Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Performance Improvement and Smart Site Solutions for Safety

The new wave of Generative AI is transforming the world. We can now access a vast amount of information by just inputting a few questions to the machine, something that was once thought of as science fiction. The proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to reshape the way we work, and it would be difficult for the construction industry and its practitioners to distance themselves from the world of AI.

The industry is already familiarising itself with the use of advanced tools and highly productive construction methods, and the trend will be for AI to integrate deeply into the construction industry. We need to focus on infusing AI into all stages of the construction lifecycle to boost digitalisation and intelligence, and harness the power of AI to take site safety, quality planning, and productivity to the next level.

Smart Site Safety System (SSSS) Combines AI and Real-time Data to Ensure Safety

Supported by AI, Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based technology, the Smart Site Safety System (SSSS) collects real-time project data and transmits it to the one-stop management platform on site, giving the project team an instant overview of the entire site situation and facilitating accurate decision-making. This reduces safety risks, accurately estimates costs and streamlines workflows. Artificial intelligence can also assist in planning tasks and optimising the allocation of labour and resources, enhancing managerial decision-making for efficient and cost-effective outcomes. It can accelerate progress and improve productivity, and brings about new approaches to work practice.

Integrated Use of Technologies to Accelerate Efficiency and Safety

Safety is never a one-man job, but requires concerted efforts of the entire industry to put it into practice. There are currently dozens of technologies used on smart sites, many of which are AI-powered and highly effective.

AI-powered cameras and sensors are used to monitor and alert workers and site management to potential safety hazards on site. Construction projects such as the first phase of the residential development above Kam Sheung Road Station and the Central Kowloon Route project are examples of how the use of multiple technologies can be fully integrated into design, construction and operation. Wearable devices for workers, such as smart helmets and smart watches, improve work efficiency and keep workers up to date with the latest system information. As technology matures, the applications of robotics provide fully automated tasks such as bricklaying, drilling, welding and even 3D printing of building structures to site surveys. The robotic installation system for elevators is able to automate installation steps through digital planning, improving safety of construction environment.

The Tung Chung East Reclamation Project, one of the major government infrastructure initiatives, is in full force and will create over 100 hectares of land. More than 30 innovative technologies are being used in this reclamation project, including “Digital Twins”, which use sensors and various monitoring devices to collect data, integrate site progress, safety and environmental information and present it real time in 3D, 4D or Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. The integration of collaborative process allows construction professionals to monitor the entire construction site in real-time, enables precise decision-making, which would allow targeted adaptation of existing safety measures.

How AI and Big Data Foster a Better Working Environment

Machine Learning is a type of AI that trains machines to learn information and data, detect patterns and find correlations, analyse and make predictions based on them. Big data and AI are closely related, the predictions of data models become more accurate as AI algorithms optimise large amounts of data over time.

The Henderson project is a good example of predictive maintenance in action, which Internet of Things (IoT) sensors installed in a smart building environment continuously monitor various environmental parameters, such as maintain good indoor climate and air quality. AI-driven operation solutions also help to predict failures and manage the office's indoor environment at an early stage.

To promote sustainability, AIRSIDE has implemented an innovative “Automatic Refuse Collection System” in which general waste and recyclables are transferred to the basement plant through waste disposal inlets. The system is equipped with a smart waste management tool that will analyse and share waste data to tenants to engage further waste reduction.

Digitalisation Supports Buildings Through Their Lifecycles

As Kowloon East is starting a new chapter in its development, I have previously visited KTIL240, a commercial development in How Ming Street, Kwun Tong. It is a complex project and the project team acknowledged the necessity to adopt innovative construction solutions such as Building Information Modelling (BIM). The project team used BIM to design the 3D geometric model and produced the components using the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), to reduce on-site construction processes and enhance site safety, resulting in higher productivity. The project team also used laser scanning technology to monitor the construction project's progress. Through its integration with emerging technologies, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) work hand in hand with three-dimensional (3D) sketching to ensure the quality of the construction matches the design. The project is a realisation of CIC's long-standing advocacy of design for safety, constructability and sustainability, contributing to the development of safe building design in Hong Kong.

CITF Adds HK$1.5 million in Funding for Smart Site Safety System (SSSS)

The CIC is pleased to see a wider adoption of construction technology at sites. The Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) has approved a total of about HK$150 million so far to support the industry to leverage safety-related technologies in the industry to achieve the goal of "zero accidents". Construction safety will be significantly enhanced via innovation-and-technology-driven site management if there is a territory-wide adoption of SSSS in over 800 construction sites in Hong Kong.

With effect from 1 April 2023, the total funding ceiling for Construction Information Modelling and Advanced Construction Technologies of each applicant is raised from the current HK$6 million to HK$7.5 million, of which HK$1.5 million shall be exclusively used for the procurement or rental of Smart Site Safety System (SSSS) products. This means that each applicant will be eligible for a maximum of HK$7.5 million in funding for system deployment on the new initiative. This initiative will significantly relieve the financial burden for SSSS adoption by the industry, particularly for the Small-and-Medium Enterprises(SMEs). I encourage the industry to leverage on this opportunity to actively experiment with new technologies and new ways of working practice. 

Satisfied CIC “AI for Construction” Master Class Students

CIC has previously held a Master Class on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Construction, and a series of AI-themed webinars, bringing together top-notch scholars and experts to discuss the application of AI in the construction industry and nurture more AI talents for the industry. The first Master Class in AI for Construction was held in February, covered the fundamentals of AI and its applications in design, construction and operations, equipping participants with knowledge and case studies to accelerate the digitalisation process in the industry. Participants have completed the course in mid-April and their feedback on the faculty, course design and content was very positive. They found the course informative and the speakers knowledgeable about the industry and its needs, and were confident that they could apply the knowledge learned to incorporate AI into various aspects of their projects in the future.

CIC will continue to organise more AI-related activities in the future, including inviting Professor Ma Yi, a renowned scholar in AI and Machine Vision, to give a keynote speech during the “CIC - See What I see" event on 30 May, don’t miss out on this must-attend event!

The future is here, and the construction industry cannot afford to be left out of the new wave of technology. The theme of the promotion campaign “Design for Future, Build for Life”, articulates the importance of integrating the vision of the future with the present. We are not lacking in technology and resources, but greater determination and a long-term vision to utilise artificial intelligence on construction sites in Hong Kong and make our work more professional, intelligent and standardised. Let’s make good use of AI to upgrade and transform our operation models and build a safe working environment for the industry practitioners.