Blab AI
Suffolk Construction Deploys AI-Powered Jobsite of the Future at Southwest Florida International Airport
Suffolk Construction has turned the Southwest Florida International Airport terminal expansion into a real‑time laboratory for artificial intelligence, installing an on‑site AI hub that the company calls the Jobsite of the Future (JOF). The 14‑gate terminal, part of a $1.2 billion project that broke ground in October 2024, is slated to be topped out in December 2025 and reach completion in October 2027.
The JOF initiative, launched earlier this year, places AI engineers directly on construction sites to embed data‑driven tools into everyday workflows. At SWFIA, AI engineer Cary Greenwood works alongside project manager Dwight Moe to streamline tasks such as requests for information (RFIs), scheduling and safety planning. According to the project team, the AI tools do not replace workers; instead, they enable staff to perform their jobs more efficiently.
One of the most visible impacts is the dramatic reduction in time required to process RFIs. Prior to the AI implementation, preparing an RFI could take six to eight hours. With the new system, the process now takes 10 to 15 minutes, freeing project teams to focus on daily operations. The AI platform also generates custom safety tools that link with project schedules, allowing crews to identify potential hazards before they arise.
Voice‑activated AI software is another feature used by site superintendents. The system records on‑site activities in real time and feeds updates directly into the Primavera P6 scheduling software, enabling rapid schedule adjustments and improved visibility for planners.
The SWFIA site currently hosts about 500 construction workers and 15 to 20 subcontractors each day, with roughly 50 Suffolk employees on site. The AI engineer collects and analyzes data from the site, noting that the process is paperwork‑heavy and email‑heavy. By mining gigabytes of data—including RFIs, submittals and other back‑end data silos—Greenwood and his team develop customized AI solutions that support design, scheduling and process optimization.
Suffolk’s JOF program has designated eight of its 275 active sites nationwide as JOF sites, including the SWFIA project. The company also applies the same data‑driven approach to other projects across Southwest Florida, such as Legacy Point (formerly Southward Village) in Fort Myers, the Tampa General Hospital Urgent Care Center in Babcock Ranch, Alva High School, Estero Sports Park, the Collier County Veterans’ Nursing Home, Moorings Park Grande Lake, Ritz‑Carlton Residences and Avra at Metropolitan.
The AI initiative is part of Suffolk’s broader data strategy, which relies on a data platform that captures information from every job site over the past decade. The platform feeds into three AI‑driven analysis areas: design, to reduce RFIs and rework; scheduling, to generate and simulate project timelines; and process, to improve team efficiency.
Greenwood, who previously worked as a data architect for NV5 and as a senior software engineer at Raytheon, emphasizes collaboration with project teams to identify the best solutions. “The project teams and I work closely together to find the best solutions for the project,” he said. “The company overall is focused on finding those synergies for our benefit and all future projects.”
The JOF initiative reflects a growing trend in the construction industry to embed AI and data analytics into on‑site operations. By turning routine data into actionable insights, Suffolk aims to reduce rework, improve safety and accelerate project delivery across its portfolio.
The SWFIA project remains on schedule, with the next major milestone—topping out—in December 2025. Suffolk’s use of AI tools on the site is expected to continue to enhance efficiency and safety as the terminal expansion moves toward completion in October 2027.
The JOF initiative, launched earlier this year, places AI engineers directly on construction sites to embed data‑driven tools into everyday workflows. At SWFIA, AI engineer Cary Greenwood works alongside project manager Dwight Moe to streamline tasks such as requests for information (RFIs), scheduling and safety planning. According to the project team, the AI tools do not replace workers; instead, they enable staff to perform their jobs more efficiently.
One of the most visible impacts is the dramatic reduction in time required to process RFIs. Prior to the AI implementation, preparing an RFI could take six to eight hours. With the new system, the process now takes 10 to 15 minutes, freeing project teams to focus on daily operations. The AI platform also generates custom safety tools that link with project schedules, allowing crews to identify potential hazards before they arise.
Voice‑activated AI software is another feature used by site superintendents. The system records on‑site activities in real time and feeds updates directly into the Primavera P6 scheduling software, enabling rapid schedule adjustments and improved visibility for planners.
The SWFIA site currently hosts about 500 construction workers and 15 to 20 subcontractors each day, with roughly 50 Suffolk employees on site. The AI engineer collects and analyzes data from the site, noting that the process is paperwork‑heavy and email‑heavy. By mining gigabytes of data—including RFIs, submittals and other back‑end data silos—Greenwood and his team develop customized AI solutions that support design, scheduling and process optimization.
Suffolk’s JOF program has designated eight of its 275 active sites nationwide as JOF sites, including the SWFIA project. The company also applies the same data‑driven approach to other projects across Southwest Florida, such as Legacy Point (formerly Southward Village) in Fort Myers, the Tampa General Hospital Urgent Care Center in Babcock Ranch, Alva High School, Estero Sports Park, the Collier County Veterans’ Nursing Home, Moorings Park Grande Lake, Ritz‑Carlton Residences and Avra at Metropolitan.
The AI initiative is part of Suffolk’s broader data strategy, which relies on a data platform that captures information from every job site over the past decade. The platform feeds into three AI‑driven analysis areas: design, to reduce RFIs and rework; scheduling, to generate and simulate project timelines; and process, to improve team efficiency.
Greenwood, who previously worked as a data architect for NV5 and as a senior software engineer at Raytheon, emphasizes collaboration with project teams to identify the best solutions. “The project teams and I work closely together to find the best solutions for the project,” he said. “The company overall is focused on finding those synergies for our benefit and all future projects.”
The JOF initiative reflects a growing trend in the construction industry to embed AI and data analytics into on‑site operations. By turning routine data into actionable insights, Suffolk aims to reduce rework, improve safety and accelerate project delivery across its portfolio.
The SWFIA project remains on schedule, with the next major milestone—topping out—in December 2025. Suffolk’s use of AI tools on the site is expected to continue to enhance efficiency and safety as the terminal expansion moves toward completion in October 2027.
