Review of Natural Language Processing (NLP) And Generative AI Applications in the Era of Construction 4.0

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence plays a pivotal role in the era of Construction 4.0 to promote construction automation and digitalization. The construction industry produces a significant amount of textual data, most of which is unstructured and stored in various formats, such as construction specifications, reports, drawings, and contracts. The increasing volume of unstructured textual data requires the development of big data analytical and automatic information retrieval tools. Natural language processing (NLP) is a subfield of linguistics, computer science, and artificial intelligence that enables the automatic analysis and representation of human language. Recently, there have been significant breakthroughs in the literature on NLP and AI, especially with the introduction of state-of-the-art generative AI techniques such as large language models (LLMs). These techniques reduce manual intervention, accelerate processes, handle large volumes of data, and are adaptable to a wide range of applications. This paper aims to review and categorize the existing literature on the use of NLP and Generative AI techniques in building information modelling (BIM) data interoperability, compliance checks with building codes, and information management. We will analyze trends, identify research gaps, and evaluate the benefits and limitations of each method for the construction industry in the era of Construction 4.0.