According to an article in Wired, automating elements of the construction process is considered more than just good engineering, it is also smart business.
These technological benefits are no longer theoretical. Wired reports that by comparing the cost and time spent on human-built walls to walls built by robots, studies show that as the level of complexity increases, automation pays off.
In the robot-built walls, for example, all contributing parties were able to make late-stage adjustments without increasing costs or causing delays. Simpler structures could be built more efficiently by humans, proving that both workers can coexist on construction sites into the future.
The article also cited real-world examples of technology adoption. In Dubai for example, new regulations will require that by 2025, every building must be constructed with 25 percent of its material from 3D-printed sources. Other forward-thinking contractors are turning to single-task robots for jobs like bridge painting, concrete blasting, welding, rebar tying, and road repair, the report said.
To move the “technology in construction” conversation forward, Wired suggests that the construction industry improve its communication processes. Improving how information is shared is essential if technologies are to be effective. The industry must also be willing to adopt these technologies industry-wide, and strengthen its project performance assessments.
Source: Wired
