Artificial intelligence in the precast industry: Current and future applications

The precast concrete industry must brace itself for the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) to remain competitive. In the KI4Precast research project carried out by preML GmbH in collaboration with the Institute of Concrete Structures and Building Materials (IMB) at KIT, a comprehensive interview study was conducted that involved various experts from different fields of precast production. The as-yet unpublished results illustrate the complexity and differences between the individual companies when it comes to implementing state-of-the-art AI applications.

At the same time, there are promising fields of application in the industry, including the AI-based automated visual quality control system developed by preML GmbH, which is already in use in the production of tunnel segments and concrete blocks. Using AI to optimize management and control processes also offers promising prospects. For example, it appears to be possible to precisely predict formwork stripping times and to control heat supply in the curing chamber. Modeling different states with the aid of machine learning can provide an appropriate basis for such processes. Such models can be used, for example, to predict concrete strength parameters more easily and flexibly while considering a variety of mix designs. This is where AI can help address labor shortage and enable the implementation of resource conservation strategies.