What are the latest trends in construction DX? An explanation of AI utilization and safety management case studies.
In the construction industry, addressing labor shortages, ensuring safety, and improving operational efficiency simultaneously has become more important than ever. "Construction DX" is attracting attention as a solution to these challenges.
Up until now, construction DX has mainly focused on "digitalization," such as digitizing drawings and documents and moving them to the cloud.
However, we have now moved even further, and there is a growing trend to transform on-site operations by utilizing AI and various types of data.
In fact, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has set forth "automation of construction," "automation of data linkage," and "automation of construction management" in its "i-Construction 2.0" initiative, aiming to reduce manpower at construction sites by at least 30% and improve productivity by 1.5 times by fiscal year 2040. Construction DX is no longer an initiative limited to a few companies, but has become the direction for the entire industry.
This article will provide a clear overview of the expanding direction of AI utilization in construction DX, based on these latest trends, and offer practical examples of its application in safety management on construction sites.
Construction DX is attracting attention.
In the construction industry, amidst labor shortages and difficulties in skill transfer, there is a demand to operate sites safely and efficiently with a limited number of people. Traditional methods are no longer sufficient to simultaneously improve quality, safety, and productivity, making it increasingly necessary to re-examine site management itself.
For these reasons, construction DX is positioned not merely as the introduction of IT, but as an initiative to review operations, organizations, processes, and even working styles. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has also indicated a direction towards using AI and systems to automate some of the processes that were previously handled manually by people, and shifting people more towards operational management tasks.
"i-Construction 2.0" is the driving force behind the latest trends.
Understanding the latest trends in construction DX is essential, and this is where the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "i-Construction 2.0" comes in.
This initiative aims to create construction sites where fewer people can work safely and comfortably, taking into account the projected decline in population. What is particularly noteworthy is the idea of transforming on-site construction, management, and data integration as an integrated whole, rather than simply increasing the number of ICT devices.
For example, the document outlines directions such as using AI and systems to enable one person to manage multiple construction machines, expanding remote construction technology, and streamlining inspections through image analysis. A key characteristic of current construction DX is that digital technology is positioned not merely as a "tool for recording," but as a "system that supports on-site decision-making and on-site operations."
Three directions for expanding AI utilization in construction DX
1. Information organization and decision support
In the construction industry, a significant amount of time is spent on pre-decision-making processes, such as reviewing technical documents, referencing past cases, searching internal knowledge databases, and creating comparative analysis materials. By utilizing AI, efforts are being made to streamline this information organization process and create an environment where necessary information can be accessed more quickly.
In particular, the use of generative AI is well-suited to supporting the organization and condense information into a more easily understandable format, rather than simply creating text itself. In the construction industry, where information is frequently exchanged between the field, headquarters, and partner companies, the value of such support is expected to increase even further in the future.
2. Automation of construction and management
At construction sites, the use of AI, image analysis, and remote technologies is leading to labor savings in work and management tasks. Documents from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism also highlight the automation of construction, remote construction, process adjustment using construction data, and reinforcement bar verification using image analysis, indicating that automation and labor savings in construction management are a clear trend.
In other words, the goal of construction DX is not simply to reduce manpower, but to create a system that allows construction sites to be operated with limited personnel while maintaining safety and quality.
3. Visualization of safety management and early response
On construction sites, it's crucial to detect signs of problems as quickly as possible. Responding to accidents or health problems after they occur is too late; a system is needed to ensure that early signs of discomfort are not overlooked.
Therefore, efforts are currently underway to capture signs of danger and changes in conditions by utilizing AI cameras, various sensors, and image analysis technologies. In the field of safety management, construction DX is evolving from "improving the efficiency of record-keeping" to "supporting awareness."
Why is DX in safety management important now?
Various safety checks are conducted daily at construction sites. However, especially on busy sites, these checks can sometimes become mere formalities or be influenced by experience and individual differences.
That's why it's crucial to create systems that reduce oversights and make it easier for anyone to perform safety management at a consistent level.
In recent years, the importance of countermeasures against hot environments has increased significantly. The risk of heatstroke can arise not only from individuals pushing themselves too hard, but also from the fact that those around them may not easily notice the changes. In other words, the problem is not just that "there is a danger," but also that "it is easy to go unnoticed for too long."
Therefore, creating a system that visualizes heat stress risks and facilitates initial actions such as providing encouragement, suggesting breaks, and reviewing staffing arrangements is a very suitable area for specific DX (Digital Transformation) themes.
For these reasons, there is growing interest in tools that visualize heat stress risks and facilitate initial responses such as encouraging staff to take breaks, reviewing staffing arrangements, and adjusting staffing levels.
Easy-to-implement heat countermeasures and "Kaokara" as part of construction DX
When people hear about construction DX, they might imagine large-scale system implementations. However, in reality, there are many initiatives that can be started with familiar issues occurring on-site. One prime example of this is the visualization of heat stress countermeasures.
Our company also offers "Kaokara" as a rental product. This AI camera uses AI to analyze subtle changes in the face and combines this with WBGT information based on the device's GPS to visualize heat stress risk. The results are displayed in about 3 seconds, and you can check the risk level in four stages.
Even though construction sites recognize the need for heat countermeasures, busy schedules often lead to delays in checking conditions, workers pushing themselves too hard, and managers failing to keep track of changes in team members in remote locations. Kaokara is a product that is easy to use as a tool to initiate awareness and action in such situations.
It should be noted that Kaokara is not a medical device intended for the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of heatstroke, but rather a tool to support on-site decision-making. Therefore, it is important that the device does not make all the decisions, but rather facilitates actions such as calling out to staff, deciding on breaks, and reviewing staffing arrangements.
summary
The trend in construction DX is expanding from simple digitalization to AI-powered decision-making support, safety management, and automation. Among these, themes such as heat stress countermeasures are particularly relevant and important for construction sites, making them one of the areas where implementation is relatively easy as a first step.
Kaokara is one concrete option for addressing these on-site challenges. Instead of viewing construction DX as something difficult, why not start by focusing on what's useful in the field?
If you are looking to strengthen heat countermeasures or are considering safety management tools that are easy to use on-site, please visit Kaokara's product page.
Reference materials
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “i-Construction 2.0”
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "i-Construction 2.0 - Automation of Construction Sites" (PDF)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/tec/constplan/content/001738240.pdf