Developing a generative AI platform to reduce waste in the construction industry

In this new two-year project, myself and Professor Jiamei Deng have been supported by the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) with a grant funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in partnership with the British Council. We will develop a generative AI prototype platform to predict and track construction waste throughout the procurement lifecycle for effective decision-making in construction projects executed within the UK and Turkey.

We are collaborating on the research with the Middle East Technical University (METU) based in Ankara, Turkey and construction industry partners PROYAPI Engineering Consultancy, Turkey, The Property Box Group Limited, UK and Milan Consulting Limited, UK.

This project will develop a system architecture, foundation language model (FLM) and a working prototype. Its aim is to ensure prompt and effective decision-making in construction procurement through the adoption of a circular economy - reducing waste from the inception to completion phases of projects.

By promoting a circular construction procurement to reduce physical and non-physical waste in construction through reuse, minimisation, recycling and recovery practices, this proposed study will create and transfer Generative AI (GAI) knowledge, technical expertise and practises from LBU to the Middle East Technical University, Turkey, through circular construction procurement studies.

Although circular construction procurement is a new concept and has not been easy to achieve in the SME construction practices of the UK and Turkey, the benefits of GAI will enhance productivity by 55% during the project lifecycle at a low-cost rate in SMEs. This will be achieved through a co-creation and co-design approach, through community engagement in both countries with the participation of government agencies, construction SMEs and communities in participating countries.

This project will conduct capacity-building events to ensure the effective testing, validation, and adoption of the AI platform. Thereby, directly contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action).

The research hub co-created and co-designed will serve as an interconnection for more innovation and will adapt to new opportunities. This will make the project's benefits expand and enable the construction industry to navigate future hurdles with agility and resilience.

The hub will create a new model to form a new construction paradigm for positive change in construction organisational cultures which can be replicated and adapted in the region. Additionally, the project's outcomes of creating a research hub and capacity building will ensure equal gender participation assessed for impact and benefits in AI and construction procurement in the UK and Turkey.