Virginia has a powerful construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s the fastest-growing sector in a state with incredibly low unemployment and a growing workforce. In 2024, the industry added over 9,000 jobs, which had knock-on effects like increased demand for single-family housing near active worksites.

Artificial Intelligence has already proven vital in many sectors, including healthcare and the finance industry. It can also assist general contractors in their work, such as helping to develop more efficient building plans and managing supply chain issues. Today, we’ll look at several ways that generative AI is advancing construction for the benefit of everyone involved.

Generative AI Can Improve Building Planning

Generative AI is well-known for outperforming humans in complicated and essential tasks. For example, large language models (LLMs) can decipher ancient texts, pick out patterns in whale songs, and identify cancer cells that human radiologists may have missed. 

This same ingenuity can be applied to construction and building planning, such as finding the optimal location for plumbing, wiring, and HVAC units. Architects and engineers can input prompts requesting that the AI review schematics to determine whether an interior space can be better used or to determine exactly where windows should be placed for better natural lighting.

However, humans must remain involved in the process for one specific reason: AI is known for making things so complicated that humans may not be able to decipher the results. In one example, AI created computer chips so complex that human researchers could not figure them out, though testing demonstrated that these were improvements. 

AI Assists in Supply Chain Management

General contractors require a steady flow of building materials and must determine how best to use their limited equipment, such as backhoes and forklifts. While Virginia has a robust logistics system, issues further down the supply chain can lead to frustrating delays for construction companies. 

Artificial Intelligence is excellent at determining the most optimal way to use resources, including heavy equipment and building materials. For example, it can help construction companies determine what equipment a certain project will need and for how long, then dispatch the right tools to a given job site. 

Further back in the supply chain, AI helps construction supply companies determine when to send materials, how much to order, and what raw materials they will need. This ensures that every construction company gets what it needs at exactly the right time. 

AI Can Help Companies With Human Resources

While a general laborer may not require significant vetting, general contractors must ensure they work with high-quality specialists, such as masons and plumbers. If they would rather not use subcontractors, they must decide who to hire based on skills and experience, as well as how many employees they need for each facet of a job.

Artificial Intelligence is an essential ally in this, as it can scan resumes and choose the best candidates. Additionally, AI assists with business planning by determining how many workers a company needs for each job and when they will be required. By using AI to enhance the contract planning process, general contractors can use all their human resources more effectively without wasting either time or talent. 

Predictive Modeling Can Prevent Climate-Related Issues

It’s no secret that Virginia, like the rest of the United States, is struggling with climate change. Rising sea levels and changing weather patterns put Virginian homes at risk of soil erosion, flooding, and hurricane damage. This is a crucial concern for general contractors, who want to ensure that they provide safe and long-lasting housing or commercial developments.

Thankfully, AI has been vital in predicting what may happen to geographic areas long into the future. Using predictive modeling, construction agencies can identify ways to rectify potential issues. 

For example, an LLM may suggest that a certain plot is more vulnerable to hurricane damage than it would have been ten years ago. Contractors can then workshop new options, such as building the home to withstand stronger winds or placing it on stilts to prevent flooding. 

How to Join Virginia’s Construction Sector

Those delighted by the construction industry’s rosy outlook have a challenging but rewarding career path. Achieving a general contractor license requires both work experience and intensive study, such as learning about Virginia’s building codes and general construction principles.

Additionally, the licensing process requires passing a pre-licensing course and a state exam. Because this is a challenging test, those interested in signing up for the exam should seek out a high-quality Virginia residential building license test prep course, which will provide everything necessary to pass this rigorous test. You’ll receive textbooks, study materials, and practice exams that will help prepare you to sign up for your licensing exam. 

Given Virginia’s thriving and highly competitive construction sector, those who refuse to innovate will be left behind. If you’re interested in joining this lucrative field, consider researching how AI works and reviewing case studies of its effectiveness in construction in addition to passing your exams. With ingenuity and dedication, you can develop a thriving business that offers the highest-quality construction to your clients.