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Dive brief:
- A recently published report highlights the impact that the growing field of artificial intelligence is having on the architecture, engineering and construction industries.
- The survey, conducted in July and based on 400 technology leaders at AEC companies in the US, UK, Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, found that nearly three-quarters—74%— of AEC companies. overall they are using AI in one or more phases of their construction projects.
- Implementation is particularly prevalent in the design and planning phases of construction, with nearly half of AEC firms surveyed using AI for design (48%) and planning (42%) specifically, according to the report from Pasadena, Calif.-based AEC software developer Bluebeam. .
Diving knowledge:
The survey also found that companies are willing to invest in technology. Within companies using AI, 55% agree that it has become very important, with more than 70% now allocating up to 25% of their technology budget to the technology. This will increase as 84% of respondents said they plan to increase their investment in AI over the next five years.
However, more than half (54%) of those using AI are concerned about the regulation of AI, and of those, 44% say these concerns have an impact on the implementation of AI in their companies.
It also found that AEC companies face significant obstacles in driving greater technology adoption and digitization. A third reported the lack of training and skills development of its employees as a key challenge to increasing digitization. Other barriers include integration (27%) and technical (26%) issues.
These challenges continue to prevent AEC firms from eliminating physical paper-based documents from the construction process, with 72% still using paper during one or more phases of the building lifecycle. Of the companies that continue to rely on paper, 46% cited the need for physical signatures or approvals as the main reason for continuing to use outdated paper processes.
Source: Bluebeam AEC Technology Outlook 2025
Permission granted by Bluebeam
While the potential of AI in construction is significant, several obstacles hinder its full adoption, according to Angus Frost, senior IT consultant at Chicago-based Burger Consulting Group. These include high cost, the need for skilled personnel, data privacy concerns and resistance to change within the industry.
Many US contractors are using AI-based tools to help streamline work in a number of ways, including tracking specifications, contracts and other documentsfor project management and provide security monitoring and analysis.
