Generative AI and Prompt Engineering: Transforming Rockburst Prediction in Underground Construction

The construction industry is undergoing a transformative shift through automation, with advancements in Generative AI (GenAI) and prompt engineering enhancing safety and efficiency, particularly in high-risk fields like underground construction, geotechnics, and mining. In underground construction, GenAI-powered prompts are revolutionizing practices by enabling a shift from reactive to predictive approaches, leading to advancements in design, project planning, and site management. This study explores the use of Google Gemini, a recent advancement in GenAI, for the prediction of rockburst intensity levels in underground construction. The Python programming language and the Google Gemini tool are combined with prompt engineering to generate prompts that incorporate essential variables related to rockburst. A comprehensive database of 93 documented rockburst cases is compiled. Subsequently, a systematic method is established that involves the categorization of intensity levels through data visualization and factor analysis in order to identify a reduced number of unobservable underlying factors. Furthermore, K-means clustering is utilized to identify data patterns. The gradient boosting classifier is then employed to predict the intensity levels of rockburst. The results demonstrate that GenAI and prompt engineering offers an effective approach for accurately predicting rockburst events, achieving an accuracy rate of 89 percent. Through predictive modeling with GenAI, construction engineering experts can proactively evaluate the likelihood of rockburst, allowing for improved risk management, optimized excavation strategies, and enhanced safety protocols. This approach enables the automation of complex analyses and provides a powerful tool for real-time decision-making and predictive insights, offering significant benefits to industries reliant on underground construction. However, despite the considerable potential of GenAI and prompt engineering in the construction sector, challenges related to output accuracy, the dynamic nature of projects, and the need for human oversight must be carefully addressed to ensure effective implementation.