Construction and engineering have never stood still. Throughout my career I have seen our industry transformed by digitization and BIM. AI-based solutions represent the next major step in that journey.

Industry leaders like Kirby are investing in bespoke models that have the company in their DNA, thanks to a development process which feeds them a diet consisting entirely of native information.

Kirby’s in-house bot ‘KAI’ is linked at every level to how the company operates and is designed to perform as a personal assistant for each colleague, providing clarity on any query about a project. Thanks to the foresight which led to KAI’s development, this company is well-positioned to reap the benefits of a rapidly developing tool for the construction industry.

In my role as commercial director at Kirby, I can already see the benefits these digital tools bring to our projects but there is another part of my role that has made me think about its wider potential.

I mentor female students through the fantastic STEM Passport for Inclusion initiative that is led by Professor Katriona O’Sullivan at Maynooth University in Ireland. Meeting young people who are deciding what career path to follow reminds me that many still don’t see construction or engineering as an industry where they belong.

During my time mentoring I was surprised to hear the students still perceive construction through an outdated lens. That is something we need to change. The skills our industry needs are evolving. While technical knowledge will always be essential, the future will increasingly value problem solving, communication, creativity, collaboration and the ability to make good decisions using data and technology.

These are the top benefits I’ve identified in recent years:

Taking training to the next level

I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of virtual and augmented reality solutions on Kirby projects thanks to the firm’s early investment in digitization. It’s a natural progression to bring the precision and insights offered by environments like our lab to all training facilities and allow new entrants to try out hyper-realistic simulations of tasks they may not otherwise have the opportunity to do at early stages of their careers.

New technology, new roles to fill

As AI, automation, prefabrication and modularization become part of everyday construction, new tasks emerge and create roles that didn’t exist before, for example our modular coordinators and data analysts.

The practical support offered by AI must be balanced by the judgement, experience and emotional intelligence of humans. A more diverse workforce fuelled by a greater range of experiences will give us the best opportunity to exploit AI to the fullest degree, to the benefit of workers, employers and valued clients.

Removing physical barriers

I began my electrician’s apprenticeship in 1998, having tried bricklaying, joinery and carpentry too, as part of a pre-apprenticeship course. When I completed my pre-apprenticeship, I enjoyed every trade I experienced, particularly carpentry.

Like many construction roles at the time, it relied heavily on manual handling, which influenced my career choice. Today, advances in technology, automation and modular construction are changing how that work is carried out, making the industry more accessible while improving safety and productivity for everyone,

I’m proud to work for an organization that has long invested in ways to encourage diversity in engineering – particularly to welcome a greater proportion of females into the industry. Kirby is involved in multiple outreach projects at primary, secondary and third level education that are designed to raise awareness of the wonderful opportunities a career in engineering or construction can bring.

One of our most successful has been the female bursary scheme – now in its fourth year – which supports third-level students to kickstart their engineering career and has proved highly popular, with several alumni joining Kirby full-time after college.

Kirby has also won awards for its efforts to promote diversity and last year it was unveiled as the main sponsor of camogie – a female-only Gaelic sport – in the county of Galway. The senior women’s team went on to win the All-Ireland title in the first year of the partnership, which was a fantastic reward for their hard work and truly inspirational for us at Kirby.

I believe the combination of these initiatives is helping to change the image of engineering and construction and equally proves there is no one solution.

Now, the arrival of AI and its potential have brought us to this pivotal moment where we have a hugely valuable new key to help unlock the future of our sectors.

I am enjoying a wonderful career, offering incredible experiences and truly rewarding projects that continue to challenge and inspire. I want far more people to have a job like the one I get to enjoy every day.

By adding AI to the mix of solutions and using it to its full potential, we can move closer to the diverse workforce that will benefit us all.