Artificial intelligence is starting to move beyond contractor office software.
The next target is the jobsite itself.
Construction technology companies increasingly expect a combination of:
AI,
robotics,
machine vision,
connected equipment,
and automated workflows
to change how construction projects are managed. ACHR NEWS coverage of emerging jobsite technology
The Goal Is Not Just Replacing Labor
Construction has a different automation problem from manufacturing.
Jobsites change constantly.
Equipment moves.
Walls go up.
Conditions differ from project to project.
That makes fully autonomous construction difficult.
The near term opportunity is more likely to involve technology assisting workers with repetitive or information heavy tasks.
Examples can include:
layout,
progress tracking,
quality documentation,
equipment positioning,
and material coordination.
Mechanical Contractors Generate Huge Amounts of Data
A large HVAC project may involve:
thousands of duct sections,
pipe spools,
equipment schedules,
submittals,
change orders,
inspection records,
and commissioning data.
Connecting jobsite information directly to design and fabrication systems could eliminate significant manual work.
Smaller Contractors May Eventually Benefit Too
Sophisticated automation historically arrived first at the largest contractors.
Cloud software and AI can reduce the cost of deploying some technologies.
That could eventually make advanced tools available to smaller mechanical businesses without large internal technology departments.
The Takeaway
AI in HVAC is often discussed through marketing, call centers and customer service.
The bigger productivity change may eventually happen in the field.
Technology that reduces layout errors, rework and administrative time could have a far greater effect on contractor margins than another chatbot.
