From Bad Plans to Brilliant Builds: Practical Applications of AI in Construction

As in any other industry, artificial intelligence is becoming a vital tool in construction, reforming how projects are designed, planned, and executed. It can help construction companies with critical challenges like skilled labor shortages by empowering junior employees with expert knowledge ingrained in digital tools. As the industry evolves, AI stands out as a practical, approachable tool that delivers efficiency and innovation. However, it’s important to note that AI is not a ‘know-all’ but rather a tool that continues to evolve and improve over time through user feedback and experience. 

Meet the co-founder and CEO of Augmenta, Francesco Iorio, a company on a mission to empower the construction industry to design buildings more efficiently and at a lower cost, enabling a future of sustainable buildings, cities, and infrastructure. Before Augmenta, Iorio served as Director of Computational Science Research at Autodesk, where he led a group of researchers and engineers in exploring state-of-the-art computational science projects that pioneered modern generative design. Previously, Iorio was a solution architect for next-generation computing systems at the IBM High Performance Computing Group in Dublin, Ireland. In this role, Iorio focused on accelerating financial, engineering, and digital media workloads using hybrid high-performance computing platforms.

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:51] The role of AI-powered tools in mitigating the skilled labor shortage. 

[04:15] The process of gathering knowledge for AI tools. 

[08:44] Augmenta’s approach to designing intelligence and constructability. 

[13:31] The relationship between user skills and the effectiveness of AI tools. 

[19:15] Removing the mystique around AI. 

[21:55] Francesco’s background in computer science and 

[24:17] Sustainable building practices and reducing material waste. 

[27:26] Democratizing building performance. 

[29:30] Augmenta’s role in the future of construction. 

[35:13] Advice for construction leaders. 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Position AI as an attractant for new talent. 

2. See to it that skilled tradespeople actively review AI-generated outputs. 

3. Consider AI as not ‘all knowing’ but ‘students’ who listen, learn, and adapt. 

4. Encourage iterative use. Pose a challenge to the responses of AI. 

5. Involve senior staff during the AI adoption phase and use the tool as a bridge for junior employees. 

6. Point out the power of real user stories in breaking down skepticism. 

7. Present AI as the next step in progress instead of a disruptive leap. 

 

RESOURCES

Connect with Francesco Iorio

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/francescoiorio/ 

Website - augmenta.ai/ 

Toronto, Canada restaurant recommendation: terroni.com/ 

 

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