The launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 generated significant excitement and high expectations. AI “has the potential to be one of the biggest inventions humanity will ever make,” according to Google DeepMind Founder Sir Demis Hassabis, and is already being hailed as the “fourth industrial revolution.” But what has been the reaction of the civil engineering sector, and what potential benefits could there be on the horizon?
Initial Reaction and Adoption Caution
While AI adoption is still in its early stages, it is understandably slower in professions where errors can have significant consequences. Engineering firms have been cautious about AI use, with only one in four organizations using AI platforms, and in smaller firms, the figure drops by half, according to an Engineering Management Institute (EMI) report this year. Many cite concerns such as inconsistent quality control (50%), untested designs (39%), disputes about data ownership (35%), and a shortage of AI experts in the industry (35%).
AI Integration in Existing Technologies
Despite these concerns, AI is already a part of our daily lives. Renowned roboticist Ayanna Howard, Ph.D., named one of the most powerful women engineers in the world by Business Insider and one of the top 50 women in tech by Forbes, says, “What I don’t think a lot of people realize is that between when you wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night, you are using some type of tool or gadget that has incorporated AI. So, we are using AI in pretty much all aspects of our lives.”
During the early days of large language model (LLM) development, it was unclear whether large firms would train or fine-tune their own internal models or adopt retail programs like ChatGPT. Now, the trend indeed appears to be heading toward integrating existing AI technology, with companies already using these platforms reaping the benefits from upgrades.
How Civil Engineers Could Benefit
Software tools for design, like CAD, project management, and presentation tools, can make engineers more productive and save time on design work or administrative tasks. Some examples from the construction sector given by civil engineers Oli Kelland and Emma Wei at ICE include:
- Identifying safety hazards from site CCTV
- Reactive construction scheduling
- Off-site construction component assembly simulation
- Remote inspection using virtual reality (VR)
- Optimized labor management
- Cost overrun predictions
Ayanna Howard also highlights the ability of AI to process large amounts of data and use it in structural design. For example, creating a digital twin of your structure and modeling all the possibilities, “whether it’s thinking about sustainability, energy efficiency, or questions like ‘What’s going to happen if you have the winter apocalypse in, say, Atlanta? What kind of materials do we need to think about?’”
Optimism but Also Concern
Business leaders and managers appear to be fairly optimistic according to the EMI survey, using words such as “excited,” “optimistic,” and “curious.” However, this optimism isn’t necessarily shared by all employees. A February 2024 poll found a cynicism among engineers that these advances would not ultimately benefit them or their clients but instead the company owners and investors. Many imagine that increased productivity may lead to lower staffing levels and higher profits, with only 17% believing it would materially benefit their quality of life or reduce stress and workload.
There is also concern (33% of those surveyed) that AI could undermine the value of the advanced and expensive degrees required to attain their skills.
The Challenge
AI is here to stay and is likely to become increasingly prevalent in all careers. While it is unlikely to completely replace engineers, there will always be a need for professionals to review and oversee complex projects. AI could increase productivity and decrease hiring needs. However, considering the massive talent shortage in civil engineering, particularly in the US, this could still be a positive development.
One significant gap is training the current workforce and leadership on how to use AI and new technologies effectively. The President & Founder of the EMI highlighted this in his report: “Everyone likes to talk about the shortage of technical skills, but there is also a dire shortage of management and technology skills in our industry.”
Conclusion
AI holds tremendous potential for the civil engineering industry, offering tools that can enhance productivity, improve design, and create more sustainable structures. However, the industry must address concerns about job security, the value of professional degrees, and the need for comprehensive training to fully harness AI’s benefits. As AI continues to evolve, civil engineering firms will need to navigate these challenges carefully to ensure a positive impact on the industry and its professionals.
References:
- The Independent. AI ‘has potential to be one of the biggest inventions humanity will ever make’ by Martyn Landi (2024). URL: www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/ai-has-potential-to-be-one-of-biggest-inventions-humanity-will-ever-make/
- The Wall Street Journal. AI Is Driving ‘the Next Industrial Revolution.’ Wall Street Is Cashing In by Charley Grant. www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/ai-is-driving-the-next-industrial-revolution-wall-street-is-cashing-in/
- Engineering Management Institute. Present and future of work in engineering and architecture (2024). URL: www.engineeringmanagementinstitute.org
- ASCE. The AI Revolution is here by Ben Walpole. URL: www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/article/2024/07/14/the-ai-revolution-is-here
- ICE. Using AI to step up digital transformation by Oli Kelland and Emma Wei (2024). URL: www.ice.org.uk/news-insight/news-and-blogs/ice-blogs/the-civil-engineer-blog/using-ai-to-step-up-digital-transformation
