High-rise, long-spanning or
simply repetitive-shaped structures lend themselves to automation and
“robotisation”.
Automation concepts may be incorporated in many stages of their
life cycle. This paper reports on a world-wide market research exercise which
sought to establish respondents’ views and knowledge in this area. Drivers for
introducing such concepts include, in order of rank:
productivity; quality;
safety; working conditions; labour cost savings and
standardisation. Quality of
construction can be enhanced by removing/reducing human error, which frequently
arises from on-site fatigue, itself a legacy of the construction environment.
Savings of nearly 15% , achievable in only 5 years, for a typical building with
the introduction of automation concepts are described. Cross-fertilisation and
awareness programmes are needed to educate students and practising construction
professionals alike.