April 2025
Authored by Jeff Sample (The Contech Crew) and Andy Verone (Contruent)
In our combined 70+ years of experience in construction and technology, we’ve seen firsthand how industry-specific technologies have become essential to managing and delivering successful capital projects. We’re deeply invested in seeing how these technologies evolve to help address the pressing questions every construction manager and owner faces.
One of the biggest question marks in megaprojects is: Where are we exactly in the process, and what progress have we actually made versus the plan? Without a clear answer, discrepancies can go unnoticed until they’ve already impacted the budget and schedule.
That’s why having real-time visibility is not so much a convenience as an imperative.
Megaprojects aren’t getting any simpler. Billions of dollars are on the line, and every decision and adjustment has significant consequences. And with tight margins and the constant risk of expensive rework, there’s little room for error.
This presents opportunities to leverage technologies that deliver a clearer, more reliable way to monitor progress. The good news is that AI-powered computer vision, combined with reality capture technology, is scaling up to meet this challenge. It’s no longer just about visualizing what’s being built—it’s about gaining real-time, actionable insights to track progress accurately and assess its cost implications.
Visibility Challenges Become Cost Challenges
Every aspect of a project has a cost. For megaprojects, delays, calculation errors and rework orders don’t just disrupt schedules; they introduce financial risks that can add up quickly and significantly. Catching issues and discrepancies too late limits the ability to course-correct before they escalate, making it harder to manage their financial consequences—especially without a clear, real-time understanding of project status.
Without visibility into progress, cost control becomes more reactive than proactive. The more timely and accurate the progress tracking, the easier it is for teams to minimize waste, control budgets and keep work on schedule.
Detecting issues as they emerge—and having insight into their potential cost implications—allows for smarter, faster decision-making. This direct connection between visibility and cost control is why AI-powered computer vision is becoming essential in megaproject cost management.
The Cost Savings Realized from Preventing Rework and Budget Overruns
Let’s acknowledge the obvious: rework is time-consuming and expensive, often eating up to 5-10% of project costs—not exactly small change for megaprojects.
Construction leaders are turning to computer vision, leveraging its capabilities to actively control the costs tied to rework and budget overruns.
Where do these cost savings show up, and how does computer vision support them?
- Less wasted material and labor costs by detecting structural and design errors early, so corrections can be made before requiring costly rework.
- Minimized travel and inspection costs by enabling remote monitoring, reducing the need for frequent jobsite visits.
- Lower labor, material and equipment costs by identifying inefficiencies like bottlenecks or underutilized resources, ensuring resources are optimally allocated.
- Reduced liquidated damages risk by catching schedule delays early, allowing time to intervene before they escalate.
- Fewer payment disagreements and disputes thanks to verifiable, real-time documentation of work progress, reducing the chance of misunderstandings and conflict.
- Lower compliance-related costs by detecting unsafe site conditions, structural issues and other regulatory concerns early, preventing costly fines or delays.
These cost savings can be taken a step further. Integrating computer vision with cost management software allows real-time data to feed into earned value management (EVM) calculations. The continuously updated metrics give construction leaders stronger cost control. With more precise, objective insights into work progress, they can pinpoint where data-driven budget adjustments are needed—ensuring more efficient spending.
What Construction Leaders Can Do Now
Treating visibility as a core component of cost management—rather than just a practical means of progress tracking—can give construction companies a competitive edge. But more than that, the visibility afforded by computer vision and reality capture is a must for companies seeking to reduce risk and gain greater control over project costs.
The shift to real-time visibility and cost control is already underway. As computer vision continues to evolve, its role is expanding beyond progress tracking—it’s becoming a proactive risk management tool, helping construction leaders detect potential rework scenarios and cost overruns before they escalate.
So what can construction leaders do now to move away from reactive problem-solving and toward proactive progress tracking and cost management? Start by assessing where your company stands along the computer vision–visibility–cost management continuum:
- Are any current progress-tracking methods still manual? If so, are there plans to automate them? If yes, is leadership ready to fully leverage this automation and use the insights? What challenges might be encountered by integrating computer vision into a visibility-enabled cost management strategy?
- Are any reality capture technologies being used—3D laser scans, drones, 360° cameras, LiDAR, etc.? If yes, is real-time site data being captured? If not, are you prepared to invest in such technology? Where can you start to incorporate them?
- How are reality capture and computer vision insights currently applied to your projects?
- Can you integrate computer vision insights into cost management software to improve cost forecasting?
- Are cost savings from enhanced visibility being quantified? What KPIs are being used?
This shift may require changes in processes and the adoption of new technology. The cost efficiency and overall success of megaprojects will increasingly hinge on it.
Moving Forward with Computer Vision for Cost Control
As megaprojects grow in cost, size and complexity, traditional methods of tracking progress and managing costs are becoming less effective.
Embracing AI-powered visibility through computer vision gives you a huge advantage, helping you head off risks and reduce inefficiencies while significantly improving progress tracking and cost control.
Does that mean you need to pivot overnight? Not at all. But take stock of where you are now—identify gaps in visibility and technological capabilities. The sooner you invest in computer vision and reality capture (and a solid cost management solution), the sooner you can leverage real-time insights to drive cost efficiency and savings.
Contruent Enterprise, Contruent’s lifecycle cost management solution, can integrate with AI-enabled technologies like computer vision to achieve these outcomes. Learn more or request a demo.
About the Authors
Jeff Sample
Podcast Host, The ConTechCrew
Jeff Sample is a technology evangelist, speaker, and host of The ConTechCrew podcast. With over 25 years in the tech industry, he is passionate about advancing construction through innovation.
Jeff has worked across diverse business functions to optimize workflows with technology, emphasizing both functionality and fiscal responsibility. His hands-on experience in software development gives him a deep understanding of the software lifecycle, enabling him to drive impactful solutions.
Through his work, Jeff empowers individuals and companies to unlock their full potential with cutting-edge technology.
Andy Verone
Chief Strategy Officer, Contruent
With over 35 years of industry experience, Andy joins Contruent with a strong track record of executing innovative strategies, leading cross-functional teams, and transforming businesses.
With a deep understanding of the customer experience, Andy has worked to accelerate technology adoption and technological growth in every role. Prior to joining Contruent as Chief Strategy Officer, Andy served as Global Vice President at Oracle, overseeing M&A activities, shaping product strategies, and co-founding Oracle’s Vertical Industry labs.
His industry knowledge and breadth of experience across teams will be a critical asset as Contruent grows, innovates, and transforms projects for clients globally.