Transforming Construction Processes Through AI
The use of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), is becoming a key lever to address the challenges of the sector. This is closely related to organization, processes, as well as training and the profiles of people working in companies and institutions. It is a tool for evolution, a revolution in progress, from which we will learn more in the next edition of CONTRUMAT 2025, where it will play a significant role.
Regardless of size or specialty within the construction world, all companies can find AI to be an ally for growing in competitiveness and operational excellence, whether they are convinced of it or not. AI is not a “magic formula,” but its large-scale integration into processes and business models, whether through in-house developments or third-party solutions, represents a small revolution since it can optimize resources, improve efficiency, and reduce errors. It’s a way to achieve a competitive advantage. The internal and comprehensive management of knowledge is key to the successful use of AI in products and solutions. It is also essential to grow in AI in an organized manner. One way of doing this can be using it to search for information and regulations, areas in which Chat GPT synthesizes and organizes information for complex projects like building rehabilitation or aid searches. AI is also helpful in the more creative aspects, such as ideation and brainstorming, developing idea generation examples for innovative projects. It is equally useful in generating Technical Documents, automating the drafting of studies and preliminary design analyses. All this can be supported by an ecosystem of partners that complements each organization’s capabilities. In this way, for the vital process of building design in the early stages, we find one of the main applications of AI. Specialized AI-based solutions exist, such as 3D render generation platforms from sketches, textual descriptions, drawings, or plans, creating and editing snapshots, or generating a 2D plan with AI tools like Dall-e. Web applications also automate this process, which can be very useful for developers, architects, or investors. For example, for a property developer, it optimizes the number of housing units included in a project, thus maximizing the return on investment. Always in a personalized way. Each company must find the path, analyze its organization to make the most of this tool, and seek to turn it into a competitive advantage: improving accuracy, reducing costs, increasing safety, and optimizing planning, which translates into more efficient and profitable projects that strengthen the company’s position.
The Importance of Professional Profiles and Training
AI is defining a new type of more agile organizations, focusing on use cases for improving operations and customer relationships. But behind the machines are the people, who are the protagonists of 80% of transformation processes. It is still people who are driving the change, and with the development of new skills, they will be able to take the helm of this ongoing revolution. A responsible revolution that promotes environmental, social, and labor impacts in a sustainable way in every AI development and use. There is a need for professionals who understand both the sector and AI and can incorporate specialized talent.
The landscape has changed: there is now a need to design and manage large amounts of data in many processes. One of the most in-demand profiles in the sector is that of ‘prompt engineering,’ which designs optimal instructions for AI models, ensuring they generate accurate and relevant results. In construction companies, this role facilitates tasks like project planning, risk analysis, and resource optimization, guiding AI to interpret design, logistical, or financial data. A good ‘prompt engineer’ in this sector needs to understand both AI technologies and construction specifications, enabling the effective integration of AI into key processes and faster, more informed decision-making.
Optimizing and exploiting existing data is a key factor for the use of AI in over a third of companies. In other words, it is essential to understand the data and evolve through its intelligent use. In this regard, AI becomes a tool that is changing the profile of professionals with experience, and it is desirable that they master the virtual field. But this needs to start in architecture schools, universities, and their connection with the business world, incorporating young people who can shift the dynamics toward a hyper-technified and free sector capable of attracting talent.
Training in AI applied to construction equips professionals to use technologies not only in data analysis but also in fields like predictive modeling and computer vision. Training programs cover topics such as BIM (Building Information Modeling), optimization algorithms, and image analysis for construction inspections. Thus, professionals acquire skills to integrate AI into key processes, supporting informed decisions and adapting to the sector’s technological demands.
It is recognized that the construction industry has a complex nature and operations that depend on human resources, specialized teams, and time-intensive processes. In this context, the sector needs to improve productivity and sees emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence, as a key lever to achieve this.
Don’t miss CONTRUMAT 2025, where the reality of the sector will be exposed. It is in the early stages of AI adoption, and it is starting to make an impact in the sector, striving to improve and optimize operations.