Artificial intelligence in estimating
Ive been working/gaining experience for abt 3 yrs in the civil engineering industry as a 3rd year uni student, starting to get genuinely concerned about where AI is heading.
At work, I’m currently working alongside our Contracts/estimating Manager on developing an internal workflow using Claude AI. The aim is for it to eventually produce a full first pass estimate from project documents, as well as generate methodologies, construction sequencing, assumptions, exclusions and risk items. We are weeks away from having it start producing full estimates.
The concerning part is that this is no longer just “AI can help write emails” or “AI can summarise specs.” It is starting to move directly into core estimating tasks.
In my opinion, within the next five years, AI has the potential to completely replace large parts of the estimating role, especially the repetitive and entry-level parts of the job. Things like reviewing documents, building initial BOQs, writing methodologies, drafting scope summaries and preparing tender notes are all tasks that juniors usually learn from, such as myself.
If AI takes over those early-stage tasks, where does that leave entry-level estimators, cadets and engineers trying to learn the trade?
Ive been working in an estimating role for a year but from what I understand all engineers wouldve taken up estimating at some point in their early careers as a foundation. Ai will only take that away.
Thoughts?