Building the Future of the Construction Industry through Artificial Intelligence and Platform Thinking

Abstract

Data in the construction industry is heterogeneous, organizations do not work closely together, and construction software is highly specialized for individual users and applications. As a result, knowledge from previous construction projects is often not shared, linked, or transferred to subsequent projects. Additionally, the manual work on-site leads to long and unstable design and construction processes. Based on a review of common challenges in this work a new vision for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Industry is developed. A platform thinking approach with methods of artificial intelligence (AI) for data preparation and for construction applications can benefit existing companies and support the overall ecosystem with innovative as well as disruptive business models. Additionally, a new ecosystem can emerge. This article shows how artificial intelligence can be established in the AEC Industry. The proposed approach suits applications in the whole value chain of design and construction. The implementation of a platform thinking approach throughout the industry is still missing, but its implementation in parts already shows great benefits. In a current research project, a platform ecosystem will be established and used to implement a number of prototypical applications. Using the proposed approach, construction data can be structured and linked with data from other organizations while simultaneously ensuring legal and technical security for the users. Ultimately, the resulting database will enable various applications within the industry.