Data has a better idea

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping everyday life and the world of work. Generative AI in particular has reached a milestone through text-processing Large Language Models (LLMs), while AI agents are increasingly automating complex workflows. This transformation has long since reached the construction industry as well. This module provides a foundational introduction to machine learning and deep learning, conveying a mathematical and technical understanding of the underlying methodologies. Across diverse data modalities (image, text, structured formats), it examines not only classical statistical analyses but also forward-looking approaches such as Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), which integrate physical laws directly into AI training, as well as LLMs and agentic AI. Throughout, the emphasis remains on concrete application within civil engineering. Students in the Civil Engineering track are thereby equipped to critically evaluate technological change along with its emerging potentials and risks, and to implement prototype solutions. The module thus imparts the data-driven methodological competencies required to successfully address the contemporary challenges of the construction and civil engineering sector.