Analysis by camera firm OxBlue has used artificial intelligence (AI) from construction site data to determine the drop in construction productivity across America due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
OxBlue is using data from commercial construction projects, which excludes single-family residential construction.
Using almost near real-time field data and comparing it to previous activity across all 50 states, OxBlue has determined that construction has declined by 5% throughout March 2020 in the US, based on the weighted average of the construction volume for each state.
The analysis found:
- In 37 states construction declined by less that 5% or increased
- In seven states the construction activity declined between 5% and 25%
- Construction in six states declined between 25% and 77%
The two states with the most severe decline in activity were subject to Covid-19 quarantine restrictions, with Pennsylvania’s issue to close non-life-sustaining businesses meaning building work was reduced by 77%. Michigan experienced a 74% drop of construction work after ordering residents to stop work on March 23rd.
12 states that are yet to issue Coronavirus restrictions saw an increase in productivity.
States with high construction construction outputs also saw large declines in activity, such as a 43% decline in New York, which ordered all non-essential construction to stop, and a 57% drop for building work in Massachusetts.
OxBlue found that construction in America’s northeast reduced the most by 34%.
Images courtesy of OxBlue
