AI for the Built Environment: An Opportunity to Improve Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability

The Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation (AECO) industry suffers from problems such as lack of safety and sustainability, inefficiency, and labor shortage, which can be mitigated by the adoption of solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) that automate tasks traditionally performed by humans. However, while planning the adoption of AI-driven solutions, AECO professionals often lack knowledge of what can be automated and encounter difficulties in setting goals and defining a digital strategy that integrates automation with manual work. To assist professionals, we propose a two-dimensional conceptual framework for determining the roles played by AI-driven solutions, their level of automation, and the roles that suit humans best. We analyze potential AI applications in AECO to explain how to use the framework and show the variety of AI development opportunities in this industry. The aim of the framework is to facilitate structured discussion and communication between professionals to plan the development of AI applications that have more chance to succeed and can help overcome AECO industry’s long-standing challenges.