(Photo: © created by Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handwerk with DALL-E 3)
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Construction sites are the heart of skilled trades. In part 13 of our AI series, we learn how artificial intelligence can improve material flows and the flow of information.
Construction site logistics It encompasses far more than just material transport. It is the backbone of every construction site and the Sum of all processes around material procurement, delivery, Storage:, waste disposal, Machine coordination and the flow of informationEffective construction site logistics determine whether a workday is productive. Materials, personnel, deadlines, and task completion must all work together precisely – and this under constantly changing conditions.
In practice, however, things often look different: The necessary materials are incomplete, arrive late, or are located at another construction site. Tools are missing or defective. Employees are ready but cannot work because materials or tools are lacking, the construction task has changed, or the preparatory work has not yet been completed. This is where KaI could be used.
The construction logistics tasks are very heterogeneous and versatile. However, they can be fundamentally divided into the following categories. Fields of Action to be grouped which can be optimized with KaI.
The Construction site infrastructure Even today, planning is based on experience from completed projects, but only on the experience of the person creating it. With the help of KaI, all existing company data can be accessed, the planning process significantly optimized, and construction site layout plans automatically generated.
Operations management
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Operations management
Currently, construction site layout planning is usually only carried out at the beginning of a project and includes, among other things, the Positioning and size of storage areasConditions on the construction site often change during the course of a project. This is rarely reflected in the use of storage areas. By using Camera systems with integrated AI image capture is it possible to use the current status of storage areas in real time to recognize, but also new storage areas for materials identify and to suggest placement in a process-optimized manner. Thanks to KaI, the planning can be regularly updated and optimized.
AI series and application examples All parts of the AI series can be found in our special issue "Artificial Intelligence in Crafts – an assistant called KaIFurthermore, handwerksblatt.de offers additional articles on AI, such as the online articles "A mighty clever way to communicate" about the voicemail app with AI chatbot from the start-up "meiti", "AI – how craftsmen benefit in their everyday business"Or"ChatGPT: Save time and money with AI" from the theme special "Digital Crafts".
A further area of application by Kai with AI-powered camera systems would be the use of resourcesHere, KaI recognizes which resources are located on the construction site, in what quantity, and at what location. Furthermore, materials can be assigned to specific construction phases, trades, or time windows. This creates a digital replica of the real construction siteThose responsible receive reliable information about what material is available, when it is used, and whether a resupply is necessary.
A further field of action Kai is on the construction site. material handlingCurrently, skilled workers transport materials from the storage area to the point of use. In the future, KaI can take the form of a AI-controlled transport robot KaI can be deployed. The robot autonomously picks up the materials and transports them to their respective delivery points. As a transport vehicle, KaI moves autonomously across the construction site, detects obstacles, adjusts its route, and delivers the material as required. In addition to supply logistics, KaI can also... disposal logistics take over.
Order and cleanliness on the construction site are currently being maintained by regular site inspections This is ensured. Waste contamination such as material residues, packaging waste, or other waste is documented and assigned to the respective polluters for cleanup. In the future, this task can be carried out by AI-powered image capture This will be done automatically.
KaI recognizes the waste, can this document and clearly assignAnd it can assist in monitoring the cleanup. Matching the transport robot, KaI can also function as AI-controlled robot vacuum cleaner They can be used. We usually already have them driving around at home. With the help of camera and sensor systems, they can also continuously remove dust and dirt from construction sites, thus contributing to occupational safety and better working conditions.
The way food is Disposal container They can be intelligently monitored. Instead of checking fill levels during inspections, KaI can visually record the current fill level thanks to AI-supported camera systems and order a new waste container in advance – and even predict this in conjunction with upcoming construction processes.
If we then already consider Kai as AI-powered camera system If KaI has them on the construction site to cover construction logistics, then they can also handle the... Construction progress control take over. Kai can the It's on about the Recording active robotics on the construction site and these with the target state from the Compare plans. Deviations are indicated, and the construction progress is made transparent for all involved.
The success of AI hinges on the quality of the available data. Even if you don't currently intend to actively work with AI, you should ensure that your data is accurate, well-organized, and easily accessible for potential AI applications.
The author is an employee of the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handwerk (SME Digital Center for Crafts), funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Since 2016, it has been supporting craft businesses and craft organizations in leveraging the opportunities offered by digital technologies, processes, and business models – free of charge, vendor-neutral, and throughout Germany. Since 2024, it has placed a special focus on artificial intelligence.
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