Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Mechatronics and Smart Systems

DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/28/20230004

Artificial intelligence in the construction sector

Xinjie Guo
Investment Management Department, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and
Economics, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010000, China

[email protected]

Abstract. The application of artificial intelligence in the construction industry is divided into
two main areas: 1. Using new technologies such as big data, cloud computing and the Internet
of Things to optimise building design and management and provide users with a better living
environment and service experience. 2. Using artificial intelligence technology to carry out
intelligent building operation and maintenance, reduce the number of construction site operators
and improve the efficiency of the construction site. Based on the analysis of the application
scenarios in these two aspects, the application of artificial intelligence in the field of construction
has a broad prospect. Especially with the continuous development and improvement of the
Internet of Things and big data technology, artificial intelligence can better enhance the quality
of intelligent buildings.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, construction, cost reduction.

1. Introduction
At present, for the Chinese market, the technology of artificial intelligence, if applied to the traditional
industry, will become a breakthrough in the change of the traditional industry, making the application
field expanding and the work efficiency being significantly improved. Artificial intelligence will
certainly bring further innovation in the development after entering the traditional industry, by
promoting the progress and technological transformation of the industry, with the continuous expansion
of the scale of the construction industry, as China's national economy The construction industry, which
is an important pillar industry in China's national economy, has also begun to integrate and develop with
artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is currently a frontier technology for human beings, and the
construction field is an important area of human civilisation, and the exploration of using artificial
intelligence technology in the construction field is also very important, and this paper will elaborate on
the development of artificial intelligence technology and the application scenarios of artificial
intelligence in the construction field [1].

2. Data collection and analysis

The application of big data in the construction field mainly focuses on data collection and analysis in
the construction industry, through a large number of building construction information data and data
information for analysis and collation, so as to come up with a variety of specific, useful and real
information. This not only helps managers to better control the situation on the construction site, but
also provides more accurate and reasonable design solutions for construction. Data collection and

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 Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Mechatronics and Smart Systems
DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/28/20230004

analysis mainly consists of two aspects, the first is the collection and collation of engineering
information; the second is data value mining. Both processes are based on the premise that reliable,
efficient and accurate links need to be established between the many parties involved in the construction
industry so that the entire construction process can be effectively monitored. Only when this is achieved
can the goal of intelligent O&M management be better realised.

2.1. Collection and collation of engineering information

The collection and collation of engineering information is the process of collecting, analysing and
processing engineering information. In this process, there are two main sources of information, the first
is the record and description of the project, and the second is the analysis, screening and judgment of
the collected information. In this process, managers need to establish links between all parties involved
in the project and to ensure that all parties involved can communicate effectively with each other. The
most important aspects are construction design, construction materials and the construction environment.
The collection and collation of information about these projects can help managers to understand the
general situation of the project more intuitively and provide a more efficient and convenient service for
the construction process [2]. However, it is important to note that the information collected should be
filtered and organised, and made clear and specific.

2.2. Data value mining

In the process of data value mining, there are two most critical aspects that need special attention, one
is to establish a sufficiently complete engineering database, and the other is to use the corresponding
algorithms to mine all the information data. Both of these aspects are very important and complex tasks
and can be considered a bottleneck in the development of the construction industry. In addition, the
following points should be noted in the specific implementation process: (1) When analysing data for a
construction project, a detailed and accurate survey of the construction site is required, and the data
should be analysed for different operating environments. (2) There is a large amount of information and
data in the construction industry, as well as construction-related documents and information. This
information helps managers to make better decisions and manage operations. (3) There is a need to
establish good and efficient communication channels between the different parties involved. Only in
this way can the value of the data be better exploited [3].

3. Automatic monitoring and management

As traditional construction systems need to be manually controlled on site, they lead to high labour
intensity and safety hazards for construction personnel, while intelligent operation and maintenance
based on new technologies such as big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things will effectively
solve the above problems. For example, RFID technology can automatically identify the construction
equipment, construction personnel, materials and other construction material information entering the
site; through artificial intelligence technology to achieve real-time monitoring of construction personnel
and construction materials, so that people in the office can understand the site situation and make
decisions at any time; the use of intelligent robots for intelligent inspection, can accurately identify the
defects and hidden dangers existing in each floor, etc. The application of artificial intelligence in the
field of construction is promising, but there are still some problems, for example, people do not
understand artificial intelligence technology deeply enough and thoroughly, and the quality of talent
requirements are also high; in addition, artificial intelligence in the field of construction is mainly
applied in the operation and maintenance, and in other areas such as design is still relatively weak.
However, as new technologies such as big data and cloud computing continue to develop and mature,
the application of artificial intelligence in the construction industry will usher in a new wave. Now there
are also many companies that have already started to use AI technology for the development of
intelligent building operation and maintenance systems. With the promotion of the concept of smart city
and smart life as well as the enhancement of users' requirements for smart life, the future application of
artificial intelligence in the construction field will also usher in a new development opportunity [4].

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DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/28/20230004

3.1. Wise construction

Smart construction is an organic combination of artificial intelligence technology and construction
engineering technology, and smart construction can solve the problems faced by the construction
industry in the process of development. At present, intelligent construction mainly starts from three
aspects, one is data integration, integrating and analysing construction engineering data resources to
build an intelligent management system; the second is structure optimisation, integrating and innovating
traditional construction techniques and advanced techniques to promote higher quality construction; the
third is precise construction, using intelligent equipment to detect and control the construction process.
Through the mining of information and data, the whole life cycle of the project can be simulated and
emulated; through real-time monitoring, data processing and other technical means, problems in the
construction process can be solved in time. Artificial intelligence can also help construction companies
to reduce construction costs and construction time. According to relevant research, through the use of
intelligent construction technology can make the construction unit project investment reduced by 15%
to 20%; and when the intelligent construction system applied to the design of buildings can save about
3% to 4% of the project cost. In addition, intelligent equipment can be used to improve efficiency and
reduce labour costs. However, there are still some problems with the application of artificial intelligence
in the construction field, such as the lack of technical personnel and the inadequacy of the talent training
system, which are the reasons that limit the promotion and application of artificial intelligence in the
construction industry [5].

3.2. Smart city

A smart city is a concept that is constantly evolving and improving. It can achieve the interconnection
of people, things and events information through a large number of IoT devices, analyse and process
them through a comprehensive application system based on cloud computing and big data platforms,
and ultimately provide services for users. As urban residents' requirements for living environment and
quality of life improve, the application areas of smart cities will continue to expand. The construction
industry will play an important role in smart cities. Intelligent buildings are an inevitable trend in smart
cities, and many companies have already started to carry out intelligent building projects. For example,
Guangzhou is building a "Smart Island", which includes 5G communication, wireless Internet of Things
technology, intelligent robots, artificial intelligence and many other artificial intelligence technology
applications, and will become the world's first smart island after completion. Guangzhou's "Smart
Island" has already achieved a lot of results, the most important of which is the seamless integration
with rail transportation, city roads and municipal pipeline systems, as well as various facilities such as
smart street lights and smart meters [6].
This is only a small part of the smart city construction, as artificial intelligence technology continues
to progress and develop, there will be more areas of the construction industry that can use artificial
intelligence in the future. There are already a number of companies in China that have started to research
the application of AI technology in the construction sector. For example, Alibaba uses cloud computing
and big data platforms to provide a series of B/S-oriented solutions (such as Alibaba's "Internet of Things
Platform"); Huawei has launched the "IoT Architecture Open Cloud" platform. For the artificial
intelligence technologies that have been applied to the construction field, such as face recognition, voice
recognition, behavioural analysis and other artificial intelligence technologies have a very important
role in the construction of smart cities. As these technologies become better understood and mastered,
they will play an even more important role in the construction industry in the future [7].

3.3. Intelligent design

The problems that exist in the current design process in the construction industry mainly include the
following: (1) Long and inefficient building design. (2) The architectural design is complicated and the
quality varies. (3) The traditional design process, the manual involvement of too many factors. (4) The
application of intelligent auxiliary design software is still in its infancy. (5) The lack of professional
talents and the low ability of the designer team.

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 Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Mechatronics and Smart Systems
DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/28/20230004

Under the trend of continuous integration of artificial intelligence and the construction industry, we
will usher in a new era of architectural design in the future, and artificial intelligence will provide more
convenience for the design industry. At the same time, in addition to the above points, AI technology is
also widely used in other industries. Artificial intelligence in the manufacturing field mainly solves the
problems of "lack of data", "lack of models" and "lack of algorithms"; artificial intelligence in the
medical field mainly solves the problems of Artificial intelligence in the medical field mainly solves the
problems of "unreliability", "error-prone" and "low efficiency"; in the agricultural field, it mainly solves
the problems of intelligent sowing, watering, fertilising and harvesting. Artificial intelligence is also
present in the fields of education and entertainment. Speech processing technology, mainly represented
by speech recognition and natural language processing technology, has been widely used in many
aspects of people's daily lives.

4. Intelligent environmental control

In traditional building environmental control, designers often focus on the control of air conditioning,
lighting and ventilation systems, while neglecting to understand the environment in which the building
itself is located. In fact, building environmental control is an extremely complex system with many
influencing factors, for example, the temperature, humidity and wind speed of the building's
surroundings can directly or indirectly affect the indoor air quality. When there is a certain temperature
difference between indoor and outdoor air, more condensation will be generated in the air; when the
indoor and outdoor airflow is in opposite directions, vortexes will be formed in the air. Therefore,
intelligent building environmental control is a complex and difficult task.
From the available research results, there are many scholars who are currently studying how to design
building environment systems through artificial intelligence technology. A number of products and
systems in the field of intelligent buildings have already applied the above theoretical approaches and
achieved good results. For example, LAAM (Leap-match Automatic Air Mechanism), an intelligent
ventilation system developed by the University of Michigan's Institute of Engineering and Design (IET)
in around 2000, uses a variety of intelligent technologies based on neural network technology, fuzzy
logic and expert systems. The LAAM method uses a comprehensive analysis of the air conditioning and
ventilation system to determine a rational control strategy and to achieve optimum energy savings.
Taking air conditioning control as an example, firstly, predictive control based on neural network
technology is used to determine the frequency and number of starts and stops of refrigeration
compressors at different points in time; secondly, the actual situation on site is analysed through fuzzy
logic and a new fuzzy logic model is established using fuzzy control principles; finally, the new model
is used as a judgement standard to determine the best operating state of the air conditioning system at
that moment in time, so that The new model is then used to determine the best operating conditions for
the air conditioning system at that moment in time, thus achieving energy savings and maximum indoor
comfort.
Another intelligent environmental control system, DACS (Dynamic Control System), is an
intelligent environmental control system jointly developed by the Department of Computer Science and
Engineering (CMS) of the University of California, Berkeley and the Department of Computer Science
(MIT) of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which consists of field detection technology,
expert technology and computer networks. It has the advantages of being good, adaptable, functional
and easy to implement. DACS ensures a comfortable indoor environment while maximising energy
savings and minimising maintenance costs. The method can be used to design various types of
applications such as multi-energy utilisation, air conditioning and cooling requirements, and the need
for people to stay and move around.
At this stage of building environmental control in China, the traditional centralised approach to air
conditioning management often requires unified management of the entire building: not only does it
entail high property management costs, but it is also not conducive to energy saving and emission
reduction. As artificial intelligence technology continues to be applied in the field of building
environmental control, many scholars have put forward some new ideas. For example, the "IoT

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DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/28/20230004

Intelligent Building Environment Monitoring System" jointly developed by Huazhong University of

Science and Technology and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. uses sensor networks to collect data and
cloud computing to achieve real-time dynamic monitoring and intelligent processing of a variety of
parameters in buildings. The "IoT intelligent building environmental monitoring system" installs various
instruments such as air quality sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, carbon dioxide sensors, etc.
in buildings, transmits the acquired information to the cloud for big data processing and analysis through
IoT technology, and uses cloud computing technology to provide a unified cloud service platform to
realize the interconnection and sharing of data and information.
The system can dynamically monitor and control a wide range of parameters in the building,
including air quality parameters such as humidity and CO2 content, and human comfort parameters such
as CO2 concentration; it can also compare indoor environmental parameters with the outdoor
environment in real time and make intelligent adjustments to indoor air quality through preset data. The
system can be widely used in office buildings, commercial buildings and residential buildings. There is
also an Internet of Things-based Smart Building Environments Control System, which transmits
collected data to the cloud for analysis and processing to achieve energy saving and emission reduction
as well as security control. The Smart Building Environments Control System will transmit the collected
data to the cloud for analysis and processing to achieve energy saving, emission reduction and security
control.

5. Intelligent security technology and applications

Intelligent security technology refers to the detection of the external environment of the building to
determine whether a danger has occurred, so that the building security equipment protection, supervision
of personnel activities, facilities and systems security protection, emergency evacuation and other
security prevention. In terms of security, according to the features of the building function, set up access
control systems, monitoring systems, etc.; using a variety of intelligent identification technology for
personnel behaviour and vehicle dynamic monitoring; using intelligent processing, such as security
codes as a communication method to achieve intercom functions. Intelligent security technology is a
comprehensive technical means. In practice, it is usually composed of sensors and software systems.
The sensors are used to collect relevant data such as temperature, humidity, vibration, wind speed, etc.
The software system is responsible for analysing this information and making decisions and controls.

6. Summary
This paper has mainly explored the integration and application of artificial intelligence and architecture
field. Artificial intelligence technology has gradually begun to be applied and promoted in the fields of
planning and design, architectural design and project management, but there is still much room for
improvement in the specific architectural design content. Architects further master the design method
of using AI platforms as design aids to promote the renewal and transformation of the industry.
Architectural practitioners should pay attention to the technology of artificial intelligence and combine
it with the field of architecture to realize the transformation and development of the construction industry.

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