Zachry Construction, based in San Antonio, has found a way to accelerate its estimating process, reducing the timeline of a $149 million highway project by 28 days. The company used artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize scheduling outputs from its legacy software, speeding up an otherwise time-consuming process.

According to Ranjeet Gadhoke, vice president of project controls at Zachry Construction, bidding on large infrastructure projects often puts contractors on tight deadlines. On a $200 million public project, for instance, Gadhoke typically has three weeks to submit a bid. Of those three weeks, two are spent developing a schedule, leaving just one week to finalize estimates. “You have to put your best price here, put your best foot forward,” Gadhoke said. “That’s not enough time.”

AI for Quicker Estimations

To address this challenge, Zachry turned to Menlo Park-based Alice Technologies, a company that develops scheduling software for the construction industry. Zachry uses Alice Core, which allows builders to upload pre-existing schedules from software like Microsoft Project or Oracle P6, and run simulations to see how changes in resources or crew size could affect a project’s timeline and budget.

“The tech allows for builders to upload previous schedules that they’ve created in other software, such as Microsoft Project or Oracle P6, and adjust them,” Gadhoke explained. What used to take days — such as determining the impact of changing the number of workers or adjusting resources — now takes just minutes, he said.

While Zachry and Alice declined to disclose the cost of the service, they explained that it is customized for each project.

Saving Time on a $149 Million Highway Project

One of the key examples cited by Gadhoke and Alice founder René Morkos was a $149 million highway project in Texas. On this project, the team needed to determine how moving construction crews around could improve efficiency and reduce the number of crews required on-site. Using Alice Core, the team ran approximately 60 different scenarios in just three minutes. As a result, Zachry was able to reduce the number of flat work crews from nine to seven, saving 28 days of work by resequencing the project and optimizing crew placement.

Although the project experienced some delays, Gadhoke noted that Alice helped Zachry determine the best course of action in response to those setbacks.

Generative AI and the Role of User Input

Alice’s software incorporates generative AI, which has become increasingly popular among contractors looking to remain competitive. However, Gadhoke pointed out that the power of the AI technology depends on the quality of the input data. “If you put garbage into Alice, it’s going to give you garbage,” he warned.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that schedules accurately reflect reality. “If you want to see true value, make sure you have a schedule process that you know represents reality,” Gadhoke advised.

Moving Forward with AI in Construction

Zachry’s experience with Alice Technologies demonstrates the potential for AI to revolutionize the construction estimating process. By cutting down on time spent developing estimates, contractors can make quicker, more informed decisions and ultimately reduce costs. As more companies look to integrate AI into their workflows, Gadhoke’s insights underscore the need for accurate data and a thorough understanding of the technology to fully realize its benefits.

In an industry where time is money, using AI to streamline processes like scheduling and estimating offers a competitive advantage that could lead to more successful and efficient projects.

Originally reported by Matthew Thibault in Construction Dive.