All Over: A Systemic Review of Artificial Intelligence in Architecture
Dermott McMeel1, Surendar Jayachandran1, Charles Walker1
- AUT University
Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 256 to 266. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_25.
Abstract
Through a confluence of technological advances and public discourse by prominent architects the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the architectural profession has been brought into sharp relief. This paper conducts a comprehensive review, using the framework of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work (PoW) and analyses AI's role at each stage. It delineates current applications of AI tools, distinguishing between levels of reliability and robustness. The discussion extends beyond concept and rendering tasks, encompassing AI's potential pervasive presence throughout architectural processes. Findings reveal significant attention directed towards ChatGPT and visualization. However, a substantial portion of resources are being allocated automating routine processes throughout the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. Presently, AI assistance lacks precision and often necessitates extensive cross-verification before integration into final outputs, relegating them primarily to conceptual roles. While beneficial in early stages and conceptual design phases, as projects progress through stages 3 to 7 of the RIBA framework the demand for more precise and reliable data becomes paramount, highlighting a deficiency in current AI and smart tool systems. Customized intelligent tools are presently employed by operators who rigorously adhere to prescribed protocols, commonly referred to as ‘prompt engineering.’ Equipped with an understanding of potential contingencies thereby guaranteeing maximum effectiveness within the organization's workflows. In summary this paper reveals AI is ‘all over’ design and construction processes. As well as drawing attention to emerging skills and new specializations for architects to enhance their capabilities beyond the conventions of current practice.
Keywords
Session
Presented in Track O, Saturday 9 November 2024, 16:15 to 18:15, room WG 1001, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Kamal Dhawan.
How to Cite
McMeel, D., Jayachandran, S., & Walker, C. (2025). All Over: A Systemic Review of Artificial Intelligence in Architecture. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 256–266). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_25
About the Conference
Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.