Impact of new technologies like AI, ML etc on Civil Engineering discipline -- how the technology is shaping up changes in the construction, transportation and geotechnology sector

1. AI Overview
The science and engineering of making
intelligent machines, especially intelligent
computer programs
Artificial Intelligence is a way of making a
computer, a computer-controlled robot, or a
software think intelligently, in the similar
manner the intelligent humans think.

2.  Construction/Civil Engineering work employs
almost 7% of the global workforce
 It is about 15 trillion $ industry worldwide
 A lot of additional overhead or waste goes in end-
to-end Civil Engineering cost – almost to the tune
of 25-35%
 A lot of other sectors have deployed AI and
Machine Learning in their sectors for various
benefits, Civil industry seems to behind the curve
Some facts that are worth mentioning

5. AI Applications

7.  Building Information
Modeling (BIM): 86%
 Basic data analytics:
83%
 Project management and
information systems:
79%
New Technology adoption in Civil Engg.
 Construction management
 building materials,
 hydraulic optimization
 Geotechnical engg.
 and Transportation engineering
Technologies that have the highest adoption rates in the top 20% of
companies (considered innovative leaders), are as follows:

8. AI Applications
Structural health monitoring
Embedding sensors- monitor stress
and damage can reduce
maintenance cost and increase
lifespan
Used in over 40 bridges worldwide
Self repair materials
Embedding thin tubes containing
uncured resin
 Due to damage these tubes break,
exposing the resin which fills any
damage and sets
Structural engineering
Used to evaluate durability
 Smart materials or structures
are restricted to sensing
 They adapt to their surrounding
environment
 Monitor the integrity of bridges,
dams, offshore oil drilling towers
etc
Waste management
Challenging, expensive and time
consuming task
Smart material helps to automate the
process

9.  Construction Safety
 Appropirate modeling and desiging minimizing
rework at the execution time
 Remote coordination among various teams
 Cost overruns due to poor planning and working in
anonymous conditions ( not much clarity)
 High cost of rework at times leading to huge
damage
 ......
Common Civil Engineering Problems

10.  BIM is a 3D
modeling
system that
creates
depictions of
manufacturing
facilities,
buildings, and
highways.
While 3D
modeling is
New Technologies – Civil Engg.

11. AI and Machine Learning for Smart Construction
 Machine learning
is like a smart
assistant that
can scrutinize
this mountain of
data. It then
alerts project
managers about
the critical things
that need their
attention.

12. AI in Traffic Engg.
 Traffic Signal Timing and Optimization (based
on evolutionary algorithms, fuzzy logic control,
artificial neural networks, and reinforcement
learning algorithms.)
 Short-Term Traffic and Travel Time Prediction
Models
 Signal control of traffic at road intersections
 Ramp metering on freeways
 Dynamic route guidance

13. AI Use in Geotechnical Engineering
 Soil properties and behaviour (Neural network
methods is used )
 Pile capacity (neural network was applied to
predict the friction capacity of piles in clays. )
 Settlement of foundations
 Liquefaction
 Slope stability
AI systems are used to predict many aspects of geotechnical engineering where
uncertainty exist such as rock and soil properties; constitutive relationships; prediction
of settlement, bearing capacity, and liquefaction; long-term performance of pavements;
and rock fall and slope stability evaluations.

14. Preventing cost overruns
 Historical data such as planned start and end
dates are used by predictive models to envision
realistic timelines for future projects. AI helps
staff remotely access real-life training material
which helps them enhance their skills and
knowledge quickly. This reduces the time taken
to onboard new resources onto projects. As a
result, project delivery is expedited.

15. AI for Better Design of Buildings Through
Generative Design
 Building Information
Modeling is a 3D model-
based process that gives
architecture, engineering
and construction
professionals insights to
efficiently plan, design,
construct and manage
buildings and infrastructure.
In order to plan and design
the construction of a

16. Risk Mitigation & planning during projects
 AI and machine learning solutions today that
general contractors use to monitor and prioritize
risk on the job site, so the project team can
focus their limited time and resources on the
biggest risk factors. AI is used to automatically
assign priority to issues. Subcontractors are
rated based on a risk score so construction
managers can work closely with high-risk teams
to mitigate risk.

17. Jobsites More Productive
 Companies that are starting to offer self-driving
construction machinery to perform repetitive
tasks more efficiently than their human
counterparts, such as pouring concrete,
bricklaying, welding, and demolition. Excavation
and prep work is being performed by
autonomous or semi-autonomous bulldozers,
which can prepare a job site with the help of a
human programmer to exact specifications. This
frees up human workers for the construction
work itself and reduces the overall time required

18. Construction Safety
 Construction workers are killed on the job five
times more often than other laborers.
 A Boston-based General Contractor with annual
sales of $3 Billion is developing an algorithm
that analyzes photos from its job sites, scans
them for safety hazards such as workers not
wearing protective equipment and correlates
the images with its accident records. The
company says it can potentially compute risk
ratings for projects so safety briefings can be
held when an elevated threat is detected.

19. AI Will Address Labor Shortages
 AI and machine learning to better plan for
distribution of labor and machinery across
jobs. A robot constantly evaluating job
progress and the location of workers and
equipment enables project managers to
tell instantly which job sites have enough
workers and equipment to complete the
project on schedule, and which might be
falling behind where additional labor could
be deployed. Experts expect construction
robots to become more intelligent and
autonomous with AI techniques.