Artificial intelligence and it's impact on construction

By Mary Van Buren, president for the Canadian Construction Association

I recently participated in a panel hosted by the Sixth Estate on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on society, and more particularly, on the construction industry.

One of AI’s benefits for the construction industry lies in re-positioning our image

When some people think of construction, they think of the guy high up on a building, surrounded by rebar. Or they think of the inconvenience as they wait for the flag woman to wave them through on the road.

These are very important jobs. Construction employs 1.4 million Canadians and contributes seven per cent to our GDP. Despite the contribution we make both to the economy and to building our communities, construction is often seen as old school. The industry is adopting technology, and we are working hard to change the perception in order to attract more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) graduates and tech-savvy workers.

Construction itself is a very broad term. The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) represents all facets of construction — from roadbuilders to water treatment specialists to state-of-the-art LEED commercial builders. So, the application of AI can take many forms.

There are three problems that AI can help solve for the construction industry.

1. Productivity gains

The Canadian construction industry lags other industrialized countries in productivity. Two examples where AI can help are in the use of building information modelling (BIM) software and 3D printers. There is a 3D-printed pedestrian bridge in the Netherlands, and there is experimentation with other structures like housing underway.

2. Life-cycle optimization

Projects are becoming more complex and are spanning not just the design and build phase, but the entire lifecycle of the project. In Ottawa, for example, we have the light rail transit (LRT) project that is well advanced. Imagine the data that will be collected over 30 years and potentially the new services that can be created or the intelligence that can be gathered to improve other LRT projects in other Canadian cities or abroad.

One of the requirements for AI algorithms is a mass of data. This data can include images. Many new structures, including bridges and commercial buildings, are embedding smart technology/IoT. This data is being streamed constantly and is used to:

• Understand the impact of wind on the structure;

• Identify any potential structural weaknesses; and

• Predict when replacements or repairs need to be made. In other words, fact-based data can complement visual inspections and potentially head off potential issues.

3. Workforce attraction and retention

Canada is facing a shortage of workers in many sectors; technology, manufacturing, natural resources and construction. That puts our industry in competition for tech-savvy and skilled workers. The use of AI and its applications, machine learning and robotics, for example, can fill some of this gap.

As AIs use is at early stages, there is a lot of opportunity for STEM graduates to develop new applications. Millennials are attracted to careers where they can make a difference; the use of AI can help them solve issues like smart cities, development of sustainable materials or reducing plastic waste. They will be able to create beautiful and critical infrastructure as tangible outputs of their talents. These are just some of the examples of how construction is using and can use AI in the future.

The government has an important role to play

The federal government can help increase the adoption of AI in a few ways:

• Making the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SRED) credit process simpler. Small businesses don’t have the time to understand and complete all the steps;

• Increase the amount of capital available by increasing the capital depreciation allowance, which they announced just recently; and

• Investing in construction R&D. Most recently, the government announced $6.3 million in funding for several Quebec-based AI firms, including a firm (ara-uas.com) that is advancing the use of drones. The government recognized the importance of rebuilding Canada’s aging infrastructure and investing in the future of our country by setting aside $180 billion for infrastructure. This is generating many projects that will benefit communities for years to come. At the same time, we are seeing retirements and a smaller pool of youth entering the workforce. This is driving up the competition for talent.

Related to this topic, we increasingly need more tech-savvy workers — at the site and the office. Our project managers are using tablets to manage projects in real time; drones are hovering sites to monitor material inventory and new collaborative tools are being used at the beginning of projects to improve the overall bid, design and life-cycle management.

As an industry, we are advocating for more work integrated learning (WIL) programs and better connections between educational institutions and employers.

We have asked the government to provide funding for 1,000 STEM co-op placements in construction over the next four years and also that the government expand the level of funding for WIL.

Working with educational institutions, we are seeking more emphasis on soft skills, such as entrepreneurship, collaboration, negotiation skills and inclusivity.

Construction has many career opportunities in both the trades and management streams — and the future is very bright for the industry. Our vision is to build a better Canada. Together with millennial talent and the exciting opportunities offered by AI and technology, we can deliver on this vision.

Let’s stay in contact

Please email me at mvanburen@cca-acc.com if you have any feedback or comments on how CCA can serve you better. I hope to see you at our 2019 conference in balmy Bermuda! Visit the CCA website for more information and bit.ly/ccasubscribe to receive updates.

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