Using artificial intelligence to predict and plan
construction projects and avoid possible delays is one of
the ideas to win funding to transform how the UK delivers
buildings and infrastructure.
Just over £18 million is being invested through
the Industrial Strategy
Challenge Fund in research, development and
innovation projects to support a more efficient,
highly-skilled and productive construction industry.
The funding from UK Research and
Innovation is part of the transforming
construction challenge – a £170 million government
commitment, matched by £250 million from industry – to
embed new approaches and techniques that enable the UK to
become a world leader.
Business-led collaborations
A total of £13.3 million has been awarded to 24 projects,
which will see industry collaborate with the research base
to innovate.
Included in the awarded projects are:
- a project by nPlan, Kier and
the University of
Cambridge, which will use AI and algorithms to better
predict, plan and schedule construction projects. The aim
is to optimise buildings and reduce time and cost
- a consortium including housebuilder, Barratt
Developments, and one of the largest social
landlords, L&Q, which aims to
make offsite manufacturing a viable alternative to
traditional methods by exploring how it can bring down the
costs, reduce defects and improve productivity
- a Keltbray Group-led
project to develop a new piling technology that will
enhance capacity and improve sustainability when laying
foundations
For all projects, the ultimate aim is to:
- develop digitally-enabled simulations that support the
design and management of buildings
- adopt offsite manufacturing approaches that improve the
quality of buildings
- create active power generation and storage within
buildings
Construction Minister, , said:
The use of artificial intelligence, digital techniques
and off-site manufacturing help us harness new methods of
working and delivers on the government’s Construction
Sector Deal.
These new methods to help the construction industry are a
testament to the government’s modern Industrial
Strategy’s aims of building a better tomorrow for us all
through scientific and technological advances.
Talented teams addressing complex challenges
A further £5 million is being invested to support
successful research leaders to build talented teams and
take on a complex research programme within the context of
the transforming construction challenge.
There are 4 research projects that will share funding.
These range from exploring the potential for
digitally-designed, 3D-printed concrete components, to
assessing the use of robots for both on and off-site
construction.
Another project will look at integrating voice-activated AI
and augmented reality in the assembly of components to
speed up construction and increase productivity.
Industry working directly with researchers
Professor Sir Mark Walport, UKRI Chief Executive, said:
Technologies being developed in the UK provide a
significant opportunity to transform the way we build,
such as the use of augmented reality to improve design or
robotics to aid complex building assembly.
Through projects such as these, the Industrial Strategy
Challenge Fund allows us to catalyse innovation across
the UK’s construction industry, improving productivity,
sustainability and safety.
Sam Stacey, Director of the Transforming Construction
Challenge, added:
These grants play a key role in advancing transformation
across the sector.
They will help the construction industry work directly
with talented researchers to explore new ways of working
that will speed up assembly, save money, and improve the
quality of building projects.
