Why it matters
The EU AI Act (2024/1689) is binding from 2025–2027 in phases. Construction AI — estimators, computer-vision site monitoring, agent assistants — mostly lands in limited or minimal risk, but misclassification or missing transparency is a compliance failure, and high-risk uses (safety-critical, worker monitoring, access decisions) bring real obligations.
Classification quick check for construction tools
| System | Likely tier | Obligations |
|---|---|---|
| Cost estimation assistant (BOQ, unit prices) | limited / minimal | transparency (users know it is AI), basic logging |
| Schedule optimisation | minimal | none beyond general law |
| Site camera CV for progress | limited | transparency, data minimisation |
| CV for PPE/safety enforcement | high risk (safety component?) | full: risk management, data governance, human oversight, logs |
| Worker performance monitoring | high risk (employment) | prohibited or high-risk — treat carefully |
| AI agent that signs/submits binding documents | not allowed without human | human oversight mandatory |
Rule of thumb: if a human previously had to sign it, an AI must not sign it alone.
Practical compliance checklist (per tool)
- Classify — document the risk tier and reasoning.
- Transparency — users must know they interact with AI output; mark AI-generated estimates as such.
- Human oversight — a qualified human reviews binding estimates, contracts, safety decisions.
- Data governance — minimal personal data in site CV; no biometric identification.
- Logging — record model, inputs, outputs, version (the ERP usage-ledger pattern).
- Instructions for use — document limitations (e.g. early estimates ±30–50%).
Mapping to the DDC stack
oce-estimate-boq,cost-estimation-*,cost-prediction: limited risk — add AI-output labels.progress-monitoring-cv,defect-detection-ai: limited — no personal data, transparency.safety-compliance-checkerenforcing PPE via CV: reclassify — keep a human in the loop, document.ai-agent-orchestration: supervisor must be a human at decision gates.
Resources
- EU AI Act text: https://artificialintelligenceact.eu
- Commission guidance & codes of practice: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/regulatory-framework-ai