AI Moves From Concept to Construction

From roadway safety to streamlining design and maintenance, artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the transportation and construction industries. These five stories highlight how agencies and contractors are leveraging AI tools to address evolving challenges in real time.

AI and Roadway Safety  

The cities of San Jose, Cali., and Lakewood, Colo., are piloting AI cameras from Sony Semiconductor Systems to address roadway safety, according to Smart Cities Dive. San Jose uses real-time traffic data to guide crosswalks, signage and signal timing decisions, while Lakewood installs cameras on a high-risk corridor to trigger lighted pedestrian alerts.

These two applications of AI cameras demonstrate how municipalities can solve evolving transportation needs more efficiently and in real time. The data removes the need to conduct short-term traffic studies and instead allows for continuous traffic monitoring to inform their decision-making.

Cambridge Mobile Telematics new software, StreetVision, aggregates driving data from smart phones to analyze traffic data and driver behavior, according to 11 Alive. The portal collects data on driver speeds, braking and traffic congestion, which is then analyzed by AI, to pinpoint potential hazards. These high-risk areas can then be addressed with a variety of traffic-calming measures.

This approach shows how AI and crowdsourced data can transform roadway safety from reactive to proactive, enabling municipalities to prioritize interventions and allocate resources more efficiently.

Hawaii is launching a program giving away 1,000 AI dashboard cameras to drivers to identify guardrails and other roadway infrastructure that are due for repair, according to the Associated Press. AI will be used to classify damage as minor or extensive enough to require the immediate dispatch of an emergency repair crew. San Jose, Cali., is using similar technology on street sweepers to identify debris in the roadway.

AI-powered monitoring can transform roadway infrastructure maintenance by reducing costs in identifying necessary repairs and enabling agencies to prioritize repairs before they become safety hazards.

AI Tools for Planning and Design 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has launched an AI chatbot to make state transportation planning and engineering guidance more accessible to agencies, consultants and communities, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Gresham Smith in reporting for Roads & Bridges. Trained on the KYTC Complete Streets, Roads and Highways Manual, the tool provides instant answers to design and policy questions, reducing reliance on traditional consultations.

The use of AI chatbots shows how transportation agencies can democratize access to complex policy guidance, accelerating project timelines and improving collaboration among local stakeholders.  

AI is transforming construction through integration with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and virtual design tools, according to American Structurepoint’s Steve Davidson for the Infrastructure Technology Podcast. By combining AI with 3D modeling, designers can detect conflicts early, reducing costly field changes and delays. AI-driven workflows also enable electronic plan delivery directly to construction equipment, streamlining grading and paving operations. Additionally, AI supports workforce development through VR-based simulators, allowing operators to train safely and efficiently in lifelike environments, addressing labor shortages and improving safety.

AI-driven tools like BIM integration, VR simulation, and automated plan delivery are reshaping construction workflows by reducing design conflicts, accelerating project timelines, and addressing workforce shortages through immersive training.

AI is moving beyond theory into practical applications that save time, reduce costs and improve safety. As adoption grows, expect deeper integration into every phase of infrastructure development — from design and planning to maintenance — creating a fully  data-driven approach to project delivery.

Sources: Smart Cities Dive, 11 Alive, Associated Press, Roads & Bridges, Infrastructure Technology Podcast