Survey finds AI has taken hold in AEC

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Dive Brief:

• A newly released report highlights the impact that the growing field of artificial intelligence has on the architecture, engineering and construction industries.
• The survey, which was taken in July and based on 400 technology decision-makers at AEC firms in the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, found that almost three quarters — 74% — of AEC companies globally are using AI in one or more phases of their building projects.
• Implementation is particularly prevalent in the design and planning phases of construction, with almost half of AEC firms surveyed using AI for design (48%) and planning (42%) specifically, according to the report from Pasadena, California-based AEC software developer Bluebeam. 

Dive Insight:

The survey also found that companies are willing to invest in the technology. Within the companies that are using AI, 55% agree that it has become highly important, with over 70% now allocating up to 25% of their tech budget to the technology. This is set to rise, as 84% of respondents said they plan to increase their investment in AI over the next five years.  

However, over half (54%) of those using AI are concerned about AI regulation and of those, 44% say these concerns are having an impact on AI implementation within their companies. 

It also found that AEC firms face significant roadblocks in driving greater technology adoption and digitization. A third reported a lack of training and skills development within their employees as a key challenge to increased digitization. Other barriers include integration (27%) and technical (26%) issues. 

These challenges continue to hold AEC firms back from eliminating paper-based physical documents from the construction process, with 72% still using paper during one or more phases of the building lifecycle. Of those firms who continue to rely on paper, the need for physical signatures or approvals was cited by 46% as the top reason behind continuing to use outdated paper-based processes. 

While the potential of AI in construction is significant, several roadblocks hinder its full adoption, according to Angus Frost, a senior IT consultant at Chicago-based Burger Consulting Group. These include the high cost, the need for skilled personnel, data privacy concerns and resistance to change within the industry. 

Many U.S. contractors are using AI-based tools to help streamline work in a variety of ways, including to track specifications, contracts and other documents, for project management and to provide safety monitoring and analytics.