A Perspective on AI-Based Image Analysis and Utilization Technologies in Building Engineering: Recent Developments and New Directions

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a trending topic in many research areas. In recent years, even building, civil, and structural engineering have also started to face with several new techniques and technologies belonging to this field, such as smart algorithms, big data analysis, deep learning practices, etc. This perspective paper collects the last developments on the use of AI in building engineering, highlighting what the authors consider the most stimulating scientific advancements of recent years, with a specific interest in the acquisition and processing of photographic surveys. Specifically, the authors want to focus both on the applications of artificial intelligence in the field of building engineering, as well as on the evolution of recently widespread technological equipment and tools, emphasizing their mutual integration. Therefore, seven macro-categories have been identified where these issues are addressed: photomodeling; thermal imaging; object recognition; inspections assisted by UAVs; FEM and BIM implementation; structural monitoring; and damage identification. For each category, the main new innovations and the leading research perspectives are highlighted. The article closes with a brief discussion of the primary results and a viewpoint for future lines of research.

Building Information Modeling and Artificial Intelligence Based Smart Construction Management: Materials and Electrical

“…The rapid building modeling technology based on the integration of AI and BIM is based on AI algorithms to analyze 2D (architectural design drawings: CAD) and form building data packages for three-dimensional DT model construction (Paduano, 2023). It supports the generation of architectural, structural (including steel structures), mechanical and electrical specialties, and can quickly generate BIM to restore building spatial information.…”

A Roadmap for Applying Digital Technology to Improve the Efficiency of Construction Supervision in Building Projects: Focusing on Korean Cases

“…Third, digital technologies that can be used in construction supervision were investigated through analysis of policy reports and previous research, and the technologies that could be used in reclassified works were selected by reflecting the review opinions of experts who performed FGI. Detailed information on the analysis targets for deriving applicable digital technologies is as follows: (1) policy reports are the most recently released by the MOLIT, the ministry that oversees Korea's construction industry, taking into account the characteristics that they include digital technologies that have been reviewed by the ministry from the past to the present; and (2) previous researches consist of articles presenting digital technologies that can be used in the construction industry and future strategy reports published by various organizations [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]37,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. Among them, research that presented overlapping technologies was excluded, and the final analysis targets were selected.…”

“…In previous studies, government reports, and future strategy reports, digital technologies applicable to the construction industry have been presented in various categories, such as fully automated construction systems, AI, and BIM [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]37,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. Among various references, this study set eight references as the analysis target, excluding those that presented overlapping digital technologies [6,14,[25][26][27][28]48,50].…”

“…(2) visualization and monitoring system linked to digital technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) that can supervise actual construction results against design documents [21][22][23][24][25]; and (3) an advanced system that can present various analysis and prediction results and share the information using big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) [26][27][28][29][30]. The application of digital technologies in construction supervision may be accompanied by limitations such as increased initial costs compared to conventional work systems, and this can be a major influence factor hindering the practical use of advanced technology.…”

Digital Transformation of Building Permits: Current Status, Maturity, and Future Prospects

“…Studies relating AI and AECO have already been introduced, such as [36], that propose a research framework for the next-generation AI platform integrating these technologies for end-to-end construction management. The perspective paper [32] reviews recent advances in AI-enabled image analysis for building engineering across various applications, identifying progress in photogrammetry, thermography, structural monitoring, and damage detection, along with limitations in software interoperability, fusion, and workflows.…”