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Artificial intelligence-based tools continue to gain acceptance in the industry, as two recent moves by major contractors bring the technology deeper into the critical path.
San Antonio, Texas-based Zachry Construction says it is implementing ALICE Core, the artificial-intelligence-powered simulation and schedule optimization tool from ALICE Technologies, on several of its key projects. The tool uses an AI engine to automatically assess the feasibility of construction schedules.
Zachry is now using ALICE Core to simulate far more jobsite staging scenarios than it could using traditional scheduling and estimating, from bidding through project execution.
ALICE Core ingests XCR files from Primavera P6 and presents the project’s information in sequence with all the relevant variables labeled and linked. Labor, materials and other factors are extrapolated from P6 and presented in a visual representation of the schedule.
“It allows you to look into resequencing, setup time, labor, [relocating work crews], all of that,” says Rene Morkos, founder and CEO of ALICE Technologies. The analysis environment allows schedulers to see the impact, in days, of resequencing activities such as excavation or concrete paving.
“If you work on a 40-mile highway project there are a number of places you can start from. ALICE gives you so many more viable options to come up with the best way to build the project,” explains Ranjeet Gadhoke, vice president of project controls at Zachry. He says switching to AI-based scheduling with ALICE is part of Zachry’s ongoing digital transformation that he has overseen since 2013, and he adds that the system, is already showing results for the heavy civil contractor.
Another contractor going deeper on AI to analyze its processes is Boston-based Suffolk Construction, which is now partnering with tech firm Trunk Tools, itself a graduate of Suffolk’s Boost accelerator and incubator program.
Suffolk’s partnership with Trunk Tools will develop an AI agent based on its Operations Playbook—the contractor’s standard operating procedures and required technologies—which will be used by more than 1,000 field users on more than 100 of the company’s jobsites.
Trunk Tools will apply its construction process-specific AI agents to Suffolk’s SOP, with an eye on standardizing and de-risking how they are implemented on jobsites. A natural language AI will also offer better access to project documents and models.
“Their commitment to operational excellence and innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to empower field teams with cutting-edge technology that streamlines workflows and drives efficiency,” says Sarah Buchner, founder and CEO of Trunk Tools.
Trunk Tools’ AI agents will be trained on the intricacies of Suffolk’s internal standards and provide guidance to employees on the jobsite. By integrating SOPs into accessible, real-time interfaces, Trunk Tools aims to help field teams better adhere to the contractor’s process standards and safety protocols while enhancing operational efficiency. Having the answers at their fingertips will help field teams identify problems and avoid project delays.
“Generative and agentic AI can radically simplify the way our teams interact with the increasingly complex document management aspect of construction management, allowing them to refocus their time on building. Partnering with Trunk Tools allows us to accelerate this journey, as their solution optimizes daily operations and contributes to better outcomes,” said Suffolk Chief Technology Officer Jit Kee Chin in a statement.