A Study of AI Applications in the Mexican Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry: Opportunities and Challenges

Cristina Estefany Flores-Juárez, Jesús Antonio Álvarez-Cedillo, Teodoro Álvarez-Sánchez, Ma. Teresa Sarabia-Alonso

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a revolutionary force that radically transforms the technological landscape and opens up a multitude of possibilities across various sectors. The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is no exception, and fully capitalizes on the potential of AI. This technology is being crucially integrated into its processes, not only to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs but also as a driving force behind innovations that redefine building and infrastructure design and construction. The incorporation of AI into the AEC industry can lead to significant improvements in planning, design, resource management, and maintenance, thereby increasing productivity and promoting sustainability. Moreover, AI can optimize the use of materials, predict potential failures, and enhance safety at construction sites, resulting in safer and more efficient projects. However, the integration of AI is not without challenges and risks, which must be managed responsibly and prudently. These challenges include issues related to AI ethics, safety, reliability, transparency, inclusion, regulation, and long-term sustainability. This article aims to explore the various applications of AI in the AEC industry, highlighting both the opportunities it offers for innovation and efficiency, and the challenges inherent in its integration into everyday processes. By unraveling the impact of AI, we seek to not only understand its current role but also project its future influence in creating more innovative and sustainable built environments. Through a detailed analysis, we aim to shed light on how AI can transform the industry and contribute to more efficient ecological development, ensuring that technology is used ethically and responsibly for the benefit of all.

 

Keywords: artificial intelligence; architecture; engineering and construction; machine learning; building information modeling

 

https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.51.11.5


Full Text:

PDF


References


ARQUITECTURA SINGULAR. Inteligencia Artificial (IA) aplicada a la arquitectura. Ventajas y beneficios, 2024, https://arquitecturasingular.es/inteligencia-artificial-ia-aplicada-a-la-arquitectura-ventajas-y-beneficios/

REGONA M., YIGITCANLAR T., XIA B., & LI Y R. Y. M. Opportunities and Adoption Challenges of AI in the Construction Industry: A PRISMA Review. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 2022, 8(1): 45, https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8010045.

NIKAS A., POULYMENAKOU A., & KRIARIS Y P. Investigating antecedents and drivers affecting the adoption of collaboration technologies in the construction industry. Automation in Construction, 2007, 16(5): 632-641, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2006.10.003.

ABIOYE S. O., OYEDELE L. O., AKANBI L., AJAYI A., DAVILA DELGADO J. M., BILAL M., AKINADE O. O., & AHMED A. Artificial intelligence in the construction industry: A review of present status, opportunities and future challenges. Journal of Building Engineering, 2021, 44: 103299, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103299.

ACOSTA D. Arquitectura y construcción sostenibles: Conceptos, Problemas Y Estrategias. Dearq, 2009, 1(4): 14-23, https://doi.org/10.18389/dearq4.2009.02.

PAN Y., & ZHANG L. Integrating BIM and AI for Smart Construction Management: Current Status and Future Directions. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 2023, 30(2): 1081-1110, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-022-09830-8.

AKINOSHO T. D., OYEDELE L. O., BILAL M., AJAYI A. O., DELGADO M. D., AKINADE O. O., & AHMED A. A. Deep learning in the construction industry: A review of present status and future innovations. Journal of Building Engineering, 2020, 32: 101827, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101827.

GONZÁLEZ-ARENCIBIA M., & MARTÍNEZ-CARDERO D. Dilemas éticos en el escenario de la inteligencia artificial. Economía y Sociedad, 2020, 25(57): 1-18, https://doi.org/10.15359/eys.25-57.5.

PORCELLI A. M. La inteligencia artificial y la robótica: sus dilemas sociales, éticos y jurídicos. Derecho global. Estudios sobre derecho y justicia, 2020, 6(16): 49-105, https://doi.org/10.32870/dgedj.v6i16.286.

GONZÁLEZ O. Aproximación a los distintos tipos de muestreo no probabilístico que existen. Revista Cubana de Medicina General Integral, 2021, 37(3): e1442.

VELEZMORO-ABANTO L., CUBA-LAGOS R., TAICO-VALVERDE B., IPARRAGUIRRE-VILLANUEVA O., & CABANILLAS-CARBONELL M. Lean Construction Strategies Supported by Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Construction Project Management—A Review, International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 2024, 20(3): 99-114, https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v20i03.46769.

GHIMIRE P., KIM K., & ACHARYA M. Opportunities and Challenges of Generative AI in Construction Industry: Focusing on Adoption of Text-Based Models. Buildings, 2024, 14(1): 1, https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010220.

NA S., HEO S., CHOI W., HAN S., & KIM C. Firm Size and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Technology Adoption: The Role of Corporate Size in South Korean Construction Companies. Buildings, 2023, 13(4): 4, https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13041066.

NA S., HEO S., HAN S., SHIN Y., & ROH Y. Acceptance Model of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Technologies in Construction Firms: Applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in Combination with the Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) Framework. Buildings, 2022, 12(2): 2, https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12020090.

WAQAR A., ANDRI, QURESHI A. H., ALMUJIBAH H. R., TANJUNG L. E., & UTAMI C. Evaluation of success factors of utilizing AI in digital transformation of health and safety management systems in modern construction projects. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 2023, 14(11): 102551, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2023.102551.

ŠTEFANIČ M. & STANKOVSKI V. A review of technologies and applications for smart construction, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Civil Engineering, 2018, 172: 1-23, https://doi.org/10.1680/jcien.17.00050.

PRABHAKAR V., BELARMIN XAVIER C. S., & ABUBEKER K. M. A Review on Challenges and Solutions in the Implementation of Ai, IoT and Blockchain in Construction Industry. Materials Today: Proceedings, 2023, in press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.03.535.

HEO S., HAN S., SHIN Y., & NA S. Challenges of Data Refining Process during the Artificial Intelligence Development Projects in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry. Applied Sciences, 2021, 11(22): 22, https://doi.org/10.3390/app112210919.

BASAIF A. A., ALASHWAL A. M., MOHD-RAHIM F. A., KARIM S. B. A., & LOO S.-C. Technology awareness of artificial intelligence (Ai) application for risk analysis in construction projects. Malaysian Construction Research Journal, 2020, 9(1 Special issue): 182-195.

TJEBANE M. M., MUSONDA I., & OKORO C. Organisational Factors of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in the South African Construction Industry. Frontiers in Built Environment, 2022, 8: 823998, https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2022.823998.

PILLAI V. S., & MATUS K. J. M. Towards a responsible integration of artificial intelligence technology in the construction sector. Science and Public Policy, 2020, 47(5): 689-704, https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scaa073.

IRANI Z., & KAMAL M. M. Intelligent Systems Research in the Construction Industry. Expert Systems with Applications, 2014, 41(4, Part 1): 934-950, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2013.06.061.

YUE Q., MU S., ZHANG L., WANG Z., ZHANG Z., ZHANG X., WANG Y., & MIAO Z. Assisting Smart Construction with Reliable Edge Computing Technology. Frontiers in Energy Research, 2022, 10: 900298, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2022.900298.

KUMAR G. S. A., ROY A., & SINGH R. A Comprehensive Approach to Real-time Site Monitoring and Risk Assessment in Construction Settings using Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, 2023, 10(8): 112-126, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V10I8P111.

YANG H., & XIA M. Advancing Bridge Construction Monitoring: AI-Based Building Information Modeling for Intelligent Structural Damage Recognition. Applied Artificial Intelligence, 2023, 37(1): 2224995, https://doi.org/10.1080/08839514.2023.2224995.

ZHU H., HWANG B.-G., NGO J., & TAN J. P. S. Applications of Smart Technologies in Construction Project Management. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 2022, 148(4), https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002260.

SACKS R., GIROLAMI M., & BRILAKIS I. Building Information Modelling, Artificial Intelligence and Construction Tech. Developments in the Built Environment, 2020, 4: 100011. https://doi.org/101016/j.dibe.2020.100011.

BESKOPYLNY A.N., STEL’MAKH S.A., SHCHERBAN’ E.M., MAILYAN L.R., MESKHI B., RAZVEEVA I., CHERNIL’NIK A., & BESKOPYLNY N. Concrete Strength Prediction Using Machine Learning Methods CatBoost, k-Nearest Neighbors, Support Vector Regression. Applied Sciences. 2022; 12(21): 10864. https://doi.org/10.3390/app122110864

ARSIWALA A., ELGHAISH F., & ZOHER M. Digital twin with Machine learning for predictive monitoring of CO2 equivalent from existing buildings. Energy and Buildings, 2023, 284: 112851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.112851.

YANG J., JIA L., GUO Z., SHEN Y, LI X., MOU Z., YU K., & LIN J. C.-W. Prediction and control of water quality in Recirculating Aquaculture System based on hybrid neural network. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 2023, 121: 106002, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2023.106002.

WANG S., PENG H., & LIANG S. Prediction of estuarine water quality using interpretable machine learning approach. Journal of Hydrology, 2022, 605: 127320, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.127320.

PHAM H.A., & SÖFFKER D. Modified Model-Free Adaptive Predictive Control Applied to Vibration Reduction of Mechanical Flexible Systems. Proceedings of the International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, 2020, 83914, V002T02A025. American Society of Mechanical Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2020-22033

BLOCH T., and SACKS R. Comparing machine learning and rule-based inferencing for semantic enrichment of BIM models. Automation in Construction, 2018, 91: 256–272.

BLOCH T., and SACKS R. Clustering Information Types for Semantic Enrichment of Building Information Models to Support Automated Code Compliance Checking. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 2020, 34: 04020040. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000922.

LOCATELLI M., SEGHEZZI E., PELLEGRINI L., TAGLIABUE L.C., & DI GIUDA G.M. Exploring Natural Language Processing in Construction and Integration with Building Information Modeling: A Scientometric Analysis. Buildings, 2021, 11(12): 583. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11120583

OSCAR L.H., CERQUEIRA L.C., CUNHA P.H., and QUALHARINI E.L. Generative design in civil construction: a case study in Brazil. Frontiers in Built Environment, 2023, 9: 1150767. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1150767

YIGITCANLAR T., DESOUZA K.C., BUTLER L., & ROOZKHOSH F. Contributions and Risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Building Smarter Cities: Insights from a Systematic Review of the Literature. Energies, 2020, 13(6): 1473. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13061473

TURNER C., OYEKAN J., STERGIOULAS L., & GRIFFIN D. Utilizing Industry 4.0 on the Construction Site: Challenges and Opportunities. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2021, 17: 746-756. https://doi.org/10.1109/TII.2020.3002197.

ELGHAISH F., MATARNEH S., EDWARDS D., POUR RAHIMIAN F., EL-GOHARY H., & EJOHWOMU O. Applications of Industry 4.0 digital technologies towards a construction circular economy: gap analysis and conceptual framework. Construction Innovation, 2022, 22: 647-670. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-03-2022-0062.

OWOLABI S., ODUNLADE O., & AMOSUN O. Corporate social responsibility and earnings per share of oil and gas companies in Nigeria. International Journal of Accounting, Finance and Risk Management, 2022, 7(2): 56. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijafrm.20220702.14

XIE W., DENG B., YIN Y., LV X. and DENG Z. Critical factors influencing cost overrun in construction projects: A fuzzy synthetic evaluation. Buildings, 2022, 12(11): 2028.

ELHEGAZY H., ZHANG J., AMOUDI O., ZAKI J., YAHIA M., EID M., & MAHDI I. An Exploratory Study on the Impact of the Construction Industry on Climate Change. Journal of Industrial Integration and Management, 2022, 09(02). https://doi.org/10.1142/S2424862222500282.

WANG B., YUAN J., & GHAFOOR K. Research on Construction Cost Estimation Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology. Scalable Computing: Practice and Experience, 2021, 22(2): 93-104. https://doi.org/10.12694/scpe.v22i2.1868.

HANAFI M.H., ZHEN M. O., & RAZAK A.A. Contractors’ Perspective on the Main Factors Influencing On-Site Labour Productivity: A Focus on Malaysian Infrastructure Projects. International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology, 2021, 12(1): 68-78. https://doi.org/10.30880/ijscet.2021.12.01.007.

EBRAHIMI S., FAYEK A.R., & SUMATI V. Hybrid Artificial Intelligence HFS-RF-PSO Model for Construction Labor Productivity Prediction and Optimization. Algorithms, 2021, 14(7): 214. https://doi.org/10.3390/a14070214

JANG J., AHN S., CHA S.H., CHO K., KOO, & KIM T.W. Toward productivity in future construction: mapping knowledge and finding insights for achieving successful offsite construction projects. Journal of Computational Design and Engineering, 2021, 8(1): 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1093/jcde/qwaa071

LIU T., CHEN L., YANG M., SANDANAYAKE M., MIAO P., SHI Y., & YAP P.-S. Sustainability Considerations of Green Buildings: A Detailed Overview on Current Advancements and Future Considerations. Sustainability, 2022, 14(21):14393. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114393

ADEL M., CHENG Z., & ZHEN L. Integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) with Stick-Built Construction to Implement Digital Construction: A Canadian General Contractor’s Perspective. Buildings, 2022, 12: 1337. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12091337.

KHAIRULZAMAN H. A., & USMAN F. Automation in Civil Engineering Design in Assessing Building Energy Efficiency. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 2018, 7(4.35): 722-727. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.35.23096


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.