As construction technology advancements change the face of the industry, one of the largest general contractors in the Southeast is earning national recognition for using artificial intelligence to accelerate estimating projects.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has named Miami-based Coastal Construction a 2023 AGC Construction Innovation Award finalist for using the revolutionary technology, Togal.AI, to complete construction bids faster and more efficiently. In 2022, Coastal used Togal to more effectively estimate, analyze, and bid several iconic projects in Miami, including Bentley Residences, Aston Martin Residences and the Plaza Coral Gables, to name a few.
“With Togal.AI’s award-winning technology, our Coastal Construction teams cut nearly 14,000 hours of work, saving close to $1 million in our first year using it,” Coastal Construction Chairman and CEO Thomas P. Murphy, Jr. said. “This is the biggest increase in efficiency for our preconstruction department in 20 years. Increased efficiency is needed now more than ever as the industry faces pressing challenges from labor shortages to higher interest rates to rising material costs.”
Seeing the potential for technology to revolutionize construction, Coastal invested seed money to support the launch of Togal.AI in 2019. Since then, Togal has grown to serve hundreds of some of the world’s largest contractors, winning top national and international awards.
“From the very beginning, Coastal Construction believed in the potential of Togal, and we’re thrilled to see what started out as a dream become a huge success,” Togal.AI Founder and CEO Patrick Murphy said. “Coastal has always been at the forefront of innovation to provide the most elite and cutting-edge results, and it’s beyond rewarding to be part of this next chapter.”
Togal uses machine learning to automatically calculate the square footage of areas and complete full takeoffs. It crunches a process called “takeoffs” or “square foot analysis,” which used to take days or weeks, into mere seconds. In the past, estimators had to manually label, measure and identify each area, wall and object, in construction plans with rollers and rulers or by dragging and clicking a mouse on a computer screen. Now, Togal.AI automates that entire process.
“The construction industry is one of the least digitized in the world and is ripe for disruption,” Patrick Murphy added. “Our work with Coastal Construction shows how technology can eliminate mundane tasks and allow teams to focus on higher value functions like value engineering, pricing strategies, scoping and bidding on additional business.”
For more than 100 years, AGC of America has been the leading association for the construction industry. Its annual Innovation Awards launched in 2018 to incentivize and encourage free thinkers to provide pioneering solutions to industry challenges.
As a top three finalist, the Coastal Construction and Togal.AI teams will present to a panel of judges at the AGC Annual Convention on March 13-16 in Las Vegas. The winner will be announced during the opening session of the AGC Annual Convention.
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