Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a global force impacting the economy and labour markets, with 40% of jobs worldwide being influenced. The construction sector, as highlighted in the latest report by the International Monetary Fund, is more likely to see AI as a complement to their work, not a threat. This positive outlook has led many construction stakeholders to prioritize the development of digital infrastructures and skills, positioning them to make the most of this technological shift.
Recently, the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) Digital and Innovation Advisory Panel released a new playbook on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the construction industry, and more often, we found different agents voicing strategies such as reverse mentoring—a practice where younger or less experienced employees’ mentor older or more professional colleagues—having the potential to bring myriad benefits to the modern construction industry.
Today, we convened seven team members behind Reincarnate in a roundtable discussion focusing on skills and AI in the construction industry, timed perfectly with World Youth Skills Day (15th of July).
🗣Get to know our roundtable insights!
Let’s start the roundtable by asking if you think the construction industry is ready to incorporate AI technologies to enhance sustainability.
Karin Wannerberg is a Project Manager for Research and Development projects at Ragn-sells (RS), the partner most experienced in circularity and waste management. How do you view the sector’s readiness?
The construction industry is ready. Some actors are already using AI tools, but not to such an extent that this has affected the whole sector. I think implementing AI, along with increased digitalisation and a greater focus on sustainability, will change the way we work. Change management and adapting these tools will be essential but only sometimes easy. Since AI offers great business possibilities, the construction industry will be ready to incorporate AI technologies.
I want to add that AI holds significant potential in the construction sector for various reasons. It can facilitate resource optimisation and efficiency by matching supply and demand. Similar to its application in other industries, AI can streamline processes and assist stakeholders in accessing the necessary information and data for various operations and reports. With increasing reporting demands, AI’s role becomes even more critical. Additionally, AI can be instrumental in identifying and eliminating harmful substances from the system, thereby supporting sustainable circular material flows.
And let’s be honest, given the many substances currently present that need to be removed, AI’s capability to efficiently identify and address these issues represents a valuable application in the sector!
Niklas Arnby, you are Karin’s colleague. You are skilled in business development, digital development, and digital process management. You have also worked directly in the architecture and planning industry. What are your thoughts?
As Karin mentioned, the construction industry has a significant opportunity to incorporate AI technologies, primarily by optimising existing processes. For instance, this could involve analysing the current data on construction logistics and implementing new buildings to identify time gaps and fill them with appropriate activities. Over time, AI could also enable forecasting and simulation of different execution scenarios. Another potential application is using straightforward methods to collect data from our buildings, allowing us to categorise their resources and materials to improve circular material flows, as Karin mentioned.
Alicja Heller, as a Sustainability Specialist at PLGBC, we would love to hear your opinion.
Well, the construction industry is grappling with numerous sustainability challenges as the sector’s landscape is constantly evolving. AI technologies hold great potential for addressing these challenges effectively. In several areas, it could be beneficial and support construction workers. However, it is crucial to implement it cautiously and gradually!
AI can assist designers and engineers in creating efficient and sustainable designs by selecting the most optimal solutions. Intelligent monitoring systems powered by AI can aid engineers in monitoring buildings’ condition and infrastructure. This proactive approach can improve sustainability and help maintain trouble-free systems through timely maintenance and repairs.
We should focus on training building professionals and workers to be prepared to work with these new technologies. To achieve this, the comprehensive involvement of all market stakeholders is necessary. Additionally, it’s important to note that highly advanced technologies require capital investment and the development of long-term strategies.
We stay on the sustainable approach with Magda Wotjas also from PLGBC. You have experience working with over 200 companies and organisations to implement sustainable building principles, and we would like to hear your thoughts.
I fully agree that process optimization presents ample opportunities for the widespread application of AI. For a considerable time, environmental consultants, architects, and industry professionals have relied on AI to monitor processes and enhance solutions using digital twin technology and Building Information Modeling (BIM). We should also acknowledge that AI can offer substantial assistance in adapting and optimising endeavours to reduce carbon emissions and invest in decarbonisation efforts.
Brian van Laar, you are a PhD researcher at the Technical University of Delft (TUD) working on the adaptive reuse solutions for Reincarnate. Is the sector ready?
To me, the construction industry is progressively ready to incorporate AI technologies to enhance sustainability, especially in decision-support tools, brainstorming and ideation.
I agree with everyone. AI offers immense possibilities for optimising project planning, resource allocation, and energy use, significantly improving sustainability outcomes. Advanced AI-driven decision support tools can analyse vast datasets to provide insights and predictions, helping stakeholders make informed choices. Furthermore, AI can facilitate brainstorming and ideation by generating innovative solutions and identifying potential issues early in the project lifecycle.
While challenges like upfront investment and resistance to change remain, the potential benefits make AI integration a promising avenue for the industry!
Benjamí Moreno, a Research Assistant at the Technical University of Berlin, is directly involved in studying AI-driven technologies and our Reincarnate demonstrators. What are your thoughts?
The construction industry, AI technologies, and sustainability are broad concepts that encompass many possibilities. The critical question is which areas of the construction industry can effectively incorporate AI technology to improve sustainability. AI can speed up the implementation of complex algorithms that can optimize sustainability for stakeholders who recognise this opportunity.
We have to bear in mind that, historically, the construction industry has needed to adopt technological changes faster. So, as with past technologies, the main driving forces behind the adoption of AI to enhance sustainability will be economic advantages and a clear regulatory framework.
João Gonçalves, as an Associate Professor of AI and Digitalization at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam (EUR), you are also involved in AI daily in more social and human applications. Is the sector ready?
Well, the sector is ready in some contexts and countries but not in others. Effective use of AI requires good-quality data to train the machine learning algorithm. Many construction sites do not yet have the level of data required to harness AI. This is why an important part of our Reincarnate project focuses on obtaining this data.
Let’s move on to another critical aspect. Some of you have already covered it, but we want to delve deep into the upskilling/skilling strategies and actions that can be implemented to accelerate the adoption of AI technologies in the construction sector.
We begin with you, Alicja. You are directly involved in the training tasks of the Reincarnate project. Feel free to share any questions or curiosities you may have about the Polish context, like the last roundtable. Also, as Joao mentioned before, the context can vary depending on the country.
This is very interesting, because as Joao says, for instance, the Polish market annually lacks more than 266,000 qualified workers to meet the challenges of improving the energy efficiency of buildings and thermal modernization in the broadest sense. Changes must be made as soon as possible and approached broadly and comprehensively.
What can be done? State institutions and interest groups need to work together to accelerate the implementation of AI in the industry. This can be achieved through organizing regular specialized training and courses focusing on AI, data collection, and analysis. To me, it’s essential to develop the ability to learn and adapt. We should periodically analyze the training courses using qualitative methods to track the progress in improving the skills of construction workers.
Stressing World Youth Skills Day, these courses should be held on reputable platforms to attract young talent and improve the industry’s image. Establishing mentoring programs where experienced experts share their knowledge would be beneficial. Furthermore, creating pilot projects or innovation promotion teams is important. Managers need to be prepared to adapt to changing conditions and possess key competencies such as self-reflection and flexibility in team management.
Do you have a comment on your colleagues’ intervention, Magda?
Following up on Joao’s, I think it is important to integrate and expose the databases necessary for machine learning and correct optimization. A systemic approach to implementing AI in business models is essential to the effective use of activities in the building sector.
Joao, I notice that you want to share more.
Yes, a basic AI literacy course would help people in the construction sector better understand AI’s requirements and potential. With the upcoming AI Act, having information on what AI is and how to apply it becomes even more important!
What about you, Karin?
The construction sector will need to build new capabilities to scale, take advantage of, and implement AI technologies to a large extent. This will require you to go through what competencies you have within the company and think about what you, as a company, want to offer and deliver. I think that companies need to elaborate outside their core business in order to accelerate the implementation of AI, digitalization and other processes to make the construction sector more sustainable.
Niklas, I see you want to elaborate on this.
I fully agree with my colleague Karin that construction companies should recruit individuals with a strong understanding of AI’s potential and its integration into daily operations. Furthermore, these companies should prioritize transferring knowledge from external consultants to their staff.
Benjamí, do you see concrete actions for the sector and its stakeholders?
Well, I see two. One would be to identify successful examples of AI adoption in the construction sector and create informational material (videos, conferences, workshops, papers, whitepapers) based on these examples. The second would be to identify successful examples of AI adoption in fields related to the construction sector (such as manufacturing, building materials research, and real estate management) and apply the same strategy as in the previous point.
Brian, you are a young researcher. Is there anything you want to point out?
I believe that fostering collaboration between traditional technical sectors and creative and cultural sectors is vital to accelerating the adoption of AI technologies in the construction sector. This interdisciplinary approach can lead to innovative, future-oriented visions. By partnering with creative industries, construction professionals can leverage AI to draft ideas and visualize elaborate scenarios, blending technical precision with artistic creativity.
Joint workshops, cross-sector innovation labs, and collaborative projects can facilitate knowledge exchange and inspire new applications of AI. Such synergies can enhance the aesthetic and functional aspects of construction projects, driving sustainable and visionary outcomes that are both technically sound and culturally enriching.
With these encouraging strategies and words from our colleagues, we close the roundtable.
Thanks for taking part in our discussions. We are glad to have such fruitful contributions to our campaign.