Civil engineers frequently face the challenge of compiling detailed reports, which, although essential, can consume significant time and resources. The good news? Prompts can revolutionise this process, streamlining reporting and boosting productivity. Here’s how.
What are Prompts? Prompts are structured inputs designed to instruct automated tools, like Citation, on generating precise, comprehensive, and relevant content. By using carefully constructed prompts, civil engineers can automate the creation of accurate summaries, initial calculations, and initial analyses, freeing time for crucial tasks like design validation, risk mitigation, and structural analysis.
Benefits of Using Prompts in Civil Engineering Reporting
Improved Accuracy
Structured prompts ensure consistency and accuracy, significantly reducing AI generality (Slop) and hallucinations.
Enhanced Productivity
Automation of repetitive reporting tasks allows engineers to focus on high-value activities.
Consistency Across Reports
Prompts standardise the content structure, ensuring uniformity in formatting, style, and detail across multiple reports.
Reduced Time and Cost
Efficient reporting processes decrease project timelines and operational costs while increasing capacity for more work with the same headcount.
How to Create Effective Prompts
Be Specific
Clearly define the content type and the specific focus. Include parameters such as project context, scope, approach, and referenced data or specifications/regulations.
Use Clear Language
Write concise instructions to avoid ambiguity.
Test and Refine
Continually assess and adjust prompts based on outcomes to optimise results.
Real-world Example
A typical prompt for a flooding engineer writing a site assessment report summary might read:
"Generate a site assessment report summary for [Project Name] based on site location utilising the current identified site conditions, identified services through ArcGIS, available topographical data, identified risks, recommended materials, and compliance with Australian civil engineering standards. Write the summary from a hydrological perspective."
Citation would process this prompt, producing a detailed, structured, specific, and relevant report summary instantly.
Going further, this prompt could be further refined by including additional context to the AI on the engineer's usual approach to this task, in plain language, the way that they would instruct their junior engineers to do the same job. This unique feature allows each engineer using Citation to transfer their knowledge and experience into the content that is created, so that it has their unique fingerprint and point of difference.
Get Started Today
Transform your civil engineering reporting with prompt-driven automation. With Citation, efficient and precise reporting is just a prompt away. Contact us today to learn more about optimising your reporting processes.
