AI and automation are changing the Construction Industry

We’ve all heard about the fourth industrial revolution (industry 4.0) and the technological disruption it will bring to the world of work. To show its popularity, a 7-Day search on Google Trends reveals that the query ‘industrial revolution’ had peak popularity of 100 on September 27 2018, at 3:00 AM in the UK. 100 is the highest rating for search queries popularity on Google Search.

The 'popularity' shows two things; there is an increased awareness about the topic and businesses are evaluating its impact on their operations and strategies.

So, what does the fourth industrial revolution represent? The simplest definition of Industry 4.0 is, it is a move towards digitalisation. In other words, it is a period when machines will self-optimise and self-configure to produce quality goods and services using artificial intelligence (AI).

Development in big data analytics will enable industries to be more agile through real-time data processing that generates insights faster for an evidence-based decision making. Some of these capabilities have been developed, and there will be advancements in the years to come. The improvements will boost productivity and reduce costs.

Drivers of change in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) include high-speed mobile internet across continents, AI, widespread adoption of big data analytics by businesses and cloud technology.
Automation will be used to do most tedious and manual tasks.

Automating tasks create vast opportunities for human time to be used for more value-adding and strategic activities. It is expected to give people more work-life balance and to promote a more flexible work culture. A recent report by the World Economic Forum projects that AI and robotics will create 60 million net jobs by 2022.

The use of AI and robotics can also be used to reduce the global candidate and skill shortages across industries. Only one in three job vacancies are filled in the UK construction industry, and 70% of firms in the US construction sector are struggling to find skilled employees. AI and robotics can be used to reduce the deficit in labour supply if existing employees upskill and manage the automation processes.

What are the current technological developments in the Construction sector? Companies are already developing AI and robotics in the construction industry. An example is a San Francisco startup- Built Robotics, that builds bulldozers, excavators and other construction vehicles that operate themselves. Such machines make construction safer, faster and cheaper.

Another example is a bricklaying robot known as SAM that can lay 3000 bricks in 8 hours. Such work would have taken three days with a human bricklayer laying 1000 bricks per day. The use of automation varies across roles in the sector. Operating engineers have one of the highest potentials of 88% for automating their work. With excavation, grading and site work done by robots.

3D printing is going to a game changer. Recently, 3D printing of a 4500kg elaborately curved steel bridge for a canal in Amsterdam’s red light district was built. The Amsterdam start-up MX3D explained that the production process involved connecting an advanced welding machine to the arm of an industrial robot and using a propriety software by the firm to operate the robot so that they can print different shapes of a complex metal. Four robots did the printing in just six months. The technology pushes the boundary and requires an innovative and agile mindset by businesses and regulators.

3D printing was used by Arup and CLS Architetti to build a prototype printed one-bedroom house that can be dismantled and re-used. The prototype was exhibited at the Milan design festival.

A robot from Cybe Construction printed the walls. The model will replace the existing “make, use, dispose of” model used by the sector. The innovation will make the built environment more sustainable as the industry is currently one of the most significant Contributors to global greenhouse emissions.

Another exciting innovation in the industry is the development of autonomous crane by intsite. In addition to the self-operating crane, the technology also measures workers proximity to the crane by analysing real-time data from the cameras. The automated crane will reduce project completion time by 30%. The CIOB reported that pilots of the machine would run in UK and France next year while the technology is currently being tested on site in Israel.

“We believe the construction industry has vast potential for improving productivity and efficiency through digitalisation, innovative technologies and new construction techniques.” Astorre Modena, General Partner, Terra Venture Partners

It is evident the use of 3D printers, data and robots would make the construction industry more efficient, but humans will have to build the machines, supervise their work and repair them when they break down. Successful execution of this implies that workers will need to learn new skills and may need utterly new skill sets to operate in an Automated environment.

This trends also mean that there will be an increased demand for experts to develop robots that will be used for these processes. In general, 3D Printing Engineers, AI Experts, Machine Learning, Data Scientists and Analysts will be required to develop the technology further.

However, to prepare for the technology disruption in the construction industry and to prevent a worsening talent shortage within the sector, it is critical that businesses take an active role in supporting their existing workforce through reskilling and upskilling. For instance, Operating Engineers should be trained to operate robots and supervise their work.


Also, education and other training curricula should be updated to reflect new skills required in the modern construction industry to prepare young people for such roles. Workers must also have a life-long learning mindset to adapt to the changing skill and knowledge requirements. All in all, if managed appropriately, technological advancement will bring prosperity and growth to the construction industry.