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AI for a digital construction supply chain

AI for a digital construction supply chain

AI support for a digital supply chain of building products

The supply chains for construction projects are very complex due to the large number of interfaces, data flow and data volume. Suppliers and construction companies use many heterogeneous data processing systems; a generally formulated and accessible digital solution does not currently exist. With SDaC we digitize the heterogeneous supply chains of construction products by using our AI-driven platform, unifying and standardizing heterogeneous data formats. In this digital supply chain, information is always available and therefore easy to control. Paper documents can be sustainably reduced and manual documentation and search efforts can be reduced.

The reduction of the complexity of the information flow, minimizes repetitive tasks and creates free space for value-adding activities!

Below we give a brief insight into the approach adopted. If you want to know more about our applications and about AI in construction, we recommend our Newsletter.

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A look inside a container on a construction site quickly shows that a lot of paper is used there. Printed forms are still the safest way to transport information within a construction site. The exchange of building products in the incoming goods inspection is therefore almost exclusively carried out via printed delivery notes. On a large construction site, a large number of delivery notes can accumulate very quickly. Moreover, these are often crumpled, dirty and completed with handwritten notes. Currently, consistent digitalisation of the supply chain is difficult in many places due to the fragmentation of manufacturers and the lack of standards.

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In order not to exclude small construction product manufacturers, SDaC has decided to use the following AI approach: By means of a combined OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithm, delivery notes can be retroactively digitized again. The algorithm recognizes writing and automatically arranges the contents in a defined target structure. The result is a data set that can be read out optimally, for instance, for invoice verification or documentation processes.

In a first pilot project, concrete delivery notes were processed using the OCR algorithm. The figure shows that a lot of content is already recognized. In a second step, these contents are transferred to a database via a structured dataset. This data can then be used, for example, for the ÜK2/ÜK3 (according to the DIN standard) concrete monitoring.

AI in construction - Together we transform the construction industry! Our way to the digital construction site

#ReducingComplexity #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Platform #Digital #Construction #KIT #Airteam #Cyberforum #DBV #DigitalesBauen #DIN #FARO #Fraunhofer #Goldbeck #GÜB #IGP #Metis #Xitaso

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AI in construction - three of our AI use cases

AI in construction - three of our AI use cases

AI applications for the user - knowing and understanding the user!

One of our first steps towards developing human-centric applications has been to create personas for each use case. A persona is a multidimensional description of a fictitious and typical individual belonging to a group of people with common interests. Personas help you understand the needs and pains of your users and by doing so, to create your application in the way the user will actually use it.

The user decides what a product or service should do and how it should behave!

In the following three videos we present three of our use cases from the perspective of a user. If you want to learn more about our use cases and about AI in construction, we recommend our newsletter.

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The source data of construction projects are often only available in paper plans or outdated CAD models. The necessary structures are missing to use this data as a basis for BIM. In SDaC, we develop AI models to process this input data and recognize and label objects. In the beginning, we are specifically focused on the recognition of electronic symbols in construction plans. To do so we train Convolutional Neural Networks, which recognize and label these symbols.

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In addition to our use case "object recognition in construction plans", we also want to identify patterns in digital models. This will help planners to find, optimize and categorize identical components and modules. This process reduces the complexity of plans and constructions.

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Based on rules and user specifications, we want to generate room layouts automatically in the future. This AI-supported plan generator quickly creates a construction plan that serves as a basis for the user. The conformance to standards and rules can also be checked within the generation.

AI in construction - Together we transform the construction industry! Our way to the digital construction site

#ReducingComplexity #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Platform #Digital #Construction #KIT #Airteam #Cyberforum #DBV #DigitalesBauen #DIN #FARO #Fraunhofer #Goldbeck #GÜB #IGP #Metis #Xitaso

#Thanks2BMWi #Thanks2DLR

Creating a digital collaboration structure

Creating a digital collaboration structure

Not just because of COVID-19, we have decided to fulfill our project in a digital way!

Nowadays, many companies are confronted with digital collaboration tools. By changing direct communication to digital communication, they experience a completely new way of working.

In this article, we would like to share our experience we made with you and give you a short insight into the way we communicate


The basic software we use is Microsoft Teams. In MS Teams, we communicate per Chat, store our data, keep track of our daily tasks or just use it to start a conference call.

Because of the size of the project, we decided to work in groups. Each group has a different focus they work on. For example, „Team Plattform“ is taking care of all the topics that are connected to the platform architecture: data processing, meta data structure, web services etc.

Even though there are different teams, it is extremely important that they work closely together . Each teams needs to know what the other teams are doing. One key indicator to create such a transparent and open working environment is MS Teams. As you can see in the screenshot below, the team structure is built up in MS Teams.

If that short introduction caused great interest, don't hesitate to get in contact with us. We are very happy to share our experience with you.

So far, we are more than happy with our solution and have been able to proceed in the way we planned without bigger troubles

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To keep such a big group of partners connected is a challenge we are more than happy to accept!

Together we will shape the transformation of the industry!

#ReducingComplexity #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Platform #Digital #Construction #KIT #Airteam #Cyberforum #DBV #DigitalesBauen #DIN #FARO #Fraunhofer #Goldbeck #GÜB #IGP #Metis #Xitaso

#Thanks2BMWi #Thanks2DLR

The way to human centric applications

Our start to human centric applications

What are the needs of our future users?

Bei vielen Software Applikationen wird ein intensives Training vom Anwender verlangt, um ein ausreichendes Verständnis von der Software und ihren Möglichkeiten zu erhalten. Die Software und nicht das menschliche Wesen an sich ist der Fokus der Applikation.

In our project, we use Design Thinking methods to set the foundations for goal-oriented and human-centric applications.

On 30.04, we had our first joint productive kick-off workshop with the consortium of SDaC. The workshop was completely digital. About MS Teams and Zoom there were many single slots with presentations, exercises and discussions.

The morning dealt thematically with expectations of the funding agency's project, the vision and mission of SDaC as well as setting a uniform platform understanding.

SDaC-Team-Icon

Am Nachmittag vertieften wir uns in dem Themenbereich „Design Thinking“. In kurzen Sitzungen wurden Personas für die einzelnen Anwendungsfälle skizziert, die wir zuvor definiert hatten. Eine Persona repräsentiert einen Teilnehmer in der Wertschöpfungskette des Bauwesens und damit einen typischen Anwender von SDaC. Indem wir ihre Interessen, Eigenschaften und Bedürfnisse identifizieren, können wir unsere Anwendungen gezielt und menschenzentriert entwickeln. Die Personas sind nun der Ausgangspunkt, um in den kommenden Wochen intensive Interviews und Beobachtungen mit potenziellen Anwendern durchzuführen.

The multitude of individual users with their different needs and interests are brought together on SDaC. The results are human-centric, intelligent applications.

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The first week of three exciting years just started!

Together we will shape the transformation of the industry!

#ReducingComplexity #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Platform #Digital #Construction #KIT #Airteam #Cyberforum #DBV #DigitalesBauen #DIN #FARO #Fraunhofer #Goldbeck #GÜB #IGP #Metis #Xitaso

#Thanks2BMWi #Thanks2DLR

3, 2, 1… und Start

3, 2, 1 … und Start

Yesterday on April 01, 2020 our research project has officially started!

Yesterday was finally the big day: Our official project start! In the next three years we will work on the development of an AI platform for the ecosystem construction industry and implement eight assistance systems. These assistance systems range from building design, construction planning, supply chain management and construction realization.

Nicht nur ausschließlich aufgrund der aktuellen Situation nutzen wir digitale Medien zur Kooperation zwischen den Konsortialpartnern. Vielmehr aufgrund der geographischen
Verteilung über Deutschland (Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Berlin und Augsburg), sind wir auf digitale Meetings, eine Dokumentenmanagementplattform und eine Kommunikationsplattform angewiesen.

Today more than 20 people attended a first MS Teams appointment to officially start the project. We are all very motivated!

In the next few weeks we will sort and structure the work packages for this year. One of the first steps will be a detailed analysis of the user requirements. Thus, we want to achieve the challenging goal of first prototypes until end of this year.  


For more frequent updates follow us on our social media accounts.   

The first week of three exciting years just started!

Together we will shape the transformation of the industry!

#ReducingComplexity #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Platform #Digital #Construction #KIT #Airteam #Cyberforum #DBV #DigitalesBauen #DIN #FARO #Fraunhofer #Goldbeck #GÜB #IGP #Metis #Xitaso

#Thanks2BMWi #Thanks2DLR