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How Bluebeam Streamlined Residential Development for Burmor Construction

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See how Burmor Construction used Bluebeam to improve accuracy, reduce delays and enhance client collaboration

When contractor Burmor Construction needed to accurately price a residential development, Bluebeam was the obvious choice.

Elliot Road is a residential development project comprising 30 new dwellings. It involved clearing an existing site and infilling new homes. To help the team coordinate the project effectively, Burmor used Bluebeam.

The tool provided huge time savings during both design and construction. During design, it made the process of measuring the different elements of the project very easy, and in construction it helped the project team and client to make faster decisions.

Designing with digital tools

Sam Harwin, senior quantity surveyor at Burmor, had been using Bluebeam for several years. When he joined the company, it was something he was keen to roll out.

“One of the biggest benefits is that it makes measurement so easy to do,” Harwin said. “That helps us to accurately price our jobs and order the right number of materials. We try to do everything digitally, and then export the measurements to Microsoft Excel to build the bill of quantities.”

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As well as improving measurement, Bluebeam helped speed up design and reduce costs. For example, the team no longer needed to print multiple large drawings and complete markups by hand, which is time consuming and runs the risk of mistakes. This has led to a reduction in paper usage and has removed the need to purchase expensive printers. The team has even been able to reduce the size of its workspace.

Using software on site

During construction Bluebeam also helped the team to work on the project remotely, increasing approval speeds and avoiding delays.

Harwin said: “We had an issue on site when we cleared some vegetation. We found a boundary wall that was damaged. Instead of the client having to come to site and look before deciding, we digitally marked up the drawing, added a comment to explain what we’d found and then attached some photos. 

“This was all added to an email, with the client able to respond that day,” Harwin said. “In the past, something like that might have delayed a decision by up to a week, potentially causing a knock-on effect with other tasks.”

Increasing business efficiency

Using tools like Bluebeam is part of a wider strategy at Burmor to use technology to improve efficiencies.

“Like most businesses, we utilize Office 365 and OneDrive for our projects, with secure folders set up to share the latest documentation with clients and our supply chain partners,” Harwin said. “We’ve just started using drones to carry out site surveys too, allowing us to quickly review project progress.”

“While these are all useful, you also need tools that are specific to construction. Bluebeam is very versatile. It’s easy to use, is always up to date with the latest versions of documents and helps us to visually explain projects to our clients.”

“For example, we had to move some doors early in the design. It was easy to markup the drawing during the meeting, with the client able to decide there and then.”

Benefits for small contractors

To achieve benefits of any new software, construction businesses need to ensure they invest time and effort into the rollout process, according to Harwin.

“My advice to SMEs is that no matter what size you are, there is software that can help,” Harwin said. “Many construction businesses are doing the same thing and have similar needs—it might just be that for an SME this is on a smaller scale.” “We have found that software empowers smaller businesses to deliver work themselves that in the past they have had to go elsewhere for. We showed a bricklayer how to use Bluebeam’s measurement tool to help calculate the number of bricks they needed. Traditionally, they may have asked for QS support or discussed drawings with the architect, but they can do that themselves now using tools like Bluebeam.”

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Why Water Management Is Among Construction’s Most Pressing Issues

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The construction sector uses a lot of water, not least in the manufacture of essential materials like concrete and mortar. As the world confronts a looming climate crisis, what does the industry need to do to manage its water usage more effectively when delivering the homes and other buildings society needs?

As well as one of life’s “essentials,” water is a crucial element in a variety of industrial processes, not least construction.

To the casual observer, the only visible evidence of construction site water use might be a worker hosing down a truck full of construction waste to prevent the escape of dust.

But lots of water is used in many aspects of construction and in a variety of ways.

Amid a climate change crisis and the increasing threat – and instance – of drought, the sector is looking at ways to improve water efficiency in construction projects, as well as doing more to source what it does use responsibly while striving to minimize waste and leaks.

How much water is used in construction?

According to the Construction Products Association, water is used throughout the construction lifecycle, from extracting raw materials to construction product manufacturing, throughout the building phase, and obviously once buildings have been completed and are occupied.

And when a building has reached the end of its useful life and is set to be demolished, water is used in that process too, not least to reduce the spread of dust and other debris into the air.

The CPA goes on to say that manufacturers of construction products rely on water across a broad spectrum of uses. Water, it says, “can serve as a lubricant, a cleaning agent, a sealant, a heat transfer medium, a solvent, an air pollution control medium, plus an array of other uses depending on the material and products being produced.”

Crucially, water is used in the manufacture of mortar and cement concrete, materials that have their own issues when it comes to energy efficiency and their environmental impact.

According to the journal Nature Sustainability, in 2012 concrete production was responsible for 9% of global industrial water withdrawals and 1.7% of total global water withdrawal.

The UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings reckons that up to 8,000 liters (2,113 gallons) of water may be included in mixtures and materials as construction of an average-sized new-build home proceeds, although this varies depending on the design.

The importance of water management during construction activity

Water is clearly a crucial component of construction activity. Consequently, its sourcing, storage, use and eventual disposal need to be managed effectively.

With mounting pressure on existing water supplies amid threats of droughts and other climate change-related events, having a construction water management plan in place is a must.

There is plenty of information available to the construction sector covering how to use – and conserve – water during project delivery.

In the UK, the Construction Leadership Council has drawn up water management guidance that asserts the need “to improve the efficiency of water use on construction sites through better planning and management … and to encourage consideration of environmental risks associated with construction activities.”

The CLC said its ultimate aim was to eliminate the demand and use of potable water in construction. “It is unlikely that water demand can be eliminated, but efforts can be made to reduce and use alternative sources, as well as reuse water for construction activities,” it added.

Once a project’s water needs have been identified, alternative sources should be planned for, with a metered potable supply available as backup.

The CLC calls for a water use hierarchy to be put in place, addressing – in descending order – the elimination of unnecessary water use; consideration of alternatives to potable water, such as rain and “grey” water; reduced use; and the reuse and recycling of water.

Effective water management is a group effort

The Water Conservancy organization encourages water conservation at every stage of a construction project, from design to planning and the construction process itself.

It also highlights the importance of involving the people tasked with delivering a scheme in the water use goals.

It is important, it says, to establish water conservation as a key objective of the project and ensure that everyone involved is aware of their responsibilities.

The Water Conservancy adds that induction training should be provided for new employees and contractors “so that they are also aware of their responsibilities and the benefits of the program,” while the project’s water management plan needs to be kept on-site to “ensure that all employees are aware of and have access to it.”

Water management needed to be discussed at regular meetings, the Water Conservancy says, with ongoing achievements monitored.

And in a nod toward the benefits of highlighting good practice, it adds: “Promote your successes with press releases to local media and industry associations.”

What are the rules and regulations around water consumption?

There are several areas of regulation covering water and the built environment, although these are focused on the degree to which water is used – and saved – once a development has been completed.

The mayor of London’s office spells out how agencies in London and adjoining regional and local planning authorities will work to “protect and conserve water supplies and resources in order to secure London’s needs in a sustainable manner.”

It stipulates that development should minimize the use of mains water by incorporating water-saving measures and equipment and by designing residential development so that mains water consumption would meet a target of 105 liters (28 gallons) or less per head per day.

There will also be support for sustainable water supply infrastructure in new developments as part of water companies’ water resource management plans.

How to reduce water consumption in construction: Now and in the future

While construction is improving water usage, designers of the homes and other buildings society needs will be creating them with water efficiencies in mind.

Planning authorities want limits of 125 liters (33 gallons) of water per person per day on new housing developments as part of the Building Regulations Part G and can demand a lower limit of 110 liters (29 gallons) as part of a planning condition.

The water footprint of a new home or office can be reduced considerably by thoughtful design.

Showers can replace baths, or baths can be designed to be more water efficient. Dual flush toilets are becoming the norm, while rainwater collection, via a water butt system, can replace tap water for most outside uses. Meanwhile, appropriate landscaping can protect homes from flooding – another consequence of climate change – and prevent wasteful water run-off.

With the world on the brink of a full-blown climate crisis, water efficiency in construction must be addressed. The sector is no doubt fully aware that it makes good environmental – and business – sense to tackle the water issue sooner rather than later.

Can Construction Be Completely Emissions-Free? Norway Aims To Find Out

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Dark Sky Bluebeam

How DarkSky Standards Combat Light Pollution and Protect the Night Sky

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DarkSky International, an education, advocacy and conservation organization protecting the night sky, approves new luminary standards, lighting programs and policy language

At one time, nightfall plunged our ancestors into darkness and let them marvel at celestial objects in an inky sky. But in recent times, our ability to alter natural light levels has advanced to the point that stars, planets and galaxies are fading from view. Of the 2,500 stars that should be visible, the typical American suburbanite can see only a few hundred.

Instead of starlight, the night is filled with streetlights, spotlights, stadium lights, neon signs, billboards and parking lot towers—all contributing to light pollution, defined by National Geographic as the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor light. Light pollution damages human health, alters wildlife behavior and wastes energy and money as light blazes when and where it’s not needed. The result is glare that blinds drivers, light trespass that disturbs sleep, eerie orange skyglow over metro areas and confusing and garish groupings reminiscent of Times Square.

Until light is policed in the same way as air, water and land pollution, it falls to architects, engineers and designers to select lighting systems that perform their function while still preserving the night sky—with the help of manufacturers whose fixtures meet the specs for responsible lighting and governments that support policies to protect darkness.

“I think people are understanding the urgency of lighting design, because it’s become more and more difficult to see a clear night sky from anywhere,” said James Brigagliano, lighting program manager at DarkSky International.

The harmful effects of too much light

Light where it doesn’t belong disrupts the night and day rhythm encoded in the DNA of all animals and plants. That impacts behaviors from feeding and sleep to reproducing and evading predators.

Human circadian rhythms are attuned to outdoor light during the day and darkness at night. Breaking that cycle with artificial light increases the risk for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes and other diseases, according to research reported in Environmental Health Perspectives.

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For wildlife, prey use darkness as cover and predators use light to hunt, so illumination dramatically alters the environment and the odds. For instance, newborn sea turtles need to turn toward the ocean and safety after hatching on the beach, but often they’re confounded by light on shore. Birds that migrate or hunt at night are lured by brightly lit cities and veer from their flight patterns. And after dark, the insects that birds depend on are drawn to burning bulbs and their deadly heat.

Worse still, lights are often pointless, adding economic waste to ecosystem harm. DarkSky International estimates that at least 30% of all outdoor lighting in the United States serves no purpose and is emitted by lights that don’t have shields to prevent spillage. Wasting light costs $33 billion each year and uses about 120 terawatt-hours of energy—enough to meet New York City’s electricity needs for two years. Quality outdoor lighting could cut energy use by 60% to 70%, saving billions of dollars and reducing carbon emissions. But that depends on lighting responsibly.

Five principles for responsible outdoor lighting

DarkSky and the Illuminating Engineering Society jointly published the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting to prevent and reduce light pollution. Designing new projects or retrofits using the principles can create beautiful, functional, healthy lighting that minimizes harmful effects and saves energy and money.

  1. Useful: If it’s not serving a function, you shouldn’t have it.

Identify the purpose of lighting and its impact on everything in the vicinity, including wildlife and habitats.

  • Targeted: Aim light so it falls only where it’s needed.

Direct and shield light beams so they point down and don’t spill outside the area being lit.

  • Low level: Light should be no brighter than necessary.

Use only the light required and make sure nearby surfaces don’t reflect light and create excess.

  • Controlled: Use light only when it’s needed.

Install motion detectors, dimmers and timers to allow only the minimum light needed available at any time.

  • Warm-colored: Use warmer-color lights where possible.

Cut back on shorter wavelength light (blue-violet) to the least amount needed.

New standards, programs and policies to bring back the night

The DarkSky Approved program provides objective, third-party certification for lighting design,  products and installed projects that reduce light pollution. Designers can search products by manufacturer, use, retailer, light temperature and residential use. Project standards fulfill requirements for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification as well, but requirements continually evolve based on new information.

“We’re cutting down on what we allow for high-angle lighting—from 90 to 80 degrees,” Brigagliano said. “So now we’re allowing only 1% of the total light output of a fixture to be between 80 and 180 degrees. There’s no benefit to light between 80 to 90 degrees and the new cutoff will help reduce uplight and sky glow.”

DarkSky Approved programs now include pedestrian lighting as well as sea turtles, sports venues and lodging. The new program addresses glare from light fixtures used in areas like campuses where people need lower-level lighting for safety at night.

“We also have wildlife-tuned luminaries, with subcategories like sea turtles,” Brigagliano said. “That’s needed because different species have different sensitivities to wavelengths. However, if we control brightness and shield the light source, we’ve taken care of much of the issue and the color of light is less important.”

In addition, DarkSky recently released an updated and simplified model policy that was written to make it easy for states and municipalities to adopt. “Just a little bit of improvement is better than none,” Brigagliano noted.

Every place a dark sky place

The International Dark Sky Places program certifies areas worldwide that preserve and protect darkness through responsible lighting policies and public education. Not all are remote parks and sanctuaries—a neighborhood or city can earn recognition as a Dark Sky Community or Urban Night Sky Place if residents are committed to a healthful and beautiful night.

“Anywhere where there’s a DarkSky-approved place, there’s been a fair amount of dark sky conceptual lighting design,” Brigagliano said. That work may soon be required as part of state or local regulations. At least 19 states and a number of municipalities have laws in place to reduce light pollution.

To be ready, architects, engineers and designers must recognize that light can be a pollutant—and balance providing light with protecting the dark.

Hero image courtesy Mark Eichenberger

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Volcano Dome Hawaii Bluebeam

These Two Friends Built a Viral Off-Grid Volcano Retreat in the Heart of Hawaii

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The unique retreat offers an extraordinary experience in a custom-built volcano-inspired structure. Go inside.

Friendship can take you to surprising places. For Cassandra Dalla Riva and Karen Lee, two best friends who post online about their experiences with do-it-yourself, off-grid construction on their shared Instagram profile, a chance meeting on vacation ended in the two creating a truly unique building, nestled away in the lush Hawaiian jungle.

Called “Inn a Volcano,” the fully off-grid luxury property looks just like two miniature volcanos, fully stocked with everything you need to enjoy one of the most unique Airbnb experiences on the Big Island. Built spoke to Dalla Riva and Lee about the story behind the building of the fascinating structure.

Two adventurers unite

Dalla Riva and Lee met on vacation. “We met five years ago on a vacation in Oahu one night and instantly clicked,” Dalla Riva said. “We have been friends since then.”

The two immediately bonded over their shared lust for life. “Dalla Riva and I have all these crazy adventures, like going to pole camp in turkey and CalEarth to learn how to build a hurricane shelter,” Lee said.

Dalla Riva agreed. “We’re all over the place, bringing our wildest ideas to each other and meeting them with support. So when we saw the OMG!Fund contest, I knew I had to reach out to Lee to collaborate to brainstorm ideas together.”

Dalla Riva had moved to Hawaii’s Big Island in 2019, building a tiny house on land that’s currently home to the volcano. Idly exploring the internet one afternoon, she saw a structure that sparked her interest. “We were looking through the OMG category on Airbnb and I saw a dirt-looking dome that somewhat resembled a volcano, so that’s where the idea originated,” she said.

In 2022, Airbnb hosted a contest to give 10 lucky winners $100,000 to bring their most awe-inspiring ideas to life. “We had entered a bunch of ideas together and separately, but I think because the volcano was harmonious with Hawaii’s landscape, the volcano village and the volcano national park, it made it an easy choice for Airbnb to choose this idea,” Lee said.

As Dalla Riva explained in an Instagram caption, “I told my boss I had won $100,000 and he was like ‘Sure you did. It’s probably a scam.’ But once that first $33,000 direct deposit hit, we got to work!”

Learning on the job

Dalla Riva and Lee didn’t have any kind of construction experience—but they had a vision. To successfully execute their plans, the duo went to Hesperia, California, to attend a workshop at the CalEarth Institute, whose mission is instructing students in sustainable and accessible forms of what they call Earth Architecture.

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“When we got back, we also reached out to Mark Hansen, who had built a permitted dome in Hawaii over 10 years ago, via letter,” Dalla Riva said. “He graciously gave us his cindercrete recipe and lessons on how to build in the rainforest,” Lee continued. “There wasn’t anything traditional about him, but his tradition of spreading sandalwood and knowledge of earth bagging gave us huge inspiration in creating the volcano.”

From that point on, it was up to them to leverage their new knowledge as effectively as they could. “I’ve never built anything in my life before the volcano,” Lee explained. “We learned on the job and had to redo things two, three or even four times over,” Dalla Riva said.

“Once the direct deposit hit, we hired an excavator operator to clear the land,” she said. “We had to bring in nearly 300 tons of rock before we hired masons to pour the foundation. Then, we did the first two layers of earthbags ourselves, with the help of friends, before we realized how much more help we would need.”

“Surprisingly, the earth bagging only took us eight weeks compared to the six months of finishing work,” Lee said. There were plenty of setbacks along the way. “We got scammed, we ran out of money and we didn’t finish in time,” Lee said. “At almost every step, it seemed like we made a mistake and had to do things over and over again,” Dalla Riva added. “Doing things for the first time is always the hardest.”

All’s well that ends well

After all their hard work, the duo was able to create a truly memorable structure—one that has captured and improved upon their original vision.

Dalla Riva said her favorite aspects of the finished volcano include “the lava lamps, the bathtub, the moss mirror, the candle niches, the comforter—I could go on.” Lee agreed, adding that the lava floor, rainbow crystals, bean bag, wood accents and the skylights are her favorite things about the dome.

Lee said that for her, the most memorable part of the structure was all the work and hours she and Dalla Riva put in to create it. “I loved all the literal blood, sweat and tears it took within us when earth bagging,” she said. “It felt religious and holy. It was spiritual so that this replicated the history of architecture.”

The volcano is in the top 10% of homes on Airbnb, Lee said, and has been getting lots of love on the internet as well. “We have had a couple Instagram reels go viral,” Dalla Riva said, while Lee added that the public response to the structure has been “mostly good.”

So, what’s next for the duo? “We are going to build another volcano!” they both enthused. “On the next build, I have a specific floor paper in mind in front of the heart-shaped bathtub,” Lee said. “What floor paper?” asked Dalla Riva.

And with that they were off dreaming of another unique and creative structure that will set the internet talking and create one-of-a-kind memories for visitors from all around the world.

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Agile Building in Construction

How Technology Transforms Adaptive Reuse and Retrofitting in Construction

  • Innovation
The integration of advanced technologies in construction is essential to overcoming the challenges of adaptive reuse and retrofitting projects

Renovations, retrofits and adaptive reuse projects are complex, and real-time coordination is critical as hidden structural problems or unexpected code compliance issues can crop up with no warning. But that collaboration and coordination hasn’t always been easy. Not that long ago, stakeholders were relying on countless physical drafts and outdated sketches to weigh the pros and cons of potential designs and solutions.

Today, technology is increasingly playing a leading role in these deliberations, allowing teams to work more efficiently. With it, architects, engineers, contractors, building owners and occupants can take advantage of a seamless exchange of technical expertise and innovative ideas that can drive a project forward.

Together, they can work in-person or virtually to collaborate on comprehensive risk assessments, mitigation strategies or quality assurance measures, for example. Document management and version control ensures everybody is looking at the same information.

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Here’s how technology can support adaptive reuse, retrofit and resilient design projects.

BIM

Building information modeling (BIM) captures the current conditions of existing buildings, allowing stakeholders to visualize and simulate various future scenarios for planning and design purposes. With it, users can assess different structures, systems and components to refine and improve on designs.

Energy Modeling

Energy modeling simulates a building’s potential energy use. It lets stakeholders assess the lifecycle cost of various materials, designs and plans so they can consider the long-term financial implications of each design to make informed decisions.

Overall Environmental Analysis

A comprehensive environmental analysis of a building and its future design uncovers a range of data—from calculating potential carbon emissions and energy use to examining its indoor comfort and air quality and helping to reuse and conserve building materials.

Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis

Indoor environmental quality analysis evaluates buildings and designs for air quality, thermal comfort and daylighting. The tools help stakeholders enhance a building’s indoor comfort.

Smart Building and IoT Integration Platforms

Smart building technology, typically integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, allows for real-time monitoring of building performance, energy consumption and occupant behavior. Incorporating smart HVAC and lighting controls, for example, into renovations or adaptive reuse projects allows for the remote monitoring and management of energy use to ensure it’s always optimized.

Green Rating Systems

The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry doesn’t need to start from scratch as it moves forward on retrofit, adaptive reuse and resilient design projects. Globally, green building rating systems and performance certifications set performance metrics and requirements to ensure projects meet globally accepted practices.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED): The worldwide certification encourages adaptive reuse projects that rely on using existing building resources or demonstrate a reduction in materials. LEED for Operations and Maintenance encourages retrofitting projects that improve energy performance and incorporate energy-efficient systems.

WELL Building Standard: The global performance-based system, which can be used for both new and existing buildings, measures how buildings impact occupant health, considering seven factors—air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.

BREEAM: The global sustainability assessment calculates how well buildings meet sustainability goals and will perform in the future.

Energy Star Certification: The US Environmental Protection Agency program encourages the use of energy-saving strategies.

Green Star Certification: The Australia-based rating system sets standards for buildings that aim to reduce the impact on climate change and restore and protect biodiversity and ecosystems.

Future forward

As the construction industry continues to evolve, the integration of advanced technologies has become essential in addressing the unique challenges of adaptive reuse and retrofitting projects. By leveraging tools like BIM, energy modeling and smart building technologies, stakeholders can optimize project outcomes, ensuring that both current and future needs are met with precision and sustainability in mind.

The seamless collaboration enabled by these technologies not only improves efficiency but also enhances decision-making, allowing for more informed choices that benefit both the environment and building occupants.

Looking ahead, the role of technology in the AEC industry will only become more prominent, as the demand for resilient, sustainable and adaptive design solutions grows. By adopting these innovative tools and adhering to global green building standards, the industry can lead the way in creating buildings that are not only functional and efficient but also contribute positively to the environment and the communities they serve.

As a result, technology is not just a tool for today but a cornerstone for the future of construction.

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Bluebeam AI

How AI Is Shaping the Future of Infrastructure Construction

  • Innovation
Learn about the impact of AI on job security, data protection and industry practices from leading experts in the infrastructure and construction technology sector

It’s not a question whether the artificial intelligence revolution will continue. It’s a matter of how AI trends will shape the future of the infrastructure industry. With it comes many questions about job security, data security and how to capitalize on this emerging technology while protecting your business interests.

Roads & Bridges’ panel, Getting Ready for AI: A Panel Discussion with Engineering and Technology Leaders, recently brought together experts from consulting engineering firms and software vendors to discuss the topic.

In the panel moderated by Jalpesh Patel, then business development manager of infrastructure for ALLPLAN (he now serves as Industry Development Manager – Infrastructure at Bluebeam), three experts explored the most pressing questions about AI in infrastructure and how they see it shaping the industry’s future.

Defining AI

Before diving into how AI will transform the infrastructure industry, Patel asked the panelists to define AI.

“AI, in a general sense, is about developing software or machines that have something that appears to be human-like intelligence or can do things that humans would typically be required to do in the software space,” said Terry Walters, the digital delivery evangelist at Maldelo and founder and chief architect at RoadCADdie.ai. “Essentially, it means making software that can learn in some fashion and then use that learning to solve new problems.”

While AI feels brand-new, its beginnings date to the 1950s, when several developers built applications that could learn how to play checkers, Walters explained. From the 1960s to the 2000s, AI’s growth was steady and flat until increasing in the 2010s until today, when it has become a part of most people’s lives.

“AI represents a new toolset and a new capability,” said Don Jacob, the chief innovation officer at Bluebeam. “We’ve recognized the application of the tool is important, but we are focusing on how we help people get projects done better, get the world built better, sustainably in cost and under schedule.”

Eduardo Lazzarotto, the chief product and strategy officer at ALLPLAN, sees AI as a co-pilot to assist and automate what people are doing—not replace them.

“One of the first questions that users and the industry in general have to ask themselves is how do they see the future of AI?” he said. “And what do they want that solution to deliver within their current workforce?”

Prioritizing security and teamwork

According to Walters, the explosion and proliferation of AI tools, especially free tools, are driving companies to shift the allocation of resources and capital.

“People are becoming more efficient because they’ve started to adopt these tools,” Walters said. “They’re either able to get more done or focus on the things that AI still isn’t good at. The important thing though is the security piece, especially when folks are going out to publicly available tools and [inputting] privately contained information.”

Experimenting with AI is the first step, but Jacob said the critical next step is “explainable AI,” which are tools and methods designed to help people understand the results of machine learning. Specifically, these tools are going to be essential with what Jacob calls mission-critical scenarios where human life is at stake.

“Being able to understand why the machine gave you the answer is going to be something very important for us,” he said.

Lazzarotto added that getting to this point is going to require teamwork and collaboration.

“We are always trying to integrate with other solutions to make sure the client has the workflow that they feel is right,” he said. “We’re not trying to force them into a certain aspect of using technology.”

Using AI in the AEC industry

When Walters worked on a recent Texas Department of Transportation project, he generated a “frequently asked questions” document with AI because he had a large amount of data from numerous stakeholders. AIenabled him to condense columns of information from a spreadsheet in 20 minutes instead of several hours. He has also seen AI used in grading, mechanical engineering and circuit design in electrical engineering.

“AI will be one of the most important technologies we have developed, and it will impact us in ways we can’t yet understand,” Walters said. “It’s kind of like trying to guess what the internet was going to become in the 1990s.”

In addition to consolidating text, Jacob sees significant opportunity with AI’s ability to synthesize information across different data types including text, semi-structured data, graphics, drawings, models, photos, video and audio.

“I think that is a real opportunity [to be able to apply] all the structured, semi-structured, and different types of data and see how it is being applied across other industries,” Jacob said. “I also want to underline that this is going to take all of us in the industry coming together as we go into this season of innovation with AI.”

As with every technology and tool that has come from AI, quality is essential. AI tools will only be as good as the information used to “train” it.

“Great AI comes from great data,” Lazzarotto said. “More than ever, we need to remind the whole AEC/O industry that today’s data is still locked within files, workflows or processes that need to be open.”

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