Advanced Teaching through AI Images

AI Image Generation for Construction (Seeing Concepts Changes Everything)

Here’s an exciting development for the way I communicate construction concepts: AI image generation. And I couldn’t be more excited about it. Let me tell you what it is first, then I’ll tell you why it matters.

The Discovery: Sergio’s Lean Images

There’s a content creator named Sergio on the Elevate Construction LinkedIn page who does really, really neat Lean images. And it’s based around manufacturing, but if somebody was like, “Oh my gosh, what is a heijunka board or heijunka box rather, or what is poka-yoke or what is whatever?” He has examples on there and it’s really, really neat.

And the reason that I think it’s so neat and the reason I’ve been posting them, meaning sharing them, is that it’s hard for people to understand and I’m sorry, me included understand these concepts without an image. And they’re so crisp and they’re so wonderful. And I have just, I just absolutely loved seeing them. And so I post them on the Elevate Construction LinkedIn channel quite often, and I just absolutely adore these images because you really, really get it.

The Breakthrough: Gemini and Canva

And then I kept asking people, I was like, “How do I make those images?” Nothing, nothing, lots of people trying to help doing a great job. But, and maybe it’s just the AI has reached a point now where it can be done. And I asked Sergio on LinkedIn, I said, “How do you do these?” And he said, “AI and Canva.”

Now, if you know Canva, Canva is great for a lot of things. It’s got a little ways to go with AI, but when in the program, you can erase things, you can modify things. And Canva is just one of those programs that changed everything for us. And it’s very, very visual.

And then I saw a post about AI that said, Gemini is really, really doing well with images. And the post talks about all the different AI platforms, but Gemini was one of those that was really phenomenal. And I didn’t think anything of it. And I shared it with our leadership team.

And then Kate immediately popped on and realized that we already have a subscription. So there you go. And she was like, “Jason, you better try this. This is pretty cool.” Anyway, I actually signed up for the Ultra, not just the Pro. We already had it on our Google account.

The Process: Hand Sketch Plus Text Description

And I would make, oh, I started doing a hand sketch of what I wanted to basically show on an image and then described it with text. And I was, to say I was blown away is an understatement, absolutely blown away. And I am like geeking out over this, like excited. Like I want to go do this, like personal hobby, like excited about this.

Because I started creating images that looked as good as Sergio’s and I’m like, “Oh my gosh, this is amazing.”

Why This Matters: Concepts Lock In When You See Them

So I’ve had these key things that I want to show people that I can’t explain well enough or show people. Like a good example for me is the advanced queuing area, which is actually one of the first ones I did where the concept is that trucks come in, it’s pretty close to the trailer and you have a shop forklift on a flat level surface, either base or asphalt or concrete, unload the truck and kit it properly by zone right there with water spiders. And then the telehandlers take their kits to the zones and it makes sure, and we just throw away any trash right then and there.

And this concept, it’s like, people are like, “Yeah, great. Yeah. Okay. Okay, Jason.” But you see the image and it’s like, “Yes, I get it. Yes. We need to do that.” Like there’s something that locks it in.

And I shared it and somebody on LinkedIn actually said, “You should also consider a compactor and a baler and you won’t even have to take or have most of that be trashed.” And I was like, “Oh my gosh.” So then in Gemini, I’m like, “Hey, can you create a compactor and a baler for me as well? Put it in the image.” Boom. It’s right there.

And I then put it into Canva and I might want to crisp up some lines or put some call-outs on it. You know, the title bars, you know, whatever else. Oh, the other thing is if I want to erase something, Canva is amazing with erasing things on an image or selecting them, isolating them so you can pick them. And then it just looks so beautiful.

What AI Has Enabled: Accelerated Book Writing and Audible Access

Like, I know it sounds really silly, but my point is like AI, I know there’s a lot of haters out there and that’s fine. AI has accelerated our book writing. In the next few months, four more books will come out that are in my voice, that the core content is mine. It’s human made, but AI organized.

And that will then go on Audible with an AI narrated voice, which is amazing, which means now people have faster access, quicker access to things. And now all of these critical concepts that I’ve been wanting to describe, like the Masaguda and the Genkan, or the advanced queuing area, or area boards, or rerouting and queuing instructions for incoming trucks, or signage, or the second story observation office on a construction project. Like all these things that people are like, “What?” But now you can see them.

I even put in two images. One was how a context box can be organized. I’m going to do an image here pretty soon that talks about how we 5S and organize our work trucks.

Why I’m So Excited: Everybody Sees What the Leader Sees

And then somebody will see, oh, let me close this out. Well, here’s why I’m so excited about it. Joe, who is a former plumbing foreman, he’s since deceased, I found out. Very sad. Joe, a plumbing foreman that I worked with a long time ago, he said, “Jason, I get you now. You just want us to see things the way you see them,” which is kind of toxic. Meaning I hope I’m more collaborative than that.

But it really is on a job site about everybody seeing what the person sees who has the highest expectations or the leader. And being able to see these images and share them with the world. And once I’m done with like most of what I want to publish there, actually putting it in a colored book so that it’s like a quick reference guide for anybody that wants to learn construction. Like this is going to change the learning game.

And I’m just so proud of what AI has enabled us to do and how effective we’re able to be now with training. It’s absolutely remarkable.

Here’s what AI image generation enables:

• Concepts lock in when people see them: Advanced queuing area example: people say “Yeah, okay Jason” until they see the image. Then: “Yes, I get it. Yes, we need to do that.” Something locks it in. Images make abstract concepts concrete and visible.
• Critical construction concepts now visible: Masaguda, Genkan, advanced queuing area, area boards, rerouting and queuing instructions for incoming trucks, signage, second story observation office, context box organization, 5S work truck organization. All the things people are like “What?” Now they can see them.
• AI accelerates book writing and training: Four more books coming out in next few months: human-made core content in Jason’s voice, AI organized. Then on Audible with AI narrated voice. Faster access, quicker access. Colored book quick reference guide for learning construction.
• Everybody sees what the leader sees: Joe the plumbing foreman: “Jason, I get you now. You just want us to see things the way you see them.” On a job site, it’s about everybody seeing what the person sees who has the highest expectations or the leader. AI images enable this.

If your project needs superintendent coaching, project support, or leadership development, Elevate Construction can help your field teams stabilize, schedule, and flow.

A Challenge for Construction Leaders

Here’s what I want you to do this week. Try AI image generation. Use Gemini for image creation. Use Canva to crisp up lines and add call-outs. Hand sketch what you want to show, describe it with text, generate the image. Then share it with your team.

Think about the concepts you’ve been trying to explain but can’t quite get people to see. Advanced queuing area. Area boards. 5S work truck organization. Context boxes. Masaguda. Genkan. Whatever it is. Create the image. Share it. Watch people lock in when they see it.

This is going to change the learning game. And I’m just so proud of what AI has enabled us to do and how effective we’re able to be now with training. As we say at Elevate, AI image generation transforms construction training. Advanced queuing area, Masaguda, Genkan, area boards visible now. People see it, they get it. Game changer.

On we go.

Frequently Asked Questions

What AI tools do you use for construction images?

Gemini for AI image generation (hand sketch plus text description), then Canva to crisp up lines, erase things, add call-outs and title bars. Gemini creates the image, Canva polishes it.

What construction concepts have you made visible with AI?

Advanced queuing area, Masaguda, Genkan, area boards, rerouting and queuing instructions for incoming trucks, signage, second story observation office, context box organization, 5S work truck organization. All the things people couldn’t visualize before.

Why do images lock in concepts better than words?

Because people are like “Yeah, okay Jason” until they see the image. Then: “Yes, I get it. Yes, we need to do that.” Something locks it in. Abstract concepts become concrete and visible.

How has AI accelerated your book writing?

Four more books coming out in next few months. Human-made core content in Jason’s voice, AI organized. Then on Audible with AI narrated voice. Faster access, quicker access to training content.

What did Joe the plumbing foreman say?

“Jason, I get you now. You just want us to see things the way you see them.” On a job site, it’s about everybody seeing what the person sees who has the highest expectations or the leader.