Quantum Computing and the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Industry (1/4)

An introduction to:

Quantum Computing and the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Industry.

A study by Oliver Barima, Belgrade, 2021 

Computing and allied modern Information and Communication (ICT) tools have significantly impacted society, including the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Yet, the capacity of specific critical extant computing and allied ICT tools are fast reaching their technical limits. Issues, such as communication security, have been a significant challenge in using such tools. Security breaches have been common for even powerful governmental and financial institutions with the utmost fiduciary duty to preserve the confidentiality of citizens and customers.

The major drawbacks of conventional computing and allied tools demand fresh ways of dealing with these problems. And this need requires pushing the boundaries of actual knowledge with insights, new tools, and transformational approaches to deal with these complex problems effectively.

Quantum computing (QC) is one new emerging area in computing that is touted to deal with aspects of the latter goal. And across industries, quantum computing has recently generated much interest among scholars and practitioners searching for new ways to deal with extant complex problems that conventional computing tools have failed or struggled to solve.

Little attention, however, has been given to this topical issue in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) and allied industries. Given the significant aspirational and real impact that quantum computing will likely play on the global economy over time, the AEC and allied industries must build awareness and explore academic and practical potential opportunities and challenges that can flow from the probable quantum computing paradigm.

For years, AEC industry-based research and practice have confronted significant challenges in dealing with very complex issues, such as finding optimal value delivery solutions in mega-construction projects. Value delivery is essential in project delivery, but several projects and constructed products continue to fail after huge capital and other resource investments. This highlights the high costs associated with low-value delivery performance. Quantum computing can be a fresh frontier that can help deal with aspects of these challenges through its promise of enormous computing capacity to solve some of the complex challenges in reasonable time frames through efficient use of practical resources.

Moreover, another critical underpinning opportunity for the AEC industry is the ability to explore and harness potential synergies from integrating prospective quantum computing abilities with other extant/emerging technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence-AI). Such integration can help the industry attain new insights and solve extant or emerging complex problems to advance the AEC industry's frontiers of knowledge and practice.

Yet, as an embryonic area, few professionals in the AEC industry may be aware of the concept of quantum computing, its benefits, and its challenges. Hence, the recent developments in the area of quantum computing generate several questions, including the following:

•• What is quantum computing? And how does it differ from conventional computing?

•• What can be the potential implications of quantum computing on the AEC industry? 

•• What are the potential challenges in harnessing the potential power of quantum computing in the AEC industry? 

In the following few articles, this study shall cover the following:

• Inform the AEC industry on quantum computing concepts;

• Examine the state of knowledge and applicable technologies in the quantum computing domain highlighting critical deviations from extant conventional computing;

• Investigate the potential uses and challenges of quantum computing from a generic view;

• Discuss the near-term prospects and future outlook in the application of quantum computing technologies in the AEC industry;

• Discuss the implications of the emergence of quantum computing for research and practice in the AEC industry.

So, stay tuned...