These tech companies offer benefits to all players in the offsite industry.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology allows builders, developers, factories and investors to rapidly, and dramatically change how they run operations. There are a growing number of construction-specific, AI-enabled and AI-enhanced software tools, software systems and data manipulation companies, but a lot of Offsite Builder readers will not have heard of them.
This month I want to offer a list of AI solution companies and AI construction software companies that I think are most useful to this industry. Of course, AI is rapidly evolving, and companies come and go, but I want to show what’s currently available.
It’s important to remember that the AI programs used by most businesses — including builders, developers and offsite manufacturers — will fall into two categories.
1. Generative AI (Gen AI). This is an AI that generates something like a piece of art or a video of Chief Sitting Bull in a new Pontiac.
2. Large Language Model (LLM). This AI learns language in order to ‘talk’ with you. As the name implies, LLMs are very large models (billions of parameters) that are pre-trained on vast amounts of data and learn even more.
LLMs are used for chatbots, interactive answering systems with voice commands, summarizing documents, translating languages and completing sentences. LLMs are already disrupting content creation and the way people use search engines and virtual assistants.
AI Solution Providers
For most companies, the most time and cost-effective way to choose and use AI programs that best meet their needs is to subcontract the work to a solution provider.
A solution provider is an essential partner that will work with you to ensure you get the most from your AI efforts. This company will help you define your goals, write queries to use with the AI Platform and interpret the results, as well as the strategy needed to implement those results. It will keep abreast of the latest AI offerings and will ensure that you use the right ones.
Three solution providers serving the construction industry are highlighted below.
BuilderChain offers custom AI solutions to all segments of residential construction. It has access to some of the most sophisticated AI platforms available. (www.builderchain.io)
DataBricks is best for factories and builders or developers who have a lot of data. This company can provide data manipulation, calculation and analysis. (www.databricks.com)
Snowflake offers a wide range of custom AI solutions. They have produced a free book, Generative AI and LLMs that can be downloaded from their website. (www.snowflake.com)
AI Construction Software Systems
Merlin is a construction-specific full project management platform that’s very strong on offsite construction. Its AI can optimize most aspects of operations, from project planning and financial management to inventory control and sales enablement. The learning curve is especially easy. (www.merlinai.co)
Digs’ new integration of AI technology includes AskDigs, an AI concierge. This tool enhances the build process by providing instant, detailed responses to questions related to product information, installation decisions, specifications, warranties and more using natural language processing. Digs’ AI will also produce a perfectly scaled 3D view of a project from 2D pdf floor plans. Digs was recently chosen from more than 200 applicants as a finalist for The Best of IBS Award in the “Best Business Solution Software” category. (www.digs.com)
ClickUp helps construction teams work more efficiently by addressing construction management challenges such as AI-powered scheduling. (www.clickup.com)
OpenSpace manages preconstruction data analysis. It uses a cutting-edge visual documentation platform driven by AI, which can capture and seamlessly merge jobsite photographs into in-depth, 360-degree walkthroughs. It’sOpenSpace 360° reality capture (via a phone or video camera) is an easy way to document, understand and take action on your jobsite. (www.openspace.ai)
Procore is a highly functional management tool with more than 1.6 million users in more than 125 countries. It works well for construction project management, providing a single platform that handles communication, scheduling, document control and budgeting. (www.procore.com)
Fusion 360from Autodesk completely changes the way computer-aided design (CAD) is practiced. It’s unique in that it incorporates AI-powered tools into the CAD process to improve design accuracy and productivity. (www.autodesk.com)
Fieldwire’s sophisticated algorithms allow real-time data aggregation from multiple sources, providing thorough insights into project performance. Project teams can visualize trends and anomalies using sophisticated reporting capabilities. This facilitates faster, more informed decision making. (www.fieldwire.com)
PlanSwift’s estimation tool completely rethinks planning efficiency and accuracy. Its dedication to process optimization is demonstrated by its remarkable 92% reduction in construction takeoff time. Sophisticated algorithms enable accurate measurement of quantities and dimensions straight from digital floor layouts. This reduces project costs and optimizes resource allocation by eliminating manual errors and speeding up the estimation process. (www.planswift.com)
DroneDeploy transforms the way construction sites are logged and examined by utilizing artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) capabilities. With the help of its AI algorithms, high-resolution 2D maps and 3D models can be easily created, giving construction sites and their changing environments a thorough and accurate portrayal. (www.dronedeploy.com)
ViAct can identify safety issues with 97% accuracy, guaranteeing a safe working environment. The software’s real-time monitoring features are driven by sophisticated computer vision algorithms, exposing possible threats and plan deviations. It provides a full and immersive view of progress through a combination of live camera feeds with 3D models. (www.viact.ai)
AI Clearing uses AI to track and manage construction progress. It provides real-time insights into building sites by utilizing sophisticated computer vision and machine learning algorithms. It uses drone data and/or digital data to execute automated, advanced 4D geospatial analytics. (www.aiclearing.com)
AVEVA Insight uses AI to maximize industrial operations’ performance. It enables real-time, data-driven decision making by utilizing state-of-the-art AI-driven analytics and predictive maintenance algorithms. This increases efficiency and minimizes downtime. (www.aveva.com)
Erik Cofield, VP of Strategy at MerlinAI (www.merlinai.co), has nearly 30 years of experience helping companies in residential construction. He has provided consulting services to builders, developers, remodelers, and construction companies of all sizes and types, and can be reached at [email protected].
