Cloud computing for chatbot in the construction industry: An implementation framework for conversational-BIM voice assistant

This study presents a structural framework for selecting cloud services for the Conversational AI system implementation in the construction industry using Design Thinking Methodology. A focus group discussion approach was used to obtain user requirements from construction workers to implement the Conversational AI for BIM. This resulted in five factors: finance, speed of operation, privacy, estimation, and interface. The user specifications were mapped into technical modules, which were used to select cloud services employed to implement the virtual assistant for the construction industry. The study thus presented the comprehensive requirements for the different categories of construction workers to implement the Conversational-BIM Chatbot (Conversational-BIM) system. Furthermore, the study presented the architecture of Conversational-BIM using Amazon Web Services. The study is useful to researchers and IT developers in implementing chatbots for the construction industry as it presents the relevant considerations for conversational AI applications in the industry.