ChatGPT and Insights into Civil & Structural Design

After completing a significant portion of the detailed design for a specific healthcare project, I decided to leverage ChatGPT by inputting all the markups and tasks into a CSV file. This information, including every markup in Rezolve with associated text, was inputted to gain insights into the project. Here's the conversation that followed:

Me: I have a load of tasks from a civil and structural project, a hospital project. Can I ask you some questions about it?

ChatGPT: Absolutely, feel free to share the list of completed tasks or ask any specific questions related to the hospital extension project. I'll do my best to assist you.

Me: (shared the full list of markups and tasks, over 1000)

ChatGPT: That's quite an extensive list covering various aspects like structural details, drainage, foundations, specifications, and more! What specific questions do you have about these tasks? I'm here to help with technical details, coordinating different project aspects, or anything else related to the project.

Me: What is the most consistent issue on the project?

ChatGPT: Based on the tasks and notes provided, it seems like coordination and alignment between different disciplines might be a consistent challenge. Coordinating structural elements with drainage, aligning architectural plans with structural details, ensuring accurate placement of foundations concerning existing structures, and managing various specifications concurrently could be posing consistent challenges.

Moreover, clarity in communication about design changes, revisions, and ensuring that updates are implemented correctly across different drawings and specifications might be an ongoing hurdle.

Would you say these alignment and coordination issues are the most prominent, or is there a specific area causing more consistent trouble?

After this insight into the project, it became evident that coordination was a fundamental issue due to the congested site with services, making implementation of architectural details problematic. For instance, using Revit while the architect uses CAD added to the complexity. ChatGPT's conclusion from the markup list emphasized the importance of coordination.

This prompts me to wonder about the implications of continually having an AI assistant for engineering design during the process. Could it lead to less expensive buildings, more carbon-efficient construction, or environmentally friendly outcomes? This phase feels disruptive in the design world, and I'm excited to witness how civil and structural engineering will benefit from the AI revolution.