BAM uses artificial intelligence to predict concrete strength

BAM Nuttall has used the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) concrete strength prediction engine on its £480m project to expand London City Airport.

The system, developed in conjunction with concrete monitoring specialist Converge, takes advantage of Converge’s concrete performance data set.

Within hours of concrete being poured, Converge claimed it can predict the time a critical strength will be reached with an accuracy of +/- 5%, several days in advance, by applying machine learning techniques. The predictions engine combines local weather data, a database of historical concrete curing data, and the Converge concrete monitoring platform’s real-time measurements from the pour.

Converge and BAM said the system led to improved productivity and can help keeps projects on track, ultimately saving millions of pounds if concrete sits in the critical path.

The strength prediction engine was developed using funding from an Innovate UK grant awarded in 2018.

Head of innovation at BAM Nuttall, Colin Evison, said: “This advancement in construction technology is a game changer. The Converge prediction engine gives us insight into material performance we didn’t think possible. We are delighted to be Converge’s industry partner in bringing this exciting new tool to market.”

Converge product lead, Sam Ellenby, added: “Our users were waiting for concrete to hit a critical strength before scheduling the next activity, but this often meant that the site teams needed to strike formwork or tension the slab were deployed in other areas when the time came to act. Thus, critical actions were frequently delayed.”