A new manual on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction industry has been published by the Digital Consultancy and Innovation Group of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), as reported by ConstructionBriefing.

CIOB is an international professional body for those working in the construction industry, established in 1834, with 48,000 members from 100 countries dedicated to driving cultural change in the built environment.

It was written for built environment organizations of all sizes that want to familiarize themselves with AI technology and understand how to get the best out of it.

It includes ways to assess its efficiency, also considering aspects such as ethics, cyber security, and data protection. There's also a checklist to support newcomers, early adopters, and experienced AI practitioners in making decisions about technology use.

The manual refers to how AI has the potential to revolutionize workflows for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to compete on a larger scale. It is said that through the use of artificial intelligence, SMEs can benefit from capabilities that were once only available to large construction organizations, meaning they can compete on more equitable terms.

It also addresses industry concerns and misunderstandings about the impact of AI on the labor market.

AI in construction can enhance human capabilities rather than replace them, as its use requires a certain level of skills and user understanding, meaning many existing roles will evolve – transitioning from operators to supervisors, where professionals will increasingly oversee and validate AI work.

"Understanding artificial intelligence in the context of our sector is vital to helping determine and shape how it could introduce new opportunities," said David Philp, Chair of the Digital Consultancy and Innovation Committee at CIOB and one of the manual's authors.

"AI can greatly support project and construction management by analyzing large volumes of project data throughout the value chain, identifying potential safety risks through computer vision, and providing insights for smarter decision-making.

It can also support the automation of repetitive tasks such as daily data input, form completion, and report generation, all of which can dominate a construction manager's day, so it's there to be embraced." (Photo: Freepik)