Your site, your vision: How generative AI puts you in the director's chair

Overcoming the 'what if' bottleneck in infrastructure projects

As professionals in the built world, our minds are constantly running ‘what if’ scenarios. What if we built our substation in the field over there? What if we routed a new haulage road through here? What if we choose this building design? But these questions all lead to a more crucial one: what will my site really look like in each of these scenarios once complete?

Our digital tools, like digital twins and CAD models, are phenomenal for capturing reality as it is. But when it comes to exploring these future possibilities on demand, they can feel like a bottleneck. Turning a brilliant idea into a tangible, realistic visual or a data-driven report takes time, specialised software, and often, a different team entirely. The speed of our imagination has been limited by the speed of our tools and siloed expertise.

Generative AI: An idea accelerator for the built environment

Sensat Labs' perspective on this changed when we started experimenting with the new wave of Generative AI. The internet was buzzing with AI-generated text and code, and we saw something profound: a new visual way to interact with complex data and a way of bringing these 'what if' scenarios to life.

This idea isn't just a content generator; it's an idea accelerator grounded in real-world data. What if we could give every project manager, engineer, and planner the power to bring future realities to life? What if anyone on a team could instantly visualise their ideas, test their assumptions, and get immediate feedback, all by simply asking questions in plain English?

From digital twin to dynamic reality: How our AI tool puts you in the director's chair

We decided to test this theory in our Sensat platform. We wanted to see if we could move from being a passive observer of data to an active director of possibilities.

Leveraging the power of AI, our Sensat Labs lead engineer George Madges was able to rapidly accelerate the proof-of-concept phase, compressing what would have taken weeks into just a few days. This speed was possible because we've invested in the right tools and have skilled engineers who know how to use them to solve complex problems. The tool allows users to create ultra-realistic, AI-generated snapshots of any viewpoint within the Sensat platform. It can even render CAD models in the context of the real environment, making them look as if they had already been built and photographed on-site.

Dynamic, controllable scenarios with text prompts

That's not all. The prototype tool also allows users to input text prompts to influence the resulting render. Examples include specifying exact lighting conditions, weather and time of day. Want to see what your site might look like in a thunderstorm? Now you can.

Then comes the real magic. Using prompts, you can generate future realities by instructing the AI to build assets and features and tell it where to place them. Want to see what a new Water Treatment Plant might look like in that parcel of land? Our tool will show you that future reality at the click of a button. This is a game-changer for stakeholder engagement. You will now have the power to showcase realistic visions of the future that were once restricted to your imagination and bring them to life.

How AI and real site data work together

So, how does this work? Think of it as having two new experts on your team, directed by you.

First, there's the AI generative engine, a tireless brainstormer that can generate designs, text, and data. But on its own, it lacks context. It's an incredible resource, but it's like a genius without any real world experience.

That's where the ground truth, our digital twin, comes in. Think of it as your project's memory. It holds all the specific facts and real-world constraints of your site, like its layout, regulations, and existing structures. This ensures that the AI's suggestions aren't just creative, they're practical and grounded in reality.

The real magic happens because you are in control. You guide this powerful duo using simple, conversational language, just like you would with a human colleague. This means the output will always be relevant and perfectly aligned with your unique project goals, helping you to achieve your vision more easily.

The future of project optioneering and stakeholder engagement

This isn't just a tool to speed up your workflow. It's a fundamental shift in how we approach problem-solving, finally freeing you from the "either/or" compromises that have defined projects. You no longer have to sacrifice creativity for efficiency or choose between exploring a dozen design options and meeting a deadline. Now, you can do both.

We're building a future where you are empowered to ask big questions, visualise bold solutions, and see the impact of your ideas in real time. The goal isn't for AI to have the vision, it's for us to give you the tools to bring yours to life.

This game-changing capability is arriving on the Sensat platform soon. Get ready to turn your "what ifs" into reality and flex those creative muscles. Sign up for the waiting list to hear about this new feature first.

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