ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Artificial intelligence has become a driving force for transforming the modern construction area, revolutionizing the methods used for project design, management, and execution. Companies can seriously enhance building safety, efficiency, and staff productivity by utilizing advanced algorithms, machine learning capabilities, and deep data analysis.
Today, we will review the meaning of AI for quantity surveying, the benefits of its adoption, real-world examples of success, and many other aspects that will introduce you to the world of innovations. We will show you the difference between traditional methods and modern approaches, including AI implementation, challenges you can face, and future perspectives. So, let’s start.
Traditional Quantity Surveying Challenges
The traditional approach to quantity surveying heavily relies on manual labor, many calculations, time-consuming processes, and paper documentation. However, the traditional handling methods are time-proven and well-known, and they fail in competition with more advanced and quicker solutions. Let's take a look at the key challenges of traditional quantity surveying.
Time-intensive manual processes
When calculations, measurements, and data entries are performed manually, human workers require much time and accuracy. If the speed of cost evaluation and bills of quantities processing is low, it can cause delays in decision-making.
Risks of human error and inefficiency
Calculation accuracy is vital for correct estimation, but you cannot fully exclude the human factor in manual work. Improper attention to detail, misinterpretation of data, or other human errors can cause inefficiencies in processes and cost overruns.
Difficulty in handling complex data and predicting trends
Large-scale construction projects require working with complex data like material costs or labor rates. You need to collect, analyze, and make a report of all information to predict trends or make the right decision. The process is possible but very time-consuming and filled with difficulties.
How AI Enhances Quantity Surveying
Humanity has already shown that it can handle all required tasks. Still, our capability does not mean we must refuse an opportunity to perform the same tasks with better quality, accuracy, and speed. Artificial intelligence can streamline traditional approaches and empower human teams with state-of-the-art technology to achieve a different level of precision. Let's review four main upgrades that AI can offer to quantity surveying.
Automation of routine tasks
Artificial intelligence can reduce the time and effort associated with manual takeoffs. AI can automate routine tasks like quantity extraction based on digital blueprints or material and cost calculations.
Enhanced accuracy and error reduction
AI leverages the latest algorithms to analyze large amounts of data with inhuman accuracy. Artificial intelligence performs measurements and calculations with stable efficiency within long periods and a lower chance of errors.
Predictive analytics for cost and risk management
Artificial intelligence studies historical data to make accurate predictions for future trends. It can forecast possible project outcomes and detect the chance of a cost overrun in the early stages.
Real-time data processing for project monitoring
Artificial intelligence can add real-time data to the project and enable dynamic corrections. Seeing the whole picture at all stages allows more efficient decision-making and accurate project monitoring.
{{cta, type="post", text="Discover how Generative AI is reshaping construction", link="/blog/generative-ai-in-construction"}}
Using AI for Construction Quantity Surveying: Real-World Case Studies
The best way to see what AI can offer to your business is to review the real-world cases of its use and discover what outcomes it has already brought, so let's check some.
Skanska
Skanska is a global construction company demonstrating readiness for AI adoption and implementation in their workflows. It uses AI-powered platforms to speed up cost estimation, perform risk assessments, and conduct advanced budget planning. AI allowed them to gain insights from 96% of previously unused databases, empowering construction data with additional information.
Vinci Constructions
Vinci Constructions is a company that builds structures and infrastructures for environmental improvement. They transform their approach to building with advanced digital technologies and AI integration to simplify construction processes. Their target is to save approximately 5200 work hours within 25 projects with the help of AI-powered solutions for remote monitoring. Also, AI significantly saves time for estimation and project preparation.
Laing O'Rourke
Laing O'Rourke is a construction and engineering company that works with infrastructure projects. They utilize artificial intelligence to change the way they build. They actively leverage drone technology, build information modeling, and apply integration within various industry sectors to save time and costs. They apply AI for routine tasks, repetitive operations, data cross-checking, and data entry. AI integration allowed them to reduce 65% of the required time.
Bouygues Construction
Bouygues Construction is a construction company heavily involved in building creation and management. They consider AI a good possibility for improving project quality and resource management. According to their statement, AI helped save approximately 140 tonnes of materials during construction. Leveraging artificial technologies, they can find the best balance between price, energy consumption, waste, and environmental impact during project planning.
The examples above show that using artificial intelligence for construction quantity surveying can achieve better results based on significant time, cost savings, and informed resource allocation.
Benefits of Adopting AI in Quantity Surveying
Artificial intelligence can boost traditional procedures and make them more effective and successful than it would be with human labor. Let's look at the most vital benefits of AI's adoption in quantity surveying.
Increased productivity and reduced workload
Automated solutions can cover such tasks as cost estimation, data analysis, and quantity takeoffs. The AI-powered approach reduces the workload and the number of manual errors, saves time, and raises overall productivity.
Improved decision-making and strategic planning
Deep AI-boosted analytics can study large datasets, identify patterns, and accurately predict trends. It helps to make more data-driven decisions and develop effective strategies for product management.
Cost-effectiveness and enhanced project outcomes
Artificial intelligence can significantly reduce project costs by streamlining main processes, minimizing inefficiencies, and reducing the amount of manual labor. It improves the accuracy of budget planning and resource allocation.
Challenges and Considerations of Adopting AI in Quantity Surveying
At Requestum, our experts believe that considering challenges is the best base for preparing for everything. The more you know about things that can cause difficulties in implementation, the better results and smoothness you can reach. We have prepared a list of three of the most often faced challenges, so let's see what you should expect.
The initial investment in AI quantity surveying implementation
Implementation requires preparation, and related costs can be quite high: you need to purchase software, train or buy a prebuilt AI model, integrate it into existing systems, and keep maintaining it over time.
For small companies, such costs can be quite a challenge, so you can start with affordable or entry-level AI tools and, in the future, change them to more tailored solutions. Consider cloud-based AI options to save costs on hardware and invest in access to potential scalability.
{{cta, type="case", text="Our AI and Data Science Case Studies", image="/kec3s5i5rz65/39jecCD4nCZYzgcbhF2P6J/847c449e296935d153109911b6ef90c8/ai-cases.webp", link="/case-studies/ai-and-data-science-case-studies"}}
Need for training and skill development
AI tools are highly efficient, but to utilize all the benefits they can offer, your quantity surveyors need to learn how to work with it and integrate AI into their usual workflows. Such an update requires time, resources, training materials, and a wish for staff to adapt to new technologies.
Consider investments in workshops and on-the-job training to equip staff with all required tools and skills. Many AI providers often offer training and further support so that you can use it, too. You can hire AI and data experts to work with your surveyors for better outcomes.
Ensuring data privacy and security during AI quantity surveying
Artificial intelligence works with vast amounts of confidential and sensitive data. To keep your data safe, you must utilize robust security measures to protect data from potential breaches. Compliance with privacy regulations and ethical use of data is also essential for trustworthy functioning.
We advise you to implement strict management protocols with encryption and serious access control to ensure that only authorized users will get sensitive information. Ensure your system complies with data privacy regulations like GDPR by regularly checking your workflows and AI-powered systems. Work only with AI vendors with good reputations and pay attention to utilizing cybersecurity and safe platforms for data processing.
Future of AI in Quantity Surveying
83% of companies state that AI is their top priority in business plans, showing how much implementation means to business development. Companies widely use automation, data analytics, and prediction capabilities of artificial intelligence, empowering usual workflows with new and powerful solutions. Such a tendency makes us believe that artificial intelligence will only develop in the future and get a significant place on the market.
We believe that companies will invest more in the development of machine learning to improve processes such as pattern identification, outcomes prediction, and efficiency boost. The more AI will learn, the more accurate results experts will get, and the more informed decisions can be made.
Integrating devices for augmented reality will widen project management horizons and help visualize the data from various angles better than any blueprints could do. The digital models can be projected in the physical environment to achieve better accuracy and more interactions in the development and quantity surveying stages.
{{cta, type="contact", text="Let’s turn your software vision into reality"}}
Businesses can minimize the need to visit physical locations by collecting necessary data with the help of AI-powered cameras and various sensors attached to drones. Such an approach will enable real-time data processing without the need to leave the project, and the surveyors will be able to provide adjustments faster, reducing the time required for project estimation.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence demonstrates capabilities to become a powerful tool in professional quantity surveying. It helps to estimate costs, save time, and reduce the amount of manual labor and mistakes caused by human factors. It simplifies traditional procedures and enables faster project fulfillment with rapid and accurate cost estimation. We believe that in the future, the potential of AI will only grow further, making more companies choose the AI approach to empower quantity surveying. Start your development road with us right now, and we will prepare a powerful quantity surveying solution for your construction company.
SHARE: