As housing costs continue to rise across the country, University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning students are gaining hands-on experience with a new artificial intelligence tool designed to make construction more efficient and affordable.
Through a collaboration with Miami-based tech company Togal.AI, students in the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management are using the company’s AI-powered software to explore how technology can help reduce building costs and address housing shortages.
The software automatically measures building materials, verifies blueprints and allows users to “talk” to construction plans using Togal.CHAT, an interface similar to ChatGPT but tailored for construction applications.
“UF is leading the way in preparing the next generation of construction professionals to apply artificial intelligence in ways that make a real difference,” said Rui Liu, assistant professor in the Rinker School of Construction Management. “By integrating tools like Togal.AI into our curriculum, we’re helping students develop practical solutions to one of the most pressing issues in our state and beyond.”
By leveraging AI to speed up estimating and planning, students are learning how innovation can drive efficiency and lower costs.
“Togal.AI was built on the idea that technology can make construction faster, smarter and more cost-effective,” said Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Togal.AI and a former Florida congressman. “Partnering with UF allows us to empower students who will soon be on the front lines of solving the housing crisis across Florida.”
