AI and machine learning support urban growth

08 May 2019
Emerging technologies focused on urban growth present a wealth of opportunities for the construction sector
By David Meads, vice-president for the Middle East and Africa, Cisco

Today’s construction market is filled with opportunities. Market trends including workforce globalisation and a growing population favour building transformation. The next generation of construction and building services should turn workplaces and home spaces into environments that are personalised, efficient, functional and profitable.

Technological advancements have always been ready for these market opportunities. Many new innovations in construction are developing at a breakneck pace, with the potential to revolutionise the industry and make future cities a reality. The overarching tool that will aid sustainable growth is artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Coupled with blockchain, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will not only make infrastructures intelligent, but also improve security posture.

The internet of things (IoT) will also play a dominant role. Consider the enormous number of devices and objects becoming connected. These devices and objects are ‘alive’ and able to produce vast amounts of data on an unprecedented scale. With machine learning and automation, we will see things happen that were never thought possible. Collectively, these technologies give us the formula for disruption of seismic proportions.

Software and mobile solutions

Today there are software and mobile solutions that can help manage every part of a construction project—from pre-construction to scheduling, project management and reporting to managing the back office. Most software solutions are now cloud-based, allowing changes and updates to documents, schedules and other management tools to be made in real time, facilitating better communication and collaboration.

Integration of data across multiple software platforms is another benefit of these systems, making it easier than ever to run your business.

AI and machine learning

Construction firms can use data to improve decision making, increase productivity and workplace safety, and reduce risks. With AI and machine learning systems, firms can use the mountains of data they have collected over the years on projects to predict future outcomes on developments and gain a competitive advantage when estimating and bidding for construction contracts.

AI can improve worker productivity by reducing the amount of time wasted by journeys around the construction site to retrieve tools, materials and equipment to perform certain tasks. Workers can be tracked throughout the day using smartphones or wearables.

Rethinking reality

We believe that VR could have a strong impact on the construction industry from a safety and training perspective. With VR, any worker could get exposure to environments such as working at height in a safe and controlled way. VR simulators have been used recently for training purposes in different industries and could be used in exactly the same way to train workers on everything relevant to the construction industry.

AR is another tool that can significantly improve safety on the construction site. Whether it’s allowing for a more detailed safety plan to be developed or providing training on heavy equipment using actual equipment on real sites with augmented hazards, there are a number of ways that AR can be deployed in the workplace.

Traffic and accessibility

There is often a lack of data visibility across city departments. Crucial tasks such as monitoring traffic congestion, finding parking and moving around the city can be inconvenient and, in some cases, dangerous.

Statistically, the average American spends 42 hours sitting in commuter traffic each year. Furthermore, for the past two years in a row, there have been 6,000 pedestrian deaths in the US. Therefore, greater accessibility to traffic data should not be considered as merely a case for efficiency, but also increased safety.

People have the potential to thrive when they are afforded more time to work and be creative. With the right solutions highlighting vehicle traffic and crowd patterns, city agencies can learn from historic and real-time data to offer commuters and pedestrians safer and more efficient routes of travel.

Public safety and emergency response

With cities of the future, we can expect to see an increase in the number of people who need looking after. The inability to coordinate across departments can slow down emergency response times and decrease public safety.

Under normal circumstances, a three-minute delay in traffic can be a case of life or death. Every minute matters. Each minute they go untreated, survival rates for cardiac arrest patients fall by 7-10 per cent. The average response time for emergency medical services in the US is seven minutes. Departments must make use of the most advanced technology available on the market to ensure more efficient coordination, allowing emergency services to get to patients quickly.

Environmental concerns

City operations, resilience and sustainability can often be hampered, and health concerns increased when cities are not able to effectively connect environmental data with other city data.

Almost 10 per cent of the urban population lives within 300 feet of a highway. Although convenient in terms of travel, studies have shown that exposure to harmful emissions and pollution increases childhood asthma rates significantly. Traffic congestion inevitably causes this risk to increase. Therefore, it is important to recognise the connection between efficiency and safety.

Looking forward

The city of the future must be ready to address a range of challenges, from economic development to liveability and every aspect in between. AI, IoT, blockchain and data analytics will each play their own critical roles in building and enabling the future city.

Without a complete picture of the available data,   it can be difficult for cities to reduce costs, drive new revenue streams and spur economic development. Once improved, these elements will help citizen engagement and increase liveability.

24/7 Wall Street’s index measures factors such as crime rates, economic development and the environment to identify the 50 worst cities to live. The demand for this data indicates people’s increasing desire to live and work in places that provide not just financial benefits, but also physical health and wellness of mind.

People have the choice to live in any city they wish. However, it is in smart cities where they will truly thrive. Sharing data across agencies can help cities to understand the nuances that affect each of these elements and create a more hospitable environment.

Clear priorities

Connecting data can create substantial value:

  • 30-40 per cent fewer crime incidents
  • 15-30-minute reduction in daily commute time
  • 20-35 per cent faster emergency response time
  • 90 per cent accuracy in predicting potholes, creating savings of up to $1.5m
  • 40 per cent less energy expenditure

Each city is different, yet the core services and challenges often overlap. Many of these issues can be solved without the need for a great deal of customisation.

According to the National League of Cities, the priorities of mayors across the US have been relatively consistent for the past five years. Economic development (58 per cent), infra- structure (56 per cent) and public safety (36 per cent) continue to dominate the list of priorities.

David Meads is the vice-president for the Middle East and Africa at Cisco

Building Future Cities_MashreqThis article is extracted from a report produced by MEED and Mashreq titled Building Future Cities. Click here to download the report

To know more about the MEED Mashreq Partnership, get in touch with us at MEEDMashreqPartnership@meed.com or find more info on www.meedmashreqindustryinsight.com

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