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How Integrating AI is Transforming the Engineering Design Process

Writer's picture: Andrew WaddingtonAndrew Waddington

Updated: Jan 23

In the ever-evolving world of engineering, staying ahead of the curve requires embracing innovation and utilising new technologies to their fullest potential. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative tools in recent years, reshaping how engineers approach design, analysis, and project delivery. At Shepherd Gilmour, we have diligently adopted AI to enhance our workflows, ensuring improved efficiency, quality, and consistency in the services we provide to our clients.


AI in construction

The Role of AI in Modern Engineering

AI has the potential to revolutionise the engineering design process. By automating repetitive tasks, analysing vast amounts of data, and generating predictive insights, AI empowers engineers to focus on creative problem-solving and value-driven decision-making. From conceptual designs to detailed analysis, AI tools are being integrated at every stage of the engineering workflow.


Here are just a few areas where AI is making a significant impact:


Structural Optimisation

AI algorithms can analyse complex data sets to identify the most efficient material usage and structural configurations, reducing waste and ensuring sustainability.


Client Savings - Cost & Time

By reducing the amount of time required to undertake tasks, this naturally results in cost savings on a per-project basis. This can be seen as a win-win to our clients, as it enables us to maintain our unique market position, delivering fast-turn around, highly detailed, quality results while maintaining the best value for money among the competition.


Automated Design Checks

By embracing AI, design software can now flag potential issues, ensure compliance with regulations, and suggest improvements, reducing the risk of human error.


Data-Driven Insights

AI tools can process historical data from previous projects, identifying patterns and trends that inform better decision-making for current designs.


Enhanced Collaboration

AI-powered platforms improve communication and collaboration by centralising project data and providing real-time updates, enabling teams to work seamlessly together. Furthermore, the use of carefully crafted AI systems can significantly reduce the time taken to provide concise responses to client queries, thereby benefitting both parties.


How Shepherd Gilmour Integrates AI

At Shepherd Gilmour, we have embraced AI in a way that enhances our capabilities while staying true to our core values of quality and client-focused service. Our approach to AI is measured and thoughtful, ensuring that it complements rather than replaces the human expertise that drives our work.


By integrating AI into our design processes, we can automate routine tasks, such as generating preliminary designs or running multiple iterations of calculations. This allows our engineers to dedicate more time to complex and creative challenges.


AI ensures that our designs maintain a high level of consistency by standardising processes and applying rigorous checks across all projects. This consistency not only improves project outcomes but also reinforces trust with our clients.


At the core of this innovation, our key objective is to support, not replace, our highly skilled and valued team. We believe AI should be a supportive tool that enhances the work of our engineers rather than replacing them. Similarly to the advent of computers and powerful engineering software, AI handles the repetitive and time-consuming aspects of engineering in a broad sense, enabling our team to focus on tasks that require human ingenuity and expertise.


AI Assisting an engineer on a laptop

AI in Action - Four Practical Examples


  1. Design Automation

    For small alterations, such as steelwork designs for property modifications, we use AI-driven software to quickly undertake preliminary concept calculations. This speeds up the process while maintaining a sufficient level of accuracy for the intended purpose. It also allows us to respond to clients quickly, with more accurate pricing at tender.


  2. Inspection and Analysis

    AI-powered tools assist in visual inspections, by analysing images or sensor data to tag, sort and index them into useable formats. This can help our engineers identify potential structural defects more quickly and accurately.


  3. Document Management

    As part of our transition to a SharePoint-based document system, we are exploring AI-driven categorisation and search tools to ensure that critical project information is always at our fingertips.


  4. Data Analysis

    In combination with traditional methods of data gathering, AI is able to analyse basic data and trends in order to objectively focus our efforts to provide maximum impact.


Data analysis

Balancing Innovation and Responsibility

While AI offers immense benefits, we believe it is crucial to implement it responsibly. At Shepherd Gilmour, we are committed to:


  • Training and Upskilling: Ensuring our team is equipped to use AI effectively and understands its limitations.


  • Client Collaboration: Using AI to provide better insights and solutions while keeping our clients involved in every step of the design process.


  • Protecting Jobs: Rather than replacing jobs, AI allows our team to focus on higher-value tasks, fostering job satisfaction and career growth.


  • Maintaining Client Confidentiality: A focus on ethical use of AI with respect to client data, ensuring that sensitive data is never shared without consent.



Looking Ahead

AI is not just a trend; it is a powerful tool that is here to stay. At Shepherd Gilmour, we are excited to continue exploring its potential, always with a focus on improving the service we offer to our clients and maintaining the highest standards in engineering design.


If you are curious about how we are integrating AI into your next project, get in touch with us today. Together, we can design solutions that are not only innovative but also grounded in the expertise and care that define Shepherd Gilmour.

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