Construction stands to get an AI boost

According to Cheng, the event is structured around eight focus areas covering the typical stages of a development lifecycle, from planning and design to operation and maintenance, as well as site safety and robotics.

Several of the systems on display have already been applied or tested on local projects. 

The process has been accepted by Hong Kong’s Buildings Department and Housing Authority, and it cuts inspection time by more than half while reducing the need for work at height.

Another system enables tower cranes to be operated remotely from ground level or through an app. It also supports fully autonomous lifting once start and end points are entered. Sensors and positioning systems help plan safe paths without constant manual input.

A welding robot, developed with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, uses vision systems to plan and adjust welds on high-strength steel without manual correction of the path. 

A digital twin platform already in use at the Kai Tak Sports Park integrates live data with building models, allowing facility teams to monitor performance and environmental targets from a single interface.

“We asked those solution providers whether something could already be put to use on a real project,” said Cheng when explaining how the exhibits were selected.

Apart from local companies, he noted that interest from abroad had grown noticeably, with groups from the Middle East among those who had visited CIC to learn more about what they have to offer. 

Moreover, funding support for companies that wish to deploy innovative systems has been increased, according to Cheng.

The Government announced in this year's Budget that it would inject HK$1 billion into the Construction Industry Innovation and Technology Fund. The CIC will provide an additional HK$400 million, bringing a total of HK$1.4 billion to sustain support for the industry's implementation of innovation and technology applications.

Training programmes organised by the CIC are also available to help the industry adapt. 

Eligible supervisors and managers can attend dedicated sessions on the use of such automation tools, while AI has been made a required subject as part of one advanced diploma programme. 

To reduce reliance on a small number of foreign suppliers, CIC is encouraging the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) platforms developed by Mainland China and local vendors, not only to give them more choice, but also for reasons of cost, resilience and data security.

Cheng expects the industry to adopt new technologies at a faster pace because of the tightening labour supply. 

Many tasks that are still performed manually, particularly those that are repetitive or require working at height, are likely to shift to automated systems in the next decade. 

This shift will require changes in how projects are designed from the start. “You have to think about how robots or automated equipment will move around the site,” he explained. 

“That means proper circulation routes, loading areas and the positioning of services, so they don’t need someone standing there helping them all the time.”

Remote operation would also become more common, enabling some work to continue after conventional site hours have ended. 

“Younger people may not want to carry out heavy physical work on site every day,” he admitted. “They might prefer roles where they work with technology instead.”

Speaking of the emergence of agentic AI systems, also known as AI agents, and their implications for the built environment, Cheng believes these tools have strong potential in construction.

He said they can help professionals explore complex design questions much more quickly by searching through large volumes of research and product data – work that would otherwise require considerable time and effort if done manually.

As an example, he described how an agent could be asked to analyse research data, material specifications and site conditions to recommend suitable materials for a building’s facade so as to meet thermal performance and energy targets. 

As the gatekeeper, the design team would then review the options and make the final decision.

He believes that as projects become more complex and teams face tighter deadlines, tools of this kind could become increasingly common.

Against this backdrop, Cheng said he hoped the event would help reduce the time between the appearance of new tools and their adoption on working projects.

The CIC Global AI and Smart Construction Conference and Exhibition 2026 (GASCCE 2026)

Date: 24–25 June 2026 (Wed & Thu)
Venue: 12W, Hong Kong Science Park & Hybrid Online