October 2023CONSTRUCTIONTECHREVIEW.COM9of a structure, such as lighting, heating, ventilation, and mechanical systems, so that a completed building can collect real-time data on energy usage and environmental conditions.This data can then be analyzed allowing buildings to optimize energy consumption based on occupancy patterns, weather conditions, and time of day. Then machine learning algorithms can learn from historical data to predict energy demands and adjust the settings, accordingly, resulting in significant energy savings, lower maintenance and operating costs, and improved ROI on systems integration. By creating intelligent systems that automatically respond to environmental changes and occupant behaviors, architects can deliver buildings that are not only sustainable but also provide optimal comfort and operational efficiency. The combination of AI and IoT monitoring, and optimization deployed throughout a building capture data on various parameters, including temperature, humidity, air quality, and structural integrity continuously transmitting to an AI-powered analytics platform, which monitors the building's performance in real-time.Predictive systems through AI algorithms, potential issues or anomalies are quickly detected, enabling proactive maintenance, and minimizing downtime. For instance, if a sensor detects abnormal temperature fluctuations in an HVAC system, AI can automatically trigger a maintenance request before a major failure occurs. This predictive maintenance approach improves the longevity of building systems, reduces repair costs, and enhances the overall safety and reliability of the structure.AI and IoT technologies also play a crucial role in enhancing the comfort and experience of building occupants. By utilizing IoT sensors and AI-powered algorithms, architects can create intelligent buildings that adapt to the needs and preferences of occupants. For example, sensors embedded in a building can collect data on factors such as lighting levels, temperature, and occupancy patterns within a floor, region, or individual area depending on the level of detail an owner wants to monitor. AI algorithms then analyze this data to adjust the environment, accordingly, perfecting lighting levels, temperature, and air quality in real-time based on occupancy loads, tasks, or individual preference. Occupants can also interact with the building through voice-controlled assistants or mobile applications, enabling personalized control over various aspects of their environment.This integration of AI and IoT not only improves the design side and the building occupants experience, but also improves the construction process through materials control, staging, construction staffing improvements, safety, and progress analytics. This can improve response time to in-field changes or unforeseen conditions what heading off delays and errors in the field that can frustrate everyone and reduce profit. Additionally, it can work to manage who is at the job site and where they are and when. This can improve staging of sub-contractors and specialists who may need to be working in advance of other trades. It also helps, should an emergency arise, of knowing where everyone is to aid first responders and reduce liabilities in work-place hazards on a construction site.Materials tracking and analytics also helps reduce theft, quantity overruns, and storage issues on site while also keeping design teams informed of progress and accuracy to design documentation beyond a traditional submittal process. Additionally, automatic ordering of supplies can free up staff to focus on the meat of the work rather than be inventory control.With the good, there is also the potentially bad. Sensors are limited in what they can monitor and report out, often due to internal capacity. Higher processing requires more power and typically a larger sized device. AI integration can aid in this through intelligent data selection based on external inputs making changes in real time beyond their older cousins where limited tasks were fixed to a specific thing and only that thing. Communication between devices, similar or otherwise, can expand this capability but security of that mesh network needs to be accounted for. Integration of blockchain technology can work to shore up any potential interference from bad actors or errant devices that could bring a job site to a halt.Overall, we are seeing this technology grow rapidly with innovative technologies coming out on the market daily. In this next evolution of IoT devices with AI integration, just like the original IoT release, several products will come to market without being fully vetted. It will be a buyer beware scenario until it reaches a maturity level where kinks can be worked out. Until then, I for one and excited at what the future of design and construction holds with this new elevated tool.
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