Exhaust is spewed out from the construction machines building the new E16 on Sollihøgda. The building and construction industry accounts for as much as 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Norway. And around half of the time the construction machines are idle. But that will soon come to an end with the help of artificial intelligence. – Here the algorithms detect in real time where the machines are standing and waiting for each other and where they are queuing unnecessarily, says Lars Horn, chief advisor at Skanska. Lars Horn is chief advisor at Skanska. Photo: Eirik Leivestad Hall / news In short: A construction site where artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms help ensure that each and every construction machine always knows where the others are, what they are doing and what is the best possible way to organize the work. The aim is to cut down on unnecessary waiting time, idling and redundant work. Can cut many millions of liters of fuel In a collaboration between Skanska, SINTEF, Volvo and Ditio, it will now be tested whether artificial intelligence can make operations on construction sites more efficient. The research project is called “Data-driven Construction Space”, and is supported by the Norwegian Research Council and Innovation Norway. The aim of the project is to reduce emissions by 10 per cent. In that case, this means that the construction industry will cut fuel consumption by 13 million liters a year. Two large construction projects in Viken, E16 Åsbygda – Olum and E16 Bjørum – Skaret, are being used as pilots. Photo: Eirik Leivestad Hall / news – The potential for cuts is even greater if you look at this globally, says executive director of SINTEF Digital, Morten Dalsmo. CEO of SINTEF Digital, Morten Dalsmo. Photo: Eirik Leivestad Hall / news He points out that the EU has calculated that digital technology alone can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030. – This project shows that it is possible to achieve this through working together and through use data to make better decisions and thus also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, explains Dalsmo. – Not known for being at the forefront of development On hectic construction sites, there is a lot of driving back and forth for the big machines. But for 40 to 60 per cent of the time they are idle, according to the Machine Contractors’ Association. – This means that there is an enormous challenge here and it means that there is a need for more applied research where business and research environments work together to solve these challenges, says Dalsmo. Digital director at Skanska, Christoffer Hernæs. Photo: Eirik Leivestad Hall / news – The construction industry is not known for being at the forefront of digital development. But this is an incredibly exciting project for us, where we are at the forefront of development, says digital director at Skanska, Christoffer Hernæs. When the industry targets, they will not only cut fuel consumption, but also build faster and lower costs. Norway uses approx. NOK 100 billion a year on road construction, and around 70 per cent of the cost is linked to fuel, personnel and the operation of machines.
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