Getting Started with AI: Key Fundamentals for Construction Professionals

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often seen as a transformative force for construction, promising improved efficiency, enhanced safety, and better decision-making. Yet, for many professionals, the rapid pace of technological change can feel daunting.

As you start to explore AI, it's vital to approach the technology with balanced optimism—not fear. AI isn't here to replace us or demand immediate mastery of complex skills; it's a tool designed to work with us, simplifying tasks and amplifying human creativity.

The CIOB AI Playbook 2024 is a practical guide to help organisations engage with AI, focusing on its potential to enhance—not disrupt—everyday workflows. This blog outlines the key digital fundamentals needed to get started, ensuring AI becomes a valuable tool rather than an intimidating challenge.

Fundamental areas to get started

Understand AI's role: AI is here to enhance—not replace—human expertise. It can automate repetitive tasks, assist in safety monitoring, and provide valuable insights without taking over decision-making.

Focus on fundamentals, not complexity: You don't need to be an AI expert. Basic digital literacy, like data organisation and understanding how tools like BIM or scheduling software work, is more important than learning AI's technical intricacies.

Understand how to collect, clean, and organise data effectively: recognising good data is the foundation for effective AI applications. For example, ensuring data consistency across projects or cleaning historical project data before applying AI can improve its accuracy and outcomes.

Recognise practical applications: AI can support tasks like trend forecasting, safety monitoring, and design reviews with minimal input. These are areas where you can begin experimenting without significant disruptions. For instance, AI-powered tools can predict project delays by analysing scheduling data or flag potential safety risks using real-time camera feeds.

Prepare for Integration: AI will increasingly be built into your existing tools. Rather than learning entirely new systems, focus on enhancing existing workflows.

Strategic Thinking: Identify specific business challenges or inefficiencies where AI can provide measurable value, such as automating repetitive tasks, enhancing decision-making, or improving safety:

• Align AI adoption with broader organisational goals, such as sustainability or productivity targets, to ensure long-term impact
• Start small by running a pilot project to test AI's capabilities on a specific use case. This approach minimises risks and allows you to measure success before scaling up
• Collaborate with stakeholders early to ensure AI complements workflows and delivers practical benefits without unnecessary complexity.

Avoiding AI fatigue and overload

We must be mindful not to overwhelm professionals with the idea that everyone needs to become an AI expert. While innovation leaders and early adopters will naturally drive AI's use, most professionals can adopt AI incrementally, using it to streamline their work without needing to dive into its complexities.

Just as architects use tools to interpret building regulations without memorising every regulation, AI can simplify processes without demanding expertise in its underlying mechanics.

Overcoming Challenges

Adopting AI does come with challenges, from resistance to change to financial constraints for smaller firms. However, these can be addressed through:

• Inclusive training: tailored programmes that accommodate different experience levels across teams
• Affordable solutions: exploring low-cost or open-source tools to make AI accessible to smaller organisations
• Gradual implementation: encouraging experimentation in safe, low-risk environments to build confidence and familiarity.

Final thoughts: the human element of AI

AI is not here to replace human expertise but to complement it. The future of construction lies in a partnership between professionals and technology, where AI handles repetitive tasks, freeing up time for creative problem-solving and critical thinking.

By focusing on digital fundamentals and taking a measured approach, CIOB members can unlock AI's potential without feeling overwhelmed. The journey to adopting AI may seem complex, but with the right tools and guidance, it's a manageable and rewarding process.

Start small. Identify one challenge where AI could make a difference in your workflow, and explore a pilot project to test its potential. Leverage resources like the CIOB AI Playbook to guide you along the way and connect with peers to share insights and strategies.