Coordinator

Piia Sormunen – Tampere University, Finland

Objectives and Scope of Work

The main objective of TG126 is to establish a unique global collaboration network in the field of AI in construction. This network aims to accelerate sustainability, enhance data management, and drive the industrialization of the construction sector. By focusing on these areas, the task group will address future needs for more efficient, ethical, and scalable AI systems, ensuring the construction industry is well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. The task group brings together AI developers and the construction industry to work collaboratively towards a common goal.

The task group will

  • Promote international cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of AI in construction research and innovation
  • Develop and share the best practices and innovative solutions.
  • Organize meetings and conferences where members can share research findings and ideas.
  • Prepare reports and recommendations that support industry development and standardization in AI in Construction.

The scope of TG126 – AI in construction will be defined during the first year of operation. The task group members will have a significant impact on the scope. However, it seems that the standardization of data, data flow enablement, foundation models, process automation throughout the construction lifecycle, interoperability, and robust data infrastructure will play important roles in shaping the scope of work. These elements will be crucial from different perspectives in the design and construction of future ethical and scalable AI systems.

Name and affiliations of Coordinator

The coordinator candidate of TG126 – AI in construction is Associate professor (1.5.2025->) Piia Sormunen from Tampere University, Faculty of Built Environment from Civil engineering department. Prof Sormunen is the member of the board, and she is nominated as a vice president in next board period 2025-2028. Tampere University is committed to taking on the coordinator’s role in the use of AI in construction. As the Coordinator candidate for the upcoming CIB Task Group on AI in Construction, Piia Sormunen is deeply committed to advancing the integration of artificial intelligence within the construction sector. Research and innovation are the cornerstones of progress in AI for construction. Sormunen will focus on advancing these areas, driving the digitalization and industrialization of industry. By fostering collaboration among
international experts and stakeholders, we aim to establish standardized processes and best practices, propelling the construction sector towards a more digital and industrialized future.

Membership

The proposal of the new task group was presented to the CIB board by Prof Piia Sormunen by email in November 2024. The proposal got wide support from CIB board members. In the survey the interest in joining the task group was asked. Nearly all responders wanted to stay informed or were interested in to participate the task group. The survey showed that there is a very wide range of interests in AI in construction and will bring hopefully new members to CIB and task group. The negotiations with couple of possible new members have been started (Granlund Ltd and Aalto university, Finland) The kick-off will be held at the World Building Congress in May 2025 at Purdue University as a hybrid event. The invitation to join the task group will be targeted at CIB member organizations and members in the form of a LinkedIn invitation, once the task group receives approval from the CIB working commission. WBC2025 will be the perfect place and time for further marketing of the task group.

Planned Meetings or schedule

Preliminary yearly planned meetings are the following:

  • On-line workshop (twice a year)
  • Yearly AI in AEC congress (AI in AEC 2025 – RIL – Finnish Association of Civil Engineers ) in Helsinki, Finland. The task group will join the congress and have parallel hybrid workshops during the congress. A discussion with RIL Finland’s CEO Janne Tähtikungas has been held.
  • World Building Congress every third year

Planned research outputs

The task group will publish yearly report of AI in Construction projects outputs worldwide. The report will be written based on yearly surveys and workshop/meeting materials.

Proposed CIB Encouraged Journal relationships

Will be defined later

Proposed Student Chapter relationships

Will be defined later

Communication proposal

The task group will build up an informatic Web-Page in CIB world.org. Besides, LinkedIn will be used sharing information and the latest news in web-pages. Other channels also will be considered and defined.

Envisaged lifetime

The work will start with Task group first three years and the aim is to establish commission group later.



The full proposal for TG126, along with the AI in Construction survey can be viewed here.