AI for the built environment could be transformative, making it more sustainable and more responsive to society’s needs – spanning everything from design to procurement, construction, operation and decommissioning.
In BSI’s International AI Maturity Model, the sector scores only 1.94 out of 5, second to last after healthcare in terms of how prepared it is for the AI opportunity. This is despite the fact that 60% of sector leaders anticipate using AI to improve productivity and efficiency, while two fifths (41%) expect to use it to manage risk.
Attitudes towards the value of AI investment and the importance of training, guardrails and building trust are some of the measures driving this low maturity score. Nearly a quarter (24%) of built environment sector leaders say their business is not currently investing in AI, while two thirds (63%) say their organization does not have an AI strategy. Despite this, almost three quarters of built environment respondents agreed that if businesses do not invest in AI tools they will be at a competitive disadvantage.
Transforming the built environment
Using AI-powered tools like drones and IoT sensors, alongside digital twins, could allow site managers to coordinate operations more effectively and more safely, day-to-day. AI problem solving could help identify the best way to make buildings sustainable or help monitor and manage emissions. With AI in place, humans on site could be freed from menial tasks to dedicate time to solve more complex problems and be more creative.
However, many in manual roles in built environment may see AI as a competitor. Indeed, four in five sector respondents (81%) expect some manual roles to change because of AI. Certainly, AI paired with robotics could automate some tasks, but it is also likely new jobs will be created, with AI enhancing people’s experience and helping them to do their job.
Equally, the built environment is facing a specific demographic challenge as in many countries retirement outpaces new recruitment, prompting concerns around skills gaps. Technology – especially where it can relieve workers of physical roles -will be critical. By partnering with AI, a world of opportunity could be opened to retain experienced workers and find new ways to leverage their skills.
AI for safety and quality
As a high-risk industry, AI is expected to have an important role to play in improving safety. Take Building Information Modelling (BIM), where a digital representation of a construction site can simulate a real situation, highlighting risks before they become a reality. The opportunity could come from AI enhancing the capabilities of BIM to make it even more accurate and better able to highlight risks and improve safety.
Equally, given the costs of fixing, repairing or redoing poor quality construction, contractors have begun to look to technology. For example, data from drones and IoT can spot quality issues before a project is complete.
AI is the route to carbon neutrality
The built environment accounts for over 34% of energy demand and uses huge volumes of water. With an increasingly growing urbanised global population, demand for new buildings will continue.
Long-term, AI could facilitate greater circularity within construction – whether by using data to assess how best to repurpose materials or building from scratch water efficient designs to avoid costly retrofitting. For the sector value chain tools like automating carbon data collection could allow them to increase project capacity while still ensuring a positive impact.
Using AI for the future
With BSI’s data showing that the built environment has one of the lowest levels of AI preparedness and maturity of any sectors, there are key areas where action is needed to bridge gaps in training, engagement and understanding. To adapt, design firms, developers and contractors will need to prioritise educating the workforce about how they can use AI tools to enhance their existing work and realise its benefits. This must come alongside efforts to upskill and retrain.
Despite the sector coming across as less mature, 77% still say their businesses encourages the use of AI – and 89% say businesses have a responsibility to promote and support innovation in society. Given the opportunity ahead to transform the built environment, this attitude is to be welcomed to create a positive impact for society.
Rahul Shah is global director for the built environment at BSI
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