Many people wonder if Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to change architecture. The answer is “yes,” and we assert that change is underway as you read this article. AI is already making strides in architectural processes and systems we have known and used for decades. But what exactly is AI? Will it eventually render architects, designers, and construction workers obsolete? And what can the average architect do to make the most of AI in the design process? We’ll address all these questions – and more – below.
The role of AI in the architectural process.
According to Britannica, “artificial intelligence” is simply a computer system capable of performing tasks normally done by humans. It simulates reasoning, learns from experiences, solves problems, and much more. AI is a powerful tool for architects, capable of handling repetitive tasks and processing information at lightning speed. Designers can also make decisions and solve problems much faster and easier. As in all sectors integrating AI, the biggest fear in the construction industry is the possibility that AI will completely replace architects and designers. Yet, it is unlikely that AI will ever make architects obsolete. No matter how sophisticated it becomes, it will never match an architect’s ability to analyze situations, solve problems, and make decisions. Architects must consider the unique needs and expectations of end-users of projects – something that current AI cannot do, and there are forces ensuring it never crosses that line. AI is intended to reduce overall project costs, meaning that more and more projects will come to fruition in the future. The need for skilled and experienced architects will increase in the same way.
Comment l’IA change l’architecture
Over the past few decades, we have seen Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology evolve by leaps and bounds, significantly reducing the time and work required to realize architectural projects. With the integration of AI, architects can now manage even more projects than ever before. Here are five ways AI is expected to change the way architects work in the near future:
1.In preconception
Normally, architects spend weeks, months, or even years planning a project before any construction begins, during a series of meetings with the client where the design goes through revision after revision until it is finalized. Additionally, architects must carefully check the design’s compliance with building codes and laws governing urban planning, which ideally are updated every three years. All of this represents a significant portion of the time spent in the design process. AI can reduce the time needed to arrive at a design to just a few hours, or even minutes. Architects will soon be able to tap into a massive, constantly updated database of designs and codes, allowing technology to generate real-time design variations for the client.
2. For Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Modeling software has evolved significantly in recent years, allowing today’s architects to play with curved shapes and structures. If you’ve ever wondered how Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and Santiago Calatrava designed their boldest projects, you can thank artificial intelligence for this ability. Modeling software such as Grasshopper eliminates much of the guesswork, calculations, and trial and error from the planning process, allowing architects to experiment and create more fantastic designs.
3. In urban planning
Just as AI will soon help architects and their clients design buildings from the first meeting, it will also help urban planners. Professionals will be able to quickly design roads and city blocks using local codes, traffic patterns, and other important data updated in real-time. Additionally, many believe that smart cities are the future because they are cleaner, more space-efficient, and better suited to community and economic opportunities. AI makes all of this possible.
4.In infrastructures
Planning and managing cities, municipalities, and urban areas are complex tasks that greatly benefit from advances in AI technology. Machine learning can automatically identify the most optimal routes for public services, which are then updated in real-time as urban design undergoes revisions. This makes planning much less time-consuming and labor-intensive. Construction AI is a startup specializing in this field, focusing on automating the most repetitive and time-consuming tasks in planning large urban developments. It creates point clouds directly from vector PDF files containing point elevations, allowing for nearly instantaneous site models without user intervention. Generative AI and collaboration software today can reduce the planning phase to just a few days, even for complex projects involving multiple disciplines, leaving professionals more time for other tasks.
5.In construction
AI is already used to monitor movements and interactions between workers, materials, and equipment on construction sites. It also alerts construction supervisors to potential safety and productivity issues during work. Additionally, we hear about the possibility of using 3D printers to build houses, as well as robots and drones designed to perform dangerous or repetitive construction tasks on-site. It is worth mentioning the work of ICON, which built the first 3D-printed home permitted in the United States and is at the forefront of this technology and its global applications. It is important to note that AI will likely not replace human labor. The need for construction workers and skilled tradespeople will continue to increase as new projects multiply.
Change is underway
Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and the construction industry is eager to adopt it. Architects and builders are eager to find faster and more resource-efficient ways to manage projects, and emerging AI is meeting their expectations. One promising area of development is the pre-planning phase, which traditionally took weeks or even years depending on the project’s complexity. Software such as Maket allows architects to significantly speed up the schematic design process, working on the design with the client in real-time and reducing months of planning to just minutes. Maket uses a vast, constantly updated database of designs and codes, allowing for the generation of well-designed and code-compliant building models in real-time. This allows architects to meet with clients and close deals anywhere in the country, from the first meeting. Maket’s voice input technology can receive verbal instructions from the architect and immediately update the schematic model. Clients can thus make smarter, more certain decisions about their projects much earlier.