Transforming the Built Environment: Applications of Artificial Intelligence in the Construction Industry

The construction industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The growth of the construction industry is severely limited by the myriad complex challenges it faces such as cost and time overruns, health and safety, productivity and labor shortages. Also, construction industry is one the least digitized industries in the world, which has made it difficult for it to tackle the problems it currently faces. An advanced digital technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), is currently revolutionizing industries such as manufacturing, retail, and telecommunications. The subfields of AI such as machine learning, knowledge-based systems, computer vision, robotics and optimization have successfully been applied in other industries to achieve increased profitability, efficiency, safety and security. While acknowledging the benefits of AI applications, numerous challenges which are relevant to AI still exist in the construction industry. This study aims to unravel AI applications, examine AI techniques being used and identify opportunities and challenges for AI applications in the construction industry. A critical review of available literature on AI applications in the construction industry such as activity monitoring, risk management, resource and waste optimization was conducted. Furthermore, the opportunities and challenges of AI applications in construction were identified and presented in this study. This paper explores the applications of AI in construction, highlighting its potential to improve efficiency, productivity, and safety. We discuss AI-powered technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), predictive analytics, machine learning, and robotics. Case studies demonstrate the benefits of AI adoption, including reduced costs, enhanced decision-making, and improved project outcomes. This study provides insights into key AI applications as it applies to construction-specific challenges, as well as the pathway to realize the accruable benefits of AI in the construction industry.