Translation and training for foreign workers
Daewoo Engineering & Construction is expanding the use of artificial intelligence at its construction sites, with the stated goal of reducing workplace risks and improving operational efficiency. According to The Korea Herald, since September the company has standardized automated translation and tablet-delivered safety training at its domestic sites.
The translation system converts supervisors' Korean voice instructions into text and audio in 16 languages, to help foreign workers understand safety procedures and operational instructions. The company reports that preliminary tests showed 94.6% accuracy in Korean speech recognition. This is a figure stated by the company and not independently verified.
The tablet platform handles worker registration, health checks, safety training and reporting. Connected to the SMARTy integrated safety management system, it consolidates records and reduces administrative work for construction site supervisors.
Smart cameras and quality control
The company also uses AI-powered cameras to detect potential hazards. In June it introduced a smart monitoring system at the G-TOWN project in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province: the system analyzes footage to identify missing safety devices, workers without protective equipment, fires and fallen workers. It also supports monitoring of workers' locations in restricted areas, allowing supervisors to respond more quickly. Daewoo E&C plans to extend AI surveillance cameras and smartphone-based location tracking to its operations.
On quality, the company is digitalizing inspections through Q-Box, an internal platform developed in 2024 as part of a government smart construction project. According to the company, in last year's field trials Q-Box reduced time spent on documentation by more than 90%. The platform automatically sends quality test results to the national Construction Safety Information System and allows supervisors to consult inspection records, construction methods and defects across projects.
Overseas contracts and open innovation
For overseas projects, Daewoo E&C has developed Barodap AI, a tool based on a large language model designed to assist in contract review. The system analyzes tender documents and construction contracts, compares clauses, extracts payment terms and identifies procedures for claims related to work delays. The stated goal is to reduce administrative burden and identify contractual risks earlier; the company plans to extend the technology to project review and other applications.
The company is also seeking external technologies through the 2026 Hyper Safety & AI Open Innovation program, organized with the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology. The program received 164 applications in construction site safety, quality management, AI, robotics, automation and infrastructure development; nine technologies reached the final evaluation stage and their developers are expected to conduct trials at active construction sites. A company official said that introducing AI and smart technologies is not about showcasing technology, but about protecting workers and improving operational efficiency.
What remains to be verified
The data on speech recognition accuracy and reduction in documentation time come from the company and are not accompanied by methodologies or independent verification. The number of construction sites involved, the size of the investments and the expected timelines for expanding the monitoring systems are not stated; the material also does not specify which results have already been measured at scale versus in pilot tests.
