The Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Dr. Peer Lubasch, has highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping the construction industry, describing the development as the dawn of an era of “construction intelligence.”
Speaking at the 2025 Luminary Soiree hosted by the company in Lagos, Dr. Lubasch explained that Julius Berger and its subsidiaries are already integrating AI into their operations. He noted that in laboratories and material testing processes, AI-driven analytics are enabling greater accuracy, faster results, and smarter decision-making in quality control. “We are witnessing what I would call construction intelligence,” he stated.
According to him, PrimeTech, a design and engineering subsidiary of Julius Berger, has adopted AI applications such as generative design tools, collaborative platforms, and automated clash detection. These innovations, he said, are helping to shorten planning cycles and improve efficiency. He further emphasized that the company aims to embed AI across all stages of design and execution, ensuring faster delivery with improved precision.
Dr. Lubasch added that these advancements will transform Julius Berger into a data-driven and intelligent construction enterprise, capable of setting new benchmarks in performance, safety, quality, and client value. He described AI as a force that unlocks new creative possibilities while strengthening data-backed decision-making, risk assessment, and return on investment. The technology, he said, is bridging the gap between complex infrastructure demands and timely project delivery.
He listed practical areas of application such as predictive maintenance, adaptive scheduling, real-time safety monitoring, cost estimation, and the use of smart dashboards. AI, he added, also supports contract management and legal teams by anticipating risks and streamlining processes.
Adding perspective at the event, a senior executive at Google, Ugochi Agoreyo, described the AI revolution as the widespread adoption of intelligent technologies that extend human capability. She said AI systems,ranging from machine learning models that detect fraud in banking to predictive tools managing smart city energy use are not meant to replace humans but to complement human creativity and judgment. According to her, AI automates repetitive tasks and equips decision-makers with sharper insights, foresight, and precision.
Agoreyo pointed out that AI is influencing diverse sectors including healthcare, agriculture, finance, education, governance, and construction. She commended Julius Berger for embedding AI into its contract planning and project execution. She also stressed the importance of considering both opportunities and challenges in AI adoption, particularly in Africa and Nigeria. With Nigeria’s youthful population projected to exceed 200 million, rising mobile phone penetration, and increased internet connectivity, she noted that the country is well-positioned to harness AI for innovation and growth.
Also speaking, Jurgen Willen, an architect with Willen Associates, an offshore architectural firm, underscored the relevance of AI to their projects in architecture, urban planning, interior design, and product design. He explained that their approach involves future-focused planning, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and products to ensure innovative and sustainable outcomes.
Together, the speakers stressed that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but an essential tool for innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness in construction and beyond.
