In this article, we continue our series on artificial
intelligence (AI) in construction. Here we address image
recognition and sensors-on-site. This technology uses cameras and
other sensors to assess vast quantities of video, pictures, and
other recorded conditions from worksites. Such technology has the
potential to: (1) monitor worksite conditions for safety risks and
hazards; (2) enhance equipment and material management, boosting
productivity; and (3) improve worker safety by identifying unsafe
behavior to inform future training priorities.
Firms can leverage machine-learning techniques with image
recognition programs to keep workplaces accident free and increase
work efficiency. For example, Suffolk, a Boston-based general
contractor with about $4 billion in annual revenue, is already
developing predictive algorithms to monitor safety risks. Suffolk
collected over 700,000 images, taken from over 360 job sites in the
last 10 years, and uploaded them to startup
