Establishing thorough and consistent communication among all stakeholders from the onset of a project is very crucial. With multiple personnel operating several equipment in an expensive project, there is no such thing as over-communication. Since many variables are at play, poor communication is a massive concern for stakeholders, as it may manifest itself to the tune of millions of dollars. An executive working on the 700 Bay Street project asserted the job is “essentially five projects in one. The new tower coming up is one project, the overbuild is another project because you have to extend the elevators another six floors and demolish the existing roof, all the sidewalks is a separate project, and the ground floor renovations is another project. The biggest thing on this project is communication. There are a lot of stakeholders [involved].”
All stakeholders, including representatives from neighbouring businesses and buildings, convene at 6:30 a.m. to meticulously map out the day ahead. However, this daily meeting merely scratches the surface in terms of necessary communication. While it certainly serves as a crucial starting point for the day, AI has ensured the project does not unravel.
On any given day, the jobsite will host nearly 75 workers ranging from mechanical and electrical personnel to demolition and concrete specialists. To successfully co-ordinate a project of this magnitude, AI is a necessity. AI-supported cameras provide all stakeholders with round-the-clock feedback of anything and everything happening on the jobsite. Smart cameras relay real-time video streams, which provide site views and actionable insights to stakeholders. Now, project managers have unprecedented capabilities to determine the number of workers and vehicles onsite at a given time, how long subcontractors worked on the jobsite, how many safety violations occurred, and gauge the overall progress.
Not a single worker, truck, or piece of equipment will make its way to the jobsite without the stakeholders getting informed in real time. From the top to bottom, everyone involved with the project is kept in the know with valuable information. Lost paperwork and misinformation are no longer factors, as AI keeps everyone up-to-date.
The maintenance of a common and consistent understanding among all stakeholders is crucial to the success of a project to generate more trust and improve decision-making. AI establishes newfound workplace transparency. It is also helping to improve the efficiency of construction and development. By leveraging innovations like video recordings, jobsite analytics, and real-time insights kept all stakeholders, KingSett Capital developers, and PCL general contractors up-to-date with the most accurate information available. Such insights will play a pivotal role in the final project meeting its schedule, budget, safety, and quality goals.
AI improves productivity
Despite the fact the Bay Street project will take an estimated 32 months to complete, stakeholders are tasked with operating under a tight timeline. Project managers must adhere to these timelines to ensure all stakeholders are satisfied with the progress, and to prevent spending extra time or money unnecessarily. With an estimated cost of $150 million, those working on the 700 Bay Street project have little to no room for error. While costs and building difficulties are certainly not limited to the 700 Bay Street project, the incorporation of AI to complete the structure serves as a north star for future projects facing similar challenges.
Although mistakes are inevitable, AI is playing a major role in increasing project efficiency while reducing the overall number of errors. As mentioned earlier, AI provides developers and general contractors (GCs) enhanced jobsite awareness, safety alerts, and real-time insights for better operational control. A 2017 McKinsey report predicts construction firms could boost productivity by as much as 50 per cent through real-time data analysis. As AI continues to rise and shine in the construction industry, it will become commonplace to see jobsites with AI-supported systems.
