Artificial Intelligence has been part of our technological landscape for years, but its capabilities are rapidly advancing. The construction industry, in particular, is witnessing unprecedented changes driven by AI, with technology being used in ways unimaginable just a year ago. Benedict Wallbank, partnerships and digital construction strategy manager at Trimble, discusses further
Many of us already use AI assistants to some degree, such as ChatGPT. In fact, many are of the belief that we are at the start of a revolution that will profoundly reshape human society. For the construction industry, this transformation brings both immense opportunities and critical questions.
The vast bulk of AI applied in the construction industry today is “narrow AI”, which is trained to perform a single task, often better and faster than a human can. This is the main type of AI that is currently in use, powering everything from chatbots to workflow automation.
However, a more transformative change is on the horizon: AI with autonomous, agent-like behaviour that can plan, make decisions and execute complex tasks with less human input.
The next wave: Agentic AI and new business models
Greater change is on the way in the form of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), also known as Agentic AI. Unlike narrow AI, AGI can apply previous learnings and skills to accomplish new tasks in a different context, without needing to be retrained by humans. This allows it to learn and potentially perform virtually any intellectual task a human can.
This evolution will have profound economic implications. According to Jari Heino, vice president & GM, BIM & Engineering at Trimble in Finland, our entire business model may be affected: “AI agents will eventually work somewhat independently, which opens up a whole new world. Which of our tasks can – and should – AI take over?”
The interest in AI within the construction sector is significant, with many seeking to understand its practical value. The true potential of AI lies not in replacing humans, but in eliminating the tasks that humans shouldn’t be doing in the first place.
Redirecting human potential
By automating repetitive, cognitively mundane and even dangerous work, AI frees up human resources to tackle more pressing and skilled challenges, allowing us to confront the labour shortage crisis head on.
In many ways, the time spent on repetitive tasks that could be easily automated represents wasted human potential. Instead, AI can redirect our skilled workforce towards the more pressing challenges and complex jobs, rather than consuming it with routine.
The result isn’t just about improving productivity and efficiency levels – it represents a fundamental shift in what construction professionals can accomplish.
Unlocking trapped data
Perhaps one of the industry’s most persistent challenges is fragmented data. A plethora of proprietary formats means that information can get trapped and value is lost at every project handover. While standards are important, forcing everyone to work the same way is not always a practical solution. Instead, AI can help to organise data behind the scenes, allowing teams to maintain flexible work practices while achieving data harmony.
Benedict Wallbank, who is also a non executive director at NIMA (formerly the UK BIM Alliance), elaborates on this potential: “I’ve been obsessed with the challenges of data interoperability and how we efficiently get to quality, whole-life asset data. At NIMA, so many of our current discussions are on how AI will help us achieve that goal. My personal view is that Agentic AI will provide much of the solution. Do we still need classification and standards? Yes – but AI offers the potential ability to identify and map data that is currently trapped within documents, drawings, models, scans and reality capture.”
Industry-native AI in action
While the world has seen great strides in general purpose AI, attention is turning to industry-native solutions that speak the language of construction. These specialised tools are focused on solving practical problems, understanding context and integrating with existing workflows.
Within Trimble, AI adoption is already widespread, from using it to speed up code writing to enhancing software solutions, all with the focus of streamlining design, modelling and field workflows.
AI enables users to modify 3D models with text prompts, automate geometry creation and classify models efficiently. It performs automated document classification, checks compliance in BIM models, analyses change orders, identifies road defects and runs energy simulations.
In the field, AI can monitor site safety by identifying PPE compliance and hazard zones, as well as comparing scans with models in order to detect deviations. AI aids in finding content, creating materials and detailing designs, providing comprehensive support for various needs.
Navigating the future with trust and responsibility
As AI becomes more autonomous, questions of trust, accountability and regulation are critical. Global approaches to regulation vary. The UK has set out five key principles to be policed sector by sector, while the EU is taking a centralised approach, establishing a shared supervision and enforcement regime.
The US has opted for a lighter touch, leaving regulation to existing laws and individual states to encourage innovation.
The more we hand over tasks to autonomous systems, the more important it becomes to define when a human needs to be involved. Like all things, AI is not infallible. We build systems around the reality of human fallibility, and yet we expect near-infallibility from automated systems.
Regardless, it’s clear that the AI genie has escaped its bottle and is in the process of reshaping the industry. The firms that thrive won’t be those that race to implement every new innovation but those that ask deeper questions of it: which human capabilities should we amplify? How do we preserve the irreplaceable judgment that comes from years of experience in the field?
The organisations that navigate this transition with strategic clarity, understanding that AI serves the builder rather than replacing the craft, will forge the sustainable path forward.
Learn more about Trimble, here: www.trimble.com/construction.
*Please note that this is a commercial profile.
