AI and machine learning have a lot to contribute to the modern construction site, whether that is with respect to safety standards or efficiency. Improving site security and providing options to better manage risks are just two ways in which integrating this technology can help to increase overall safety standards. This is just the beginning of what it’s possible to achieve with AI in terms of making construction sites safer – the technology is going to offer a wealth of ongoing developments in the years to come.
How is AI making construction sites safer?
- The benefits of remote, cloud-based monitoring. Rather than relying purely on manual human monitoring, the use of AI can put this function into a cloud-based, remote system. This means that effective monitoring can be carried out 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Data can be analysed from a number of different sources, including infrared cameras and IoT to produce a comprehensive picture of what is happening on-site and how risks are currently being managed.
- Identifying workers wearing PPE. Machine learning algorithms combined with pattern matching can identify those personnel on-site who are wearing protective equipment and those that are not. This can be vital to ensure compliance with regulations and also to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission on-site.
- Predicting the impact of specific threats. AI has a vital role to play in the way that threats are managed and especially when it comes to the correlation between digital and physical threats. For example, if a cyber attack is launched against a specific site’s systems it’s then possible to increase monitoring and predictive accuracy in terms of the real-life systems that the attackers might be targeting. This is a key tool in keeping construction sites safe and helping to avoid spiralling consequences from a cyber attack.
- Assigning risk scores to each construction project. Machine learning-driven predictive models are becoming a key tool for the construction industry with respect to improving the way that risk is managed in order to make construction sites safer. Video data from the start of a project can be used to train machine learning models that can predict when adverse events might occur, whether that is a safety incident or a theft. This can provide essential data that helps to reduce the potential for safety problems to arise.
- More flexible construction processes thanks to real-time safety and security monitoring. Real-time sensor and video data that is captured and analysed instantly provides a wealth of opportunities for adapting construction processes so that sites are much safer places to be. This will not only help when it comes to managing risk and improving safety standards but also presents opportunities for process improvement based on insights.
AI is going to be a key tool in construction site safety going forwards. From real-time data and video to the predictive models and insights available via analysis this technology has a lot to offer.