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Abstract
Emerging innovative building technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for accelerating transitions of the construction industry. To unlock the full potential of these technologies, their interactions should be conceptualised within co-evolution and transitions contexts. This paper develops a new theory to examine the 'co-evolution through interaction' of innovative building technologies. Drawing on the socio-technical transitions and technology interaction theories, a conceptual model was proposed, defining three interaction modes. The model was contextualised and verified using empirical case study of two innovative building technologies: modular integrated construction and robotics adopted in Hong Kong. The results demonstrate and characterise the co-evolution patterns of these technologies in bounded competition, adaptable neutralism, and reinforced symbiosis. The findings reveal that interaction modes are transferable during the technology co-evolution, which provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the interaction complexity and guides the formulation of policy and managerial strategies towards the future symbiotic development of innovative building technologies.
... Construction robotics and automation (CRA) is the application of automatically performing construction and operation using mechanical and electronic self-regulation machinery with intelligent regulatory systems. Used terminology and meanings vary, including applications ranging from human-handled automatic equipment and semi-automated or remotecontrolled machines to autonomous robotics with more sensors and control capabilities [10]. For this report, CAR is considered to provide a broad range of machinery and software to automate infrastructure processes in the construction process [1]. ...
... Companies have to release their sustainability targets to increase their environmental efficiency. Integrating automated technology at the project stage achieves improved environmental sustainability [10]. The effect of construction robotics and automation (CRA) on environmental objectives and how this affects these objectives should also provide a central indicator for managers. ...
... In automation experiments in prefabrication, these advantages have been well recognized. For example, authors [10] developed technological guidelines to underpin industrialization and show the economic importance of prefabrication mechanization and automation. Automation is not only advantageous for labor savings and accuracy, according to his reports, but also decreases template and mold transformation costs for small batch orders. ...
Building growth technology is rapidly recognized globally as a key aspect in the future of construction projects. However, construction robotics and automation (CRA) have yet to undergo significant reality deployment. The latest substantial sustainability requirement is the necessary cause for the more extensive implementation of construction robotics and automation. Nevertheless, there are small attempts at a detailed investigation of the effect of using construction robotics and automation on the sustainability efficiency of buildings and construction. Still, structured advice for the building industry is lacking in this sense. The study in this paper represents the first step towards addressing by analyzing and examining the construction robotics and automation techniques and available innovations and, for the first time, creating a coherent system of metrics for measuring the sustainability efficiency of construction robotics and automation usage in buildings. The ultimate objective of the study must therefore be the creation of a rigorous and consistent methodology for evaluating, within this framework, the feasibility of construction robotics and automation in the construction projects context.
... However, a wider adoption of the off-site approach is hindered by challenges like lack of design guidelines and transportation difficulties (Ferdous et al. 2019). To fully benefit from prefabricated and modular construction, the application of artificial intelligence and robotics (AIR) is increasingly recognized as promising and essential (Yang et al. 2019;Wang et al. 2020). The important role of AI and robotics in boosting innovation and transforming and digitalizing construction has also been highlighted in governmental policies (e.g., European Parliament 2019). ...
... By moving product-oriented construction to process-oriented production in a better-controlled environment (Pan and Hon 2020), prefabricated and modular construction encourages the adoption of emerging AIR-powered solutions in a number of applications. Yang et al. (2019) argued that modular construction could leverage intelligent robotics networking to realize full automation, given a structured environment and standardized process. World Economic Forum (2018) developed three scenarios of future construction that cover a range of megatrends, including AI, robotics, and prefabrication and modularization, and highlighted the importance of adopting advanced manufacturing technologies to prefabricate modules, and intelligent logistics technologies for prefabrication and modularization to transform industry practices. ...
... Various research and development efforts have increasingly been made worldwide to explore the potential of AIR solutions in building and construction, which range from technical solutions (e.g., Kontovourkis and Tryfonos 2020) to application discussion (e.g., Yang et al. 2019). However, there has been no systematic review in the field with a particular focus on AIR for prefabrication or modular construction. ...
Prefabrication and modularization have attracted much attention in building construction, and they are becoming increasingly important for the betterment of society. To fully benefit from prefabricated and modular construction, the application of artificial intelligence and robotics (AIR) is widely recognized as essential, but it has not yet been systematically studied. This paper aims to explore future research directions on AIR for prefabricated and modular construction through a systematic literature review drawing on a concept-methodology-value philosophical framework. The analysis involves 97 published journal articles carefully identified through the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The review specifically addresses four research questions aligned with the framework to synthesize previous research activities, and the paper proposes five directions that depict future research and practices: integrated AIR for large-scale modularization, multi-dimensional project management, intelligent postconstruction management, interdisciplinarity and interoperability, and moving beyond technical solutions. The findings and the philosophical framework should benefit succeeding exploration and practice in the field.
... However, the implementation of modular building is given little or no recognition in most developing nations (Kibert et al. 2017). Different researchers have shown that modular building is heavily related to energy and cost-effectiveness (Inyim et al. 2014;Kibert et al. 2017;Yang et al. 2019), and withstands a decrease in danger experienced on construction sites (Groak 1996). A viewpoint is taken from the works of Musa et al. (2014) who proved in Malaysia that the quality of service of building projects can be improved through the implementation of modular building. ...
... The components and modules are stored in plants and are customer-specific. Also, modular buildings can be removed and reused to produce the same building or another form (Modular Building Institute 2016; Yang et al. 2019). MMC decreases on-site building time, increases sustainability, reduces construction waste, improves operating climate and site protection, improves project quality management, and reduces carbon emissions as circumstances warrant (Wuni et al. 2020b). ...
... Regulations and the availability of necessary equipment is another challenge faced in the adoption of MMC since it is aninnovative construction method. Regulations that are needed to ensure there is standardisation in the use of MMC is not available while the equipment needed to achieve these standards are also yet to be deployed for construction usage in developing countries (Yang et al. 2019). As a result of these, the adoption of MMC has been very slow by clients and professionals in developing countries (Javanifard et al. 2013). ...
Modular construction has been identified as a major part of the continuous improvement being experienced in site procedures and construction processes globally. Few construction projects are being executed using modular building components in developing countries. This study is aimed at assessing the challenges to the implementation of the modular method of construction (MMC) with a focus on developing countries using two major states in Nigeria as a case study. A quantitative research approach was adopted with the design of a questionnaire survey. The study engaged construction professionals such as Quantity Surveyors, Architects, Engineers, Builders and Project Managers in Nigeria. Data retrieved were analysed using percentile, mean item score, Kruskal-Wallis H-Test as well as exploratory factor analysis. The findings showed that construction practitioners are faced with the challenge of finding a compromise between the cost of the project and the value obtainable by using MMC. The challenges were further classified into construction industry practices, client concerns and site characteristics. Practically, the study revealed the need for the proper enlightenment of both construction practitioners and clients with regards to the inherent value of the MMC. This involves the inclusion of MMC requirements in the client’s information requirement for the construction project, the tender pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ), and the contractor’s technical method statement for the construction project. Theoretically, the study serves as a good foundation for future research seeking to explore the use of MMC in developing countries. The study will assist construction organisations as well as the industry at large in shaping their policies to accommodate the use of innovative methods of construction by understanding the challenges that might hinder its effective implementation.
... The Construction Industry (CI) significantly contributes to the aggregate economic activity in both developed and emerging economies [1]. Despite its relevance, the sector is globally recognized for its conservative attitude to the adoption of innovative sustainable technologies [2], its operational methods that are labor intensive at the construction site [3], and its low-tech intensity [4]. These main characteristics are manifested in high rates of waste [5,6], high rates of consumption of raw materials, and environmental pollution [6,7]. ...
... Therefore, to elucidate the use of ST concepts in the CI, we take the study of [3] as an example. This study examined the "coevolution through interaction" of Innovative Building Technologies (IBTs) though a case study of modular integrated construction and robotics in Hong Kong. ...
Sustainability transition constitutes an important topic in innovation studies that have been providing insights into contemporary sustainability issues. These insights can help us to rethink how the construction industry can become more sustainable. Thus, this study review comprehensively analyzes the scientific production of ST in the CI through bibliometric analysis, using a sample of 121 documents from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The review identified the evolution of scientific production and the top journals, institutions, nations, and authors contributing to this field and highlights a significant increase in publications since 2017. The VOSviewer was used to perform the science mapping and revealed the ongoing fragmentation within the publication network in the field. The bibliographic coupling and author keyword co-occurrence networks shed light on the research trends and directions. In sum, the scientific production on the transition to sustainability in the construction sector is diverse but relatively recent, indicating that the field is still in its early stages and requires more research for a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Overall, this study contributes by providing insightful information about the current state of TS in the CI, enabling dialogue between academic communities and stimulating interest in TS among those who have not yet addressed these issues.
... Moreover, construction robotics is perceived as an "emerging game-changing innovation" [41]. Its development is at the early stage but emerging as an important innovative building technology. ...
... Moving towards smart construction, there are five areas where robotics can be particularly helpful. They are robotoriented design, robotic industrialization, single-task construction robots, site automation, and ambient robotics [41]. ...
Construction is a major source of carbon emissions. Moreover, it faces various other sustainability challenges, such as construction waste, construction noise, vehicular traffic near construction sites, dust and other air and water pollutants, and safety and well-being of construction workers. Poorly designed and constructed buildings will continue to affect the well-being of their occupants and overall energy efficiency throughout the building lifecycle. Hence, accelerating the transformation of the construction industry towards smart construction or Construction 4.0 is an important topic. The ways that technology can help to achieve smart construction, especially with the adoption of construction methods with increasing construction modularity, should be further explored. Focusing on modular integrated construction (MiC), this paper examines the following questions: (1) How has technology been applied to support MiC development and smart construction in Hong Kong? (2) What are the lessons learned? A case study approach of a building information model (BIM)-enabled multifunctional blockchain-based digital platform is adopted to allow us to systematically consider (1) the main objectives and scope, (2) the stakeholders involved, (3) the key outcomes and processes, (4) the applications of blockchain technology, and (5) the integration with other digital software and management platforms in practice. Drawing upon the experience, we propose a generic four-stage approach in understanding and facilitating the adoption of relevant technology towards smart construction. At Stage One, the technologies of BIM, RFID, and blockchain are applied to support the core elements of MiC production: just-in-time transportation and on-site installation. At Stage Two, the digital platform is extended to serve as an interface for third parties, notably government; monitoring, authentication, and certifications for information sharing; visualization; and real-time monitoring and updating of MiC projects. At Stage Three, the system focuses on people in the construction process, aiming to enhance the safety and well-being of workers and drivers throughout the construction process. Different Internet-of-Thing devices and sensors, construction robotics, closed-circuit television, dashboards, and cloud-based monitoring are deployed. At Stage Four, the full construction lifecycle is the focus, whereby a centralized smart command theatre is set up with multiple sources of data in a city information model.
... These factors are context-specific and exert varied influences on how actors in the housing sector will shift from traditional construction to using OSM. Government initiatives and interventions are some of the external factors that can drive the shift from traditional onsite construction to an increased use of OSM by creating top-down pressures (Lou and Kamar, 2012;Yang et al., 2019). Arif and Egbu (2010), Goulding et al. (2015) and Masood et al. (2021) highlight the significant role of national innovation-focused transformation strategies and roadmaps. ...
... In Hong Kong, government policy has made the use of OSM a requirement for public housing projects. Coupled with the provision of funding incentives, the policy has been instrumental in promoting an increased use of volumetric units in building new public sector funded housing (Yang et al., 2019). ...
The need to address housing supply deficits has driven global efforts to transform the construction industry and in particular to achieve greater use of offsite manufacturing (OSM). Countries like Japan, Germany and Sweden have been more successful than others in driving greater use of OSM to build new housing. How these countries achieved such success, and lessons for how others may reach such levels of using OSM to build new housing, are yet to be identified. To address this gap, in this paper we applied institutional theory to analyse the factors driving greater use of OSM to build new housing in seven selected countries. Qualitative content analysis of 95 documents enabled the identification of four typologies that have led countries to the greater use of OSM for new build housing. The four different typologies, characterised by various coercive, normative and mimetic institutional pressures, show that there is no one single strategy for guaranteeing success: an individual country cannot directly transfer specific aspects of policy and practice used in another country to their own in order to drive greater use of offsite manufacturing for building new housing. Our findings also underscore the need for the further application of institutional theory to OSM research in order to better understand how history and path dependence, for instance, shape the trajectory of gradual shifts from onsite construction to the greater use of OSM to build housing in different countries.
... The stakeholders of modular high-rise projects should collaborate from the early offsite logistics planning stage, jointly making decisions on schedules, supervision, QA/QC procedures, and information management to reduce the SoUs in the planning and control systems. Suppliers and contractors may utilize advanced technologies-e.g., automation and robotics (Yang et al. 2019)-to enhance the efficiency and reliability of modular manufacturing. However, as noted in both the case study and previous literature (Yang et al. 2019), the adoption of new technologies is associated with complicated uncertainties. ...
... Suppliers and contractors may utilize advanced technologies-e.g., automation and robotics (Yang et al. 2019)-to enhance the efficiency and reliability of modular manufacturing. However, as noted in both the case study and previous literature (Yang et al. 2019), the adoption of new technologies is associated with complicated uncertainties. To reduce technology-related SoUs and realize the full potential of innovative technologies (Pan and Pan 2020), such adoption could start with small-scale testing and progressively expand to large-scale applications. ...
A critical concern in the supply chain of modular construction is offsite logistics that involve complicated module manufacturing, storage, and transportation processes. However, numerous uncertainties exist in a supply chain that could detrimentally affect the performance of offsite logistics and thereby the success of modular construction projects. A systematic exploration of sources of uncertainties (SoUs) in offsite logistics is needed, as they have not yet been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to identify and categorize SoUs affecting the offsite logistics of high-rise modular building projects in high-density cities. A multicase study method was adopted involving three modular high-rise projects. Data were collected through documentation, site visits, and interviews, drawing on the uncertainty circle model. A total of 30 key SoUs were identified in five areas: the offsite logistics process, the demand side, the supply side, planning and control systems, and the environment. A framework for SoUs was derived, which showed the multifaceted, interconnected, and context-specific features of SoUs and illustrated their probabilities and impacts. Most SoUs arise from offsite logistics processes and planning and control systems. The demand-side SoUs were found to have higher probabilities and impacts. The supply-side SoUs were less probable but could have significant impacts on offsite logistics. Suggestions are made that would allow practitioners to break uncertainty circles and policymakers to promote the development of a robust modular construction supply chain.
... By shifting most of the on-site construction activities to a controlled off-site factory, MiC provides a considerable enhancement in production quality control (Tam et al., 2007), on-site construction productivity (Shahpari et al., 2020), schedule and cost performance (Hsieh, 1997), and pleasant and safe working environments (Polat, 2008). Generally, MiC projects outperform the traditional construction approach, with improved productivity and performance (Tam et al., 2007;Yang et al., 2019). Productivity is commonly defined as the ratio of output to its associated input (Bröchner and Olofsson, 2012). ...
... The need for more monitoring from authorities hinders the broader use of modular methods. The small quantities of incentive measures from the government fail to encourage further modular construction [52]. Without comprehensive regulation and monitoring, there is a crisis of confidence, and the credibility of suppliers is challenge [53]. ...
... These negative social perceptions have caused great speculation and worry when it comes to the adoption of the technology. Although this technology has positive impacts on the environment, construction time and costs, if there is a scenario where a client is thrilled to use such technology, unfortunately, there is little to no regulation to ensure the standardisation of Modular Construction within developing countries [28]. This has resulted in minimal adoption of modular construction by clients and professionals in developing countries [29] 5 ...
This paper examines the cause of untimely delivery of affordable housing which is of great importance due to the rising urbanisation rates and increased affordable housing demands. The rationale for this examination stems from the various issues causing inefficient delivery of affordable housing such as ineffective collaboration, coordination, and miscommunication which results in prolonged delivery time. Various scholars indicate a possible solution to such issues is the implementation of innovative technologies. A critical review of existing literature within the realms of innovative technology adoption in a project’s design and construction phases was undertaken to guide the research. Although there are various innovative technologies, not all will positively affect the delivery of affordable housing, thus a review of relevant technologies like Cloud-Based Building Information Modelling, Construction 3D-Printing and Modular Construction. Based on the findings, the adoption of innovative technology can improve the rate at which affordable housing can be delivered. Unfortunately, it comes at the cost of training and enforcing industry professionals to forfeit previous design and construction methods. However, it can be proposed that further research can be undertaken to examine the impact of deeper scales of social, business, and financial impacts.KeywordsAffordable housingInnovative technologiesHousing deliveryHousing affordabilitySupply chain
... These perspectives suggest that good technical insights can foster close collaboration between product designers, process designers, and market planners in organizations. For instance, in construction industry, technological symbiosis between modular integrated construction and construction robotics can yield mutual benefits and support innovative building technologies (Yang et al. 2019;cf., Coccia and Watts 2020). The conceptual scheme of purposeful conception can also explain which technologies are likeliest to evolve rapidly. ...
Technology is a complex system, composed of
more than one entity and a relationship that
holds between each entity and at least one
other entity in the system, to satisfy needs,
achieve goals, and solve problems of adopters to
take advantage of important opportunities or to
cope with consequential environmental threats for
purposes of adaptation and/or survival in highly
differentiated and volatile environments.
... Drawing on patent application data sources, this study discloses the localised applications or minor adjustments of these technologies in the building industry in the YRD, one of the most urbanised areas and the largest market for the building industry in China and engages with a full life cycle of building construction. The assessment is based on an objective-technology matrix (OT-matrix) developed from the review [12][13][14]30,32,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55]. Patent records are derived to capture the existing technological innovations and their linkage to sustainable building construction is analysed one by one, followed by an applicant analysis to identify the possible underlying dynamics. ...
Advances in technology provides the potential to innovate sustainability in the building construction industry. Drawing on the literature and expert reviews, this research discloses the potential of 14 specific technologies in waste minimisation, energy saving, and efficiency improvement for sustainable building construction and develops a conceptual framework engaging the building life cycle (the planning, construction, use and operation, and demolition phases) and the actors for assessing technological innovation at a local level. This framework is used to identify how technologies were innovated for sustainable building construction through the selected 3017 patent invention applications from the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), one of the fastest urbanising areas and the largest market for the building industry in China. Findings unveiled that innovation is uneven amongst the 14 technologies and the degree of mixing was relatively low in the YRD. The contribution of the technological innovation to sustainability is mainly actualised through efficiency improvements in building construction (2265) and through directly reducing waste (1094) and energy consumption (642). Some general-purpose technologies (e.g., blockchain, cloud computing), which assume to fundamentally innovate the industry, are mostly absent with less than 10 records each, leaving the potential for future adaptive technological innovation. Furthermore, state-owned enterprises as the main sources of patent inventions amongst applicants in the YRD may suggest the dissimilar path of China towards technology innovation compared to its Anglo-American counterparts.
... This research is very much needed at this time as modular construction is considered able to answer the problems of increasing costs due to high labor costs and the construction process [5]. Although modular construction has been widely applied in low-rise buildings over the last three decades, its application in high-rise buildings is still limited (less than 1%) globally [6]. Thus, the need for residential high-rise buildings with modular construction in Indonesia becomes very important. ...
Modular construction has been applied in low-rise buildings over the past three decades, but its application in high-rise buildings is still less than 1% worldwide. Thus, the need for high-rise residential buildings applying modular construction in Indonesia becomes very important. The unavailability of design guidelines disrupts the life cycle of modular construction projects. This study aims to analyze the factors which affect the risk manageability of on-time performance in modular construction residential high-rise building projects, then analyze risk manageability modeling using dynamic systems for on-time performance, then analyze the results of the simulations and modeling scenarios of risk manageability using dynamic systems to improve time performance. The research variables were obtained based on the results of a literature study seeking the opinions of experts qualified in this field. The methods used were cause flow diagram models which were then developed into stock-flow diagrams with input formulation and validation, thereafter simulations and scenarios were carried out and reviewed for time overrun. The research results showed 15 factors of risk manageability that affect on-time performance in the modular construction of residential high-rise buildings. Without any mitigation of the risks, the highest time overrun of 12.79 days was incurred due to drawing approval, then design standardization of 12.79 days, and supply chain 12.78 days. The results of scenario #3 showed an optimistic alternative with a 53.55% improvement whereby project delays decreased from 126 days/25.25% to 59.17 days/11.8%, delivering a time overrun of <20% which could be implemented in the construction process.
... Modular integrated construction (MiC) is an offsite construction method where free-standing standardized building components are manufactured in the factory and transported to the site for assembly. Considering technological improvements offered by modularization, MiC can provide a significant productivity boost to the construction industry [97]. Additionally, reducing labor demand, design precision, enabling sustainability, and proactive value management are some of the critical advantages of MiC [11,40]. ...
Modular integrated construction (MiC) is evoking interest as a sustainable construction method leading towards industry 4.0. However, its complex supply chain and fragile logistic operations impede project performance. This paper, therefore, explores the critical influencing factors of MiC supply chain operations and studies their interrelationships. A systematic review is conducted across multiple supply chain research domains to identify relevant factors. These factors are evaluated using eigenvector and MICMAC analysis. Four themes of critical factors are determined using factor’s interrelationships: dominating, symbiotic, external, and potential influencing factors. These themes demonstrate the influencing nature and mechanism of factors. As a result, most of the assembling-related factors are found to dominate and dynamically control the MiC supply chain performance. This paper also highlights potential factors that need further research attention, studies prevalent factors affecting the MiC supply chain and offers future research directions.
... A recent trend in the construction industry is off-site manufacturing, which refers to the manufacture and assembly of individual building components (e.g., precast concrete elements, steel structures, timber frames) in a factory environment prior to delivery to the construction site [55]. In such a controlled environment, robotics can help improve productivity, enhance safety, and reduce waste in off-site manufacturing since robots can undertake heavy shifting and working loads [56]. In concrete element production, robotics can be applied in cleaning and plotting, shuttering and de-shuttering, reinforcement production systems, insulation, concrete spreading, and cladding [10]. ...
In the past two decades, robotics in construction (RiC) has become an interdisciplinary research field that integrates a large number of urgent technologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, deep learning, building information modelling (BIM)), resulting in the related literature being both fragmented and vast. This paper has explored the advances in RiC in the past two decades using a mixed quantitative-qualitative review method. Initially, 940 related articles (170 journal articles and 770 conference papers) were identified by keyword-searching in Scopus and then fed into a bibliometric analysis to build science maps. Following this, a qualitative discussion highlights recent achievements in RiC across three dimensions: tasks, algorithms, and collaborations. Moreover, four future research directions are proposed: 1) in-depth integration of BIM and robotics; 2) near-site robotic fabrication; 3) deep reinforcement learning for flexible environment adaption; and 4) high-level robot-to-robot collaboration. The contributions of this research are twofold: 1) identifying the latest research topics and trends concerning robotic technologies in construction; and 2) providing in-depth insights into the future direction of RiC. The findings from this research can serve both academia and industry in terms of promoting robotic algorithms, hardware, and applications in construction industry.
... The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is among the largest industries in the U.S., spending over $1.3 trillion in 2019 [1,2]. In response to rising construction demand and a severe shortage of skilled labor in the workforce [3,4], developers and contractors worldwide are now revisiting the concept of offsite construction, integrating new technologies and manufacturing approaches, such as robotics and reality capture [5,6]. Moving major parts of construction into large manufacturing plants introduced new opportunities, such as global construction, allowing, parts of a module or building components are produced from different countries where labor and material are cheaper and then shipped to the construction site. ...
There have been recent efforts to use reality capture technologies to perform remote quality control in construction. However, there is a lack of research efforts in detecting construction incompatibilities in modular construction using reality capture technologies. The construction incompatibilities in modular construction often cause reworks and delays in the project schedule. To address this issue, this paper presents a general compatibility analysis method that propose scanning the modules in manufacturing plant and construction site, and check module-to-module compatibility remotely, prior to the shipment and installation. This study provides three sample module-to-module compatibility scenarios to validate the proposed compatibility analysis. The case study results show that the compatibility analysis method was able to identify the compatibility issues with high accuracy. Lastly, the compatibility analysis method was validated in terms of accuracy and time performance in six scenarios that was defined on the modules.
... This research is very much needed at this time as modular construction is considered able to answer the problems of increasing costs due to high labor costs and the construction process [5]. Although modular construction has been widely applied in low-rise buildings over the last three decades, its application in high-rise buildings is still limited (less than 1%) globally [6]. Thus, the need for residential high-rise buildings with modular construction in Indonesia becomes very important. ...
Modular construction has been applied in low-rise buildings over the past three decades, but its application in high-rise buildings is still less than 1% worldwide. Thus, the need for high-rise residential buildings applying modular construction in Indonesia becomes very important. The unavailability of design guidelines disrupts the life cycle of modular construction projects. This study aims to analyze the factors which affect the risk manageability of on-time performance in modular construction residential high-rise building projects, then analyze risk manageability modeling using dynamic systems for on-time performance, then analyze the results of the simulations and modeling scenarios of risk manageability using dynamic systems to improve time performance. The research variables were obtained based on the results of a literature study seeking the opinions of experts qualified in this field. The methods used were cause flow diagram models which were then developed into stock-flow diagrams with input formulation and validation, thereafter simulations and scenarios were carried out and reviewed for time overrun. The research results showed 15 factors of risk manageability that affect on-time performance in the modular construction of residential high-rise buildings. Without any mitigation of the risks, the highest time overrun of 12.79 days was incurred due to drawing approval, then design standardization of 12.79 days, and supply chain 12.78 days. The results of scenario #3 showed an optimistic alternative with a 53.55% improvement whereby project delays decreased from 126 days/25.25% to 59.17 days/11.8%, delivering a time overrun of <20% which could be implemented in the construction process.
... In 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the construction industry experienced 902 fatalities, of which 15.2% (137 fatalities) resulted from workers coming into contact with objects or construction equipment (BLS, 2014). As construction projects become larger and more modularized (Hsu et al., 2018;Yang et al., 2019;Tak et al., 2020), more construction equipment will be used. In addition, due to its nature, accidents associated with heavy equipment are more likely to be severe compared to those associated with human error (OSHA, 2010). ...
This study performs a temporal investigation of construction equipment-related accidents (CEAs). Accidents associated with the use of construction equipment are among the leading cause of fatal injuries in the construction industry. Although there are several studies on accidents, there are relatively few in-depth temporal analyses on the frequency of accidents. Using Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) accident data, we extracted information including equipment type, accident time, and accident cause. Using this information and the injury class highlighted in the OSHA dataset, the number of accidents as a function of time was determined and chi-square tests were performed. In addition, a series of interviews were conducted to qualitatively validate the results of the data analyses. It was found that the interval between 13:00 and 13:59 had the highest number of CEAs. Based on a chi-square test that divides time into four windows, it was found that the frequency of CEAs as a function of time is statistically significantly different. We also show the frequency of accidents based on time and equipment type, time and injury class, and time and accident cause. The results will contribute to the development of more sophisticated plans and guidelines to prevent accidents associated with the use of construction equipment.
... As the highest level of prefabricated construction, modular construction can easily guarantee a precast ratio over 70% [5][6][7][8], advancing conventional prefabricated construction which uses one-dimensional components such as precast beams and columns or two-dimensional panels such as precast slabs and walls. Meanwhile, modular construction enhances the utilization of automation and robotics for reducing manual works during the module production, transportation, hoisting, and installation [9][10][11][12], which relieves the problems such as labor shortage and aging workforce in the construction industry. Compared with traditional castin-situ construction, modular construction can reduce construction time by around 50% and cost by around 20% [13]. ...
Modular high-rises are attractive for metropolises, but few applications exist, partly due to the lack of knowledge about their lateral behaviors. Existing concrete modular high-rises usually adopt a time-consuming and labor-intensive cast-in-situ concrete layer on modules to satisfy the continuous rigid diaphragm assumption. This study aims to develop an innovative discrete diaphragm system for concrete modular high-rises without a cast-in-situ concrete layer. A private residential building in Hong Kong (HK) was selected as the case building, in which the novel horizontal and vertical connection designs were proposed. A simplified spring model considering in-plane axial and shear behaviors was proposed to simulate the horizontal connections. A three-dimensional finite element model of the case building with discrete diaphragms was established using the spring model. A parametric study was conducted to examine the influence of horizontal connections on the deflection and natural periods of the case building under the HK code-specified wind loads. A comparative study was conducted using five cases with different connection stiffness sets to systematically investigate the influence of horizontal connections on the structural responses of the case building under the wind loads. Results show that the discrete diaphragm system is feasible for concrete modular high-rises in HK. Effects of horizontal connections on the lateral behavior of concrete modular high-rises should be considered in the structural design when the discrete diaphragms are adopted. This study breaks through the continuous rigid diaphragm assumption and proves that appropriate flexible horizontal connections are a feasible option for concrete modular high-rises under wind loads.
... Among all sectors, the construction industry has been a significant part of the world's economy and contributes significantly to each country or region's gross domestic product (GDP). However, slow productivity growth is a crucial challenge for the industry [6]. With the accelerated development of China, the demand for sustainability and the desire for personalization in new building forms are increasing day by day for Chinese users. ...
The current construction industry faces many challenges, such as low productivity, low material application rates, and poor environmental benefits. Robotic and automated construction (RAAC) technologies represent a breakthrough from traditional construction methods and are considered an effective way to improve productivity, ecological efficiency, and sustainability in the construction industry. However, the high cost of research and development and the lack of investment in the construction field have discouraged Chinese construction companies from innovating. In this paper, an evolutionary game model between the government, construction firms, and public universities is constructed around the choice of RAAC innovation, and the evolutionary stabilization strategy (ESS) of the three parties is discussed. Establishing a compound incentive policy of financial and reputational rewards and increasing the share of RAAC scores in academic evaluations can accelerate the realization of ESS among the government, construction companies, and public universities. This study informs policymakers to develop RAAC innovation strategies, and stakeholders such as the government, construction companies, and public universities should consider and jointly promote the development and application of RAAC technologies to improve productivity and environmental sustainability in the construction industry.
... The same can be found for articles that are categorized under 'sustainability' (4.1%) (see Hu et al. 2019) and 'performance analysis' (2.7%) (see Salama et al. 2017). In contrast, all articles falling under the 'policy' theme (5.4%) employed qualitative methods (see Goulding et al. 2015, Yang et al. 2019. Whilst not making any generalisation, it can be appreciated that, even at face value, thematic areas have some methodological leanings. ...
Debates regarding research methodologies in construction, engineering and management (CEM) literature are long-standing. However, in the growing literature on offsite manufacturing (OSM), such debates are lacking and some studies conflate different components of research methodologies such as research design, methods, data sources, data types, and analytical techniques. This study examines the components of research methodologies reported in the OSM literature and how they compare with the established relationships between the key components of research methodologies. We analyse 74 articles on OSM sampled from 26 journals and find that quantitative methods, case studies, primary data, bibliometric database and modelling are the most preferred methodological approaches. The methodological components reported also cohere with established relationships between components of research methodology, other than the relationship between research methods and data sources. The findings reveal a growing hybridisation of research designs, data sources and analytical techniques, which suggests that methodological plurality is emerging in the OSM literature. This re-echoes concerns regarding the dominance of quantitative methods and the limited use of theory in CEM research, and consequently highlights the need for diversity in methodologies to expand knowledge boundaries.
... Taking Hong Kong as an example, site spaces are limited, urban labor costs are high, city traffics are affected by construction logistics, and project durations must be controlled to minimize the negative impacts on the surrounding environment [60]. In order to tackle these challenges, Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) has been proposed and adopted in construction industry [35,58]. MiC standardizes functional building blocks into prefabricated modules produced at offsite factories and transported to construction sites for assembly [33,53]. ...
Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) has been one of the most innovative solutions to address the ever-growing housing demands in megacities such as Hong Kong. MiC offers a range of benefits including cost-effectiveness, high productivity, and high sustainability for construction industry. Multiple stakeholders in MiC project, such as project client, module manufacturer, logistics company, and building contractor, normally use their own proprietary and centralized Enterprise Information System (EIS). However, stakeholders are facing challenges to share information throughout MiC projects. “Islands of Information” issue is commonly existing and creates information fragmentation and discontinuity. As an emerging Information and Communication Technology (ICT), blockchain provides unified standards and protocols for information sharing based on decentralized P2P framework with enhanced transparency and security. Aiming to address the information fragmentation and discontinuity in MiC project, this paper proposes a blockchain-enabled cyber-physical smart MiC platform to facilitate cross-enterprise information sharing among multiple stakeholders based on User-Centered Design (UCD) method. A practical roadmap is presented for the design, development, deployment, and application of MiC blockchain with new opportunities and guidelines. Initial investigations based on an industrial collaborated company are analyzed and the blockchain-enabled cyber-physical MiC workflow is designed. The user-centered blockchain explorers with high-fidelity digital twins are illustrated. Some preliminary results are found that MiC blockchain not only facilitates cyber-physical construction progress traceability, and real-time KPI visualization & evaluation, but also improves the information reliability, immutability, and transparency in MiC projects.
... • Automação em Pré-moldados: Dispositivos BIM e IoT, como RFID, são ferramentas importantes para o processo de automação em pré-moldados, atuam na logística, rastreamento, visualização com modelo BIM e montagem automática [8]. Vários autores publicaram pesquisas com propostas de soluções em pré-moldados [29][30][31]; ...
A internet das coisas (IoT) é uma complexa tecnologia de integração ambientada com software e hardware, tecnologia de sensores, de circuitos integrados e de aplicação eletrônica. Esse artigo tem como objetivo contextualizar o uso da IoT na indústria da construção civil por meio de uma Revisão Sistemática da Literatura (RSL). Procura-se identificar e analisar as inovações na construção civil com o uso de IoT entre 2017 e 2021 a partir de publicações científicas, com a classificação dos artigos em categorias e subcategorias. Nota-se um aumento significativo de produções científicas inseridas na indústria 4.0 que que devem mudar a maneira de construir.
... Vision-based mobile robotic system becoming essential to many construction applications, monitoring, inspection and surveying. Besides all the advance technologies, this system suffers a series of performance issues such as inefficient navigation in indoor and cluttered scenes with many obstacles and barriers [38]. The designed a UAV-UGV team that integrates two custom built mobile robots. ...
This paper focuses on the literature review of construction industry towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0). It is not easy for construction industry to adapt to the new technology which mostly based on internet of things (IOT), internet of service, big data and etc. However, the recent devastating Covid 19 outbreak more or less has opened the eyes of the construction industry towards IR 4.0 due to the movement control order (MCO). The impact of Covid 19 forces all the industries including construction industry to move toward IR 4.0. Some of the elements to support the construction industry to move toward IR 4.0 are discussed in this paper including Building Information Modeling (BIM), the use of drone or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAE) to monitor construction site, virtual meeting among stakeholders and the use of prefabrication works such as Industrial Building System (IBS). Systematic and efficient construction works can be achieved by implementing the elements of IR 4.0 in construction industry.
... On the other hand, the MiC project facilitated and embraced the effective implementation of AI and IoT technologies. This observed positive interaction supports the finding by Yang et al. (2019) that co-evolution exists between modular and automated construction technologies. ...
Lei Yue Mun quarantine camp was the first Covid-19 isolation facility built in Hong Kong. The camp’s two sites provide 352 rooms built using innovative modular integrated construction. Smart construction technologies were also adopted to deliver the project in the shortest time possible, including real-time module logistics monitoring and automatic module detection. This addressed critical challenges encountered by the project team in terms of limited time and resources, resulting in greater construction efficiency and less environmental pollution. The project is an exemplar of adopting modular construction and smart technologies for delivering emergency facilities.
... Digitalisation and automation currently receive significant attention in the construction industry, both by scholars and practitioners. Examples include; cloud-based building information modelling (Goulding, Rahimian, and Wang 2014), offsite construction (Yin et al. 2019), additive manufacturing (Ghaffar, Corker, and Fan 2018) and robotics (Yang, Pan, and Pan 2019). However, even though the construction industry is in the middle of a digital transformation, it has been accused of being less digitalised than other sectors (Levi€ akangas, Mok Paik, and Moon 2017). ...
The total cost of a construction project involves both the cost of production and the transaction costs associated with managing the project. However, we know surprisingly little about the magnitude of transaction costs in construction projects. The purpose of this paper is to provide more empirical data as we study what proportion of the total cost in construction projects is spent on managing the project. We use the analogy of human anatomy as we investigate the size of a project’s head (managing the project) compared to the size of its body (producing deliverables). Using a dataset from 134 construction projects in Norway, we find that the project head consists of more than 18% of the total project cost on average. We also investigate how the size of the project head varies depending on a project’s complexity, size, duration and burn rate.
... Rashid et al. (2018a) examined the critical success factors for automation and robotics in IBS. Yang et al. (2019) has developed a new theory of 'co-evolution through interaction' modular integrated construction robotics. However, previous studies lacked in-depth exploration of stakeholder perception for measuring automation and robotics success within the industry. ...
Automation and robotics in the Industrialised Building System (IBS) hold much promise for the Malaysian construction industry to move towards the fourth industrial revolution. Previous studies lacked in-depth exploration of stakeholder perception for measuring automation and robotics success within the industry. This paper examined the stakeholder perception of success criteria for measuring automation and robotics in IBS. The study was conducted through a questionnaire survey with wide-ranging IBS stakeholder that yielded two-hundred and one (201) effective response. A total of nineteen (19) success criteria for measuring automation and robotics in IBS were analysed through exploratory factor analysis, mean score and ANOVA. The findings reveal that reduce construction time, reduce production time, reduce waste, reduce material consumption, and improved occupational safety and health are the most important criteria for measuring automation and robotics in IBS. This paper contributes to the literature of automation and robotics in IBS and providing new insights for future research and development.
South Africa, like many other developing nations, faces significant challenges in delivering effective and fair public services. Africa in particular suffers from a catastrophic shortage of public infrastructure, and a variety of factors contribute to the infrastructure deficit. Public entities around the world are battling with effective service delivery and have adopted different models to enhance and improve infrastructure delivery. However, the models currently deployed have shortcomings, thus frustrating the efforts to deliver infrastructure effectively to the general populace. South Africa has similarly had its fair share of false starts. The 2010 introduction of Infrastructure Delivery Management System (IDMS) was specifically to facilitate effective, timely and sustained infrastructure development, and tackle the challenges in public sector infrastructure delivery. The study employs a multi-case study, qualitative approach through content analysed data to look at four nations that implements infrastructure projects in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa and analyze the advancement of infrastructure delivery. A systematic review of infrastructure delivery models/reforms in the context of public sector was carried out through literature and descriptive analysis was applied. The findings reveal a knowledge vacuum about the diverse techniques taken by various countries in the execution of public sector infrastructure projects, and provide little precise evidence on the performance of delivery systems and lessons learned. It is here recommended that interventions such as IDMS should be contextualized cognizant of the country’s developmental imperatives.KeywordsReformsInfrastructureDeliveryConstruction industryPublic sector
This paper considers the need for a clear legal and policy framework to guide a more sustainable construction industry and the use of digital technologies. It commences with an analysis of the meaning of sustainable development and briefly reflects on the three components of sustainable construction industry. The paper argues that while much has been written on the environmental aspect there has been more limited engagement with the social component of sustainable development. It critically analyses decent work deficits in the construction industry and the role of law and technology in addressing these deficits. In so doing it follows a doctrinal and legal research methodology. The paper argues that while the benefits of certain digital technologies for safer construction industry are undeniable, there is not much certainty on the extent to which the construction industry is legally obligated to adopt such technologies. Ultimately, it considers that codes on corporate social responsibility could play a valuable role where they operate alongside clear legal frameworks to guide the construction industry in the adoption of such technological tools. These technological tools are then to be used as part of a broader commitment to promoting a sustainable construction industry in which there is decent work for all. It concludes with recommendations for legal reform to guide a more sustainable construction industry.KeywordsSustainable developmentDecent workOccupational health and safetySocial insuranceSocial protection
Risks in construction projects can be dynamic and complex in nature. Construction projects continue to succumb to the impacts of these varied risks thus requiring innovation in risk management practice (RMP). Like most developing countries, the South African Construction Industry (SACI) is not an exception in terms of consistent record of project failures. To date, there are different practices in risk management that are being utilised across the SACI. However, there are knowledge gaps in the RMP that require an agile approach for improving project delivery within the SACI. Furthermore, it is vital to note that agile approaches ensure inter alia constant improvement and innovation, as opposed to traditional methods. As such, introducing an Agile RMP (ARMP) tool is essential to transform the SACI in terms of project delivery success as findings have shown. This exploratory literature review-based study is aimed to analyse the effectiveness of traditional Risk Management (RM) methods and assess the need for an ARMP approach relative to improving project delivery within the SACI using eleven (11) snowball sampled articles. Through content analysis, the study revealed the need for further research on agile methods and training among others. However, this requires an in-depth investigation and inputs from stakeholders in the future. In so doing, this will reduce the effects of prevalent risk management’s knowledge gaps among project stakeholders. Furthermore, it is vital to introduce digitalisation-enable innovative agile methods for identifying and assessing risks that affect the construction projects whilst stipulating pragmatic training tools essential for improving the project delivery. Ultimately, the formulation of an ARMP framework appropriate for the SACI will contribute to sustainable construction projects.KeywordsAgile risk management practiceProject deliveryRisk managementRisk management practiceSouth African construction industry
While robotics has caused leaps in productivity and safety enhancements in several industries, its adoption in construction has been slow due to its perceived complexity and the high cost of implementation. Recently, however, there has been a high level of R&D work in this domain. This paper presents a review of recent publications about new advances in construction robotics. The survey revealed that several technologies (e.g., additive manufacturing; automated installation systems) are being implemented in structural works, interior finishing, exterior finishing, site preparation, lifting, repairs, and drilling. The paper identifies the key efforts that used intelligent tools to allow robots to increase productivity, quality, and safety on construction sites. The paper examines the benefits, the effort it takes, and how intelligence was implemented in various research efforts, as well as identifies common and future trends in this domain. This can contribute to helping researchers and practitioners identify cost-effective means to increase construction productivity/safety through intelligent automation.
Purpose
The mega railway infrastructure projects are faced with complex environments and multi-level management challenges. Thus, the mega railway infrastructure project management system not only needs to focus on its composition, but also needs to consider changes and impacts of internal and external environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study attempts to introduce the concept of dissipative structure from the perspective of complexity theory and constructs a positive entropy and negentropy flow index system for mega railway infrastructure project management system in order to analyze the factors of management system more deeply. The Brusselator model is used to construct the structure of the mega railway infrastructure project management system, and the entropy method is used to calculate the positive entropy and negentropy values to verify whether the management system is a dissipative structure.
Findings
A plateau railway project in China was used as an example for an empirical study, not only its own characteristics are analyzed, but also the role of constraints and facilitation of the internal and external environment. Based on the research results, several effective suggestions are put forward to improve the stability and work efficiency of mega railway infrastructure project management system.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates that mega railway infrastructure project management system has the characteristics of dissipative structure. It can provide theoretical support for the development of mega railway infrastructure project management system from disorderly state to orderly state.
When modularization is combined with innovative technologies, the potential result is a leveraging opportunity surpassing the benefits taken individually. This chapter introduces some of the innovative technologies applicable to a modularization application, explains in which phases they can be implemented, and who the primary beneficiaries are. These technologies can be grouped into three areas: visualization, information modeling, and simulation; sensing and data analytics for construction; and robotics and automation. A digital twin is a virtual representation, a model, of the actual project, which allows for the collection of real‐world data and information. A combination of different sensors can be used to aid module lifting and transportation in projects. For example, such a monitoring system could include cameras and sensors, dash cameras, impact recorders, and data loggers. One intriguing idea that can be implemented to support modular construction at the job site is the cyber computational‐physical systems introduced by Yang, Pan, and Pan.
Advances in robotic construction are evident and increasing every year, bringing present and potential improvements. However, the economic and social impacts are hard to assess and quantify without physical in situ testing, which is expensive and time-consuming. This paper presents a methodology for the simulation of robotic construction technologies, namely drones, using a virtual reality environment. Our hypothesis is that a virtual reality simulation of a robotic construction (H1) has the potential of increasing the precision of predicting the construction duration and cost and (H2) allows for the detection of construction problems. The study begins with a review of the literature on drones, robotic arms, and hybrid automatic construction solutions, as well as virtual reality construction simulations, summarising the robotic technologies currently being used, mainly in academic research, to assemble construction elements. It then proposes a construction simulation methodology applied to three architectonic elements to analyse different approaches and different scenarios for robotic construction simulation methodology. A construction simulation is tested, and the data is analysed and compared with traditional construction methods, focussing on construction time and costs.
Despite the advances of modular construction, the comprehensive understanding of its technical aspects in buildings is still limited, especially during the implementation process. This paper reviews the technical aspects of planning and coordination of modular construction in the building industry. The unclear onsite and practical knowledge need to be clarified for the implementation process. It then leads to the questions on the status of research development and gaps of the technical aspects. One hundred and thirty papers were filtered and analyzed through a systematic review. Four technical aspects of modular construction were found, namely (a) feasibility aspects of modular construction, (b) types of construction or materials, (c) design and structural analyses, and (d) construction planning. The findings render insightful references for the successful delivery of modular construction including its lifecycle analysis and sustainability needs. A research framework is also developed to highlight the gaps and measures for future practice.
By maximizing offsite work and minimizing onsite activities, modular construction has become increasingly popular in high-rise, high-density cities. For successfully delivering high-rise modular buildings, a key issue is the effective scheduling of offsite logistics, consisting of module manufacturing, transportation, and storage. This paper proposes an integrated offsite logistics scheduling approach for high-rise modular building projects that addresses project-specific constraints and uncertainties, based on the stochastic Petri net (SPN) method. The proposed approach supports multi-criteria decision-making, that considers completion time, total cost, storage capacity utilization, and production process stability under what-if scenarios. Its efficacy and novelty for offsite logistics scheduling were demonstrated through a real-life project case study. The results indicate the need to (1) strengthen suppliers' demand responsiveness by shortening module production time; (2) enhance manufacturing flexibility by increasing factory storage utilization; (3) improve supply chain synchronization; and (4) capitalize on the government's role in offsite logistics enhancement. The findings methodologically innovate offsite logistics scheduling, and practically support contractors and module suppliers in successfully delivering high-rise modular building projects in high-density cities.
This paper details a design-led research project that developed a prototype soft anthropomorphic end-effector for use with a collaborative robot in the construction industry. As the construction industry changes to meet the demands of increasing populations and a lack of skilled trades workers, new approaches are needed. This design research explored a novel approach to construction by focusing on designing a hybrid end-effector that allows a collaborative robot to carry out multiple repetitive tasks that are usually done manually during construction to increase productivity throughout all construction stages. The design research conducts an iterative design process using soft robotic techniques to replicate human hand elements such as muscles and ligaments, to create a hybrid end-effector capable of using numerous tools with one end-effector. The research aimed to reduce the high cost of requiring multiple end-effectors and improve productivity. This end-effector was tested for grip strength and the ability to use both power and precision grasp functions to pick up and use multiple tools including a paintbrush, a paint roller, a screwdriver, and screw.
The chapter focuses on the emerging advanced building construction methods and techniques, oriented to improving quality, safety, and productivity of the construction industry. New advancements in prefabrication and modular construction, off-site and on-site construction automation, robotics and additive manufacturing (AM) in construction are illustrated providing a review of the emerging trends, technologies and strategies, and showing current barriers, challenges, and opportunities for their wider adoption in the building industry. Single task construction robots, biomorphic robots, exoskeletons, autonomous vehicles, and robotic on-site factories are investigated showing their main applications in construction. A holistic overview of different AM processes, technologies, and materials for the construction industry is given, which includes some of the 3D-printed demonstration projects at the building scale completed to date. Current status of technology, limitations, and advantages with reference to materials, systems, and construction processes are explained.
Modular integrated construction (MiC) has been introduced in high-rise construction for achieving sustainable development. As high-rise MiC disruptively transforms the construction process compared with conventional construction, it is imperative to systematically understand its performance, which however has not been sufficiently reported in previous literature. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a new framework of key performance indicators (KPIs) for project stakeholders to comprehensively measure and effectively benchmark the performance of high-rise MiC projects. This framework is developed based on the concept of sustainable construction that covers social, environmental and economic aspects. Through a comprehensive literature review, expert interviews, and a focus group meeting, 32 KPIs are established in the three sustainability aspects. An eight-step process is suggested for project stakeholders to adopt these KPIs to measure MiC performance in three tiers, i.e., overall building, off-site and on-site, and modular works. A case study is then presented which demonstrates that the framework is effective in measuring the sustainability of high-rise MiC and applicable for comparing MiC with conventional practices. The framework fills the knowledge gap of performance measurement on high-rise modular construction and contributes a methodological foundation for future quantitative benchmarking of MiC sustainability.
Purpose
The construction industry is the major sector in China but it has been exposed to a series of problems including low productivity and workforce shortage. However, construction robots as an effective and sustainable approach to overcome the difficulties in construction industry have not been widely adopted. Few studies attempted to investigate on the adoption of construction robots in China. In order to fill this gap, this study aim to address the barriers to the adoption of construction robots in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Through literature review, semi-structured interview 24 factors hindering the adoption of construction robots are summarized. Next, a total of valid 150 questionnaires delivered to the 7 stakeholders were collected. Ranking analysis was used to identify 21 critical factors was determined by the mean score analysis and factor analysis extracted 21 critical factors into 5 clusters.
Findings
Results indicate that the “technological performance and management” cluster is the most dominant of the 5 clusters. The most important barrier is “Limited research and design input”, followed by “High purchase cost” and “Unstructured construction environment”. Construction robots are still under R&D have had limited field applications in the production and construction process.
Originality/value
The research findings provide a useful reference for different stakeholders to identify the critical factors appropriate strategies to promote the adoption of construction robots. Furthermore, this study provides recommendations to promote adoption of construction robots.
The technological intelligence tools that companies need to achieve sustainable development in today's digital age are extremely limited. To fill this gap in the literature, a novel technology intelligence tool is developed in this article. The developed technology intelligence tool uses patent analysis and utility mining. It is based on the HUP-growth mining algorithm, which is one of the utility mining algorithms, to find the relationships between technologies. The developed technology intelligence tool has three contributions to the literature. First, the importance level of the technologies and the repetitions of each technology in a patent have been taken into consideration. Second, the existing studies in the literature cannot use a technology intelligence tool to explore the relationships between technologies. Third, the developed technology intelligence tool is more successful in finding hidden patterns among patent documents. A real-life case study of business method patents about electronic shopping is conducted to show how the developed technology intelligence tool works in practice. The Apriori algorithm is also used to compare the results obtained from on the HUP-growth mining algorithm. The results of this study show that companies can quickly and effectively find association among technologies under concern using the developed technology intelligence tool.
Although achievements have been made in research on robotic construction for specific construction tasks, robots are still not capable of working together to accomplish multiple construction tasks. To achieve this goal it is necessary to study how to realize robot coordination in prefabricated construction. In this paper, we propose a component-oriented robot construction approach. Using the smart construction object (SCO) approach, diverse construction tasks are assigned to robots by assigning state and requirements to the components to drive multiple robots for the assembly of prefabricated housing. Within a prototype BIM simulation environment, we implemented multiple different robots to complete the construction of a steel frame based on the SCOs. For more realistic robot-base construction design, the next step is the introduction of more complicated BIM models and more accurate robot models to enable collaborative simulation of a wider variety of prefabricated construction processes.
Construction has remained the least automated and productive as well as the most hazardous industry. Moreover, it has been plagued by a significant lack of diversity in its workforce as well as aging laborers. To address these issues, co-robotic construction has emerged as a new paradigm of construction. The industry is gradually gearing up to embrace robotic solutions, and many construction robots with various degrees of autonomy are under development or in the early stage of deployment. Presenting a different horizon of construction—harmonious co-existence and co-work between workers and robots—co-robotic construction is expected to reform labor-intensive construction into the more productive, safer, and more inclusive industry. However, an in-depth understanding of the robots’ situational intelligence is still lacking, particularly conclusive logic and technologies to ensure workers’ safety nearby autonomous (or semi-) robots, which is fundamental in realizing the co-robotic construction. To fill the gap, this research established a comprehensive robotic hazard detection roadmap and developed core technologies to realize it, leveraging unmanned aerial vehicles, computer vision, and deep learning. In this dissertation, I describe how the developed technologies with a conclusive logic can pro-actively detect the robotics hazards taking various forms and scenarios in an unstructured and dynamic construction environment. The successful implementation of the robotic hazard detection roadmap in co-robotic construction allows for timely interventions such as pro-active robot control and worker feedback, which contributes to reducing robotic accidents. Eventually, this will make human-robot co-existence and collaboration safer, while also helping to build workers’ trust in robot co-workers. Finally, the ensured safety and trust between robots and workers would contribute to promoting construction enterprises to embrace robotic solutions, boosting construction reformation toward innovative co-robotic construction.
Modular construction has been promoted worldwide, with well demonstrated benefits. Modular integrated construction (MiC) was recently established in Hong Kong with the focus on integrated solutions to address high-rise buildings in high-density cities for productivity and competitiveness. Nevertheless, insufficient and inconsistent understanding exists. The University of Hong Kong has recently launched A Glossary of Modular Integrated Construction, which defines and illustrates over 170 terms related to MiC, off-site construction and smart project delivery, aiming at synergised understanding. The Glossary brings clarity and new understanding of modular and smart construction to the industry and community. With a focus on future building development in high-rise high-density contexts, the Glossary should become an important aid for achieving wider adoption of modular construction and smart technologies.
Description
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Courses
About the Authors
Learn how Single-Task Construction Robots (STCRs) can improve productivity in the construction industry with this cross-disciplinary text. This third volume in The Cambridge Handbooks in Construction Robotics series discusses the STCRs employed on construction sites since the development of the approach in the 1980s, presents current applications, and highlights upcoming trends in the construction automation and robotics field. Two hundred different types of STCR are presented, from the simplest models comprising simple manipulators and mobile platforms, to those utilizing more sophisticated technologies such as aerial robotics, swarm robotics, exoskeletons, additive manufacturing technologies, self-assembling building structures, and humanoid robotics. Real-world case studies demonstrate the different application scenarios for each approach, and highlight the key implementation and management issues. With an easy-to-follow structure, and including hundreds of color illustrations, it provides an excellent toolkit for professional engineers, researchers, and students.
Additive manufacturing (AM) of construction materials has been one of the emerging advanced technologies that aim to minimise the supply chain in the construction industry through autonomous production of building components directly from digital models without human intervention and complicated formworks. However, technical challenges needs to be addressed for the industrial implementation of AM, e.g. materials formulation standardization, and interfacial bonding quality between the deposited layers amongst others. AM as one of the most highlighted key enabling technologies has the potential to create disruptive solutions, the key for its successful implementation is multidisciplinary effort in synergy involving materials science, architecture/design, computation, and robotics. There are crucial links between the material design formulations and the printing system for the manufacturing of the complex 3D geometries. Understanding and optimising the mix design for fresh rheology of materials and sufficient adhesion/cohesion of interface can allow the incorporation of complexity in the geometry.
Human-robot collaboration (HRC) [1], [2] is a vastly developing field in diverse industries such as health care [3], industrial assembly [4], search and rescue, home service [5], and construction [6], [7]. Many researchers believe that robots will enhance human workers, not replace them, as they do not have the same capability to evaluate and correct their work in real time. Lee [8] introduces case studies on glazing robot technology for installing glass panels on construction sites. A human-robot dialogue system [9] has been developed in joint-action science and technology to solve a construction task collaboratively with a human. The use of immersive virtual environments is also reported in [10] to evaluate human trust and perceived safety in response to robot actions during a collaborative construction. Deploying robots in collaboration with humans is seen as an enabler of major changes in construction productivity for various tasks, such as interior finishing.
Competition can have far-reaching consequences for insect fitness and dispersion. Time-lagged interspecific competition is known to negatively affect fitness, yet time-lagged intraspecific competition is rarely studied outside of outbreak conditions. We tested the impact of competition between larval cohorts of the western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum) feeding on chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). We reared larvae on host plants that either had or did not have feeding damage from tent caterpillars the previous season to test the bottom-up fitness effects of intraspecific competition. We measured host-plant quality to test potential mechanisms for bottom-up effects and conducted field oviposition surveys to determine if female adult tent caterpillars avoided host plants with evidence of prior tent caterpillar presence. We found that time-lagged intraspecific competition impacted tent caterpillar fitness by reducing female pupal mass, which is a predictor of lifetime fitness. We found that plants that had been fed upon by tent caterpillars the previous season had leaves that were significantly tougher than plants that had not been fed upon by tent caterpillars, which may explain why female tent caterpillars suffered reduced fitness on these plants. Finally, we found that there were fewer tent caterpillar egg masses on plants that had tent caterpillars earlier in the season than plants without tent caterpillars, which suggests that adult females avoid these plants for oviposition. Our results confirm that intraspecific competition occurs among tent caterpillars and suggests that time-lagged intraspecific competition has been overlooked as an important component of insect fitness.
This chapter introduces various construction automation concepts that have been developed over the past few decades and presents examples of construction robots that are in current use (as of 2006) and/or in various stages of research and development. Section 57.1 presents an overview of the construction industry, which includes descriptions of the industry, the types of construction, and the typical construction project. The industry overview also discusses the concept of automation versus robotics in construction and breaks down the concept of robotics in construction into several levels of autonomy as well as other categories. Section 57.2 discusses some of the offsite applications of robotics in construction (such as for prefabrication), while Sect. 57.3 discusses the use of robots that perform a single task at the construction site. Section 57.4 introduces the concept of an integrated robotized construction site in which multiple robots/machines collaborate to build an entire structure. Section 57.5 discusses unsolved technical problems in construction robotics, which include interoperability, connection systems, tolerances, and power and communications. Finally, Sect. 57.6 discusses future directions in construction robotics and Sect. 57.7 gives some conclusions and suggests resources for further reading.
The following article reviews past and current tendencies and derives and describes opportunities for future construction automation that go beyond the current notion of construction automation. Various indicators suggest that conventional construction methodology has reached its limits. An overlay of S-curves can be used to describe the relationship between the stagnation and technical limits of conventional construction and the initiation, development, and growth of new strategies and technologies of construction automation. Although approaches of construction automation are still in an innovation or seed phase, it can be expected that with continued effort put into research and development these approaches may soon enter into the growth phase and encounter adoption on a larger scale. Furthermore, the article shows that over time, the ability of robot systems has grown, allowing them to work more and more in comparably unstructured environments as well as to be deployed in numerous and diverse fields. Currently, it can already be observed that construction automation technology, STCR approaches, service robot systems, and other microsystems technology are merging with the built environment, becoming inherent elements of buildings, building components, and building furniture.
The potential benefits of off-site construction have been widely reported. However, its take-up in U.K. construction has been less than hoped. Previous studies have contributed solutions to accelerating take-up of off-site technology, albeit few examined the issue in business contexts. This paper presentes a novel approach to addressing off-site construction take-up in relation to business models. It reviews the challenges facing U.K. house-building business, maps conventional and emergent business models, and identifies factors capturing and creating value, centering on process and activities, risks, and finance. In the United Kingdom, house building is often decoupled from contracting, instead focusing on land acquisition, in response to the dominance of land-use planning. The competitive edge potentially available from technological innovation is often rendered less important or prevalent. However, exemplars do exist regarding incorporating off-site construction into house-building business strategy and adapting or creating business models to optimize such an approach. This paper presents a conceptual model to help illustrate the multifaceted relationship between business models and off-site construction, which is examined drawing on a number of case studies of large U.K. house builders, the findings of which should help position future enquiries.
Sustainable development requires changes in socio-technical systems and wider societal change - in beliefs, values and governance that co-evolve with technology changes. In this article we present a practical model for managing processes of co-evolution: transition management. Transition management is a multilevel model of governance which shapes processes of co-evolution using visions, transition experiments and cycles of learning and adaptation. Transition management helps societies to transform themselves in a gradual, reflexive way through guided processes of variation and selection, the outcomes of which are stepping stones for further change. It shows that societies can break free from existing practices and technologies, by engaging in co-evolutionary steering. This is illustrated by the Dutch waste management transition. Perhaps transition management constitutes the third way that policy scientists have been looking for all the time, combining the advantages of incrementalism (based on mutual adaptation) with the advantages of planning (based on long-term objectives).
Qualitative case study methodology provides tools for researchers to study complex phenomena within their contexts. When the approach is applied correctly, it becomes a valuable method for health science research to develop theory, evaluate programs, and develop interventions. The purpose of this paper is to guide the novice researcher in identifying the key elements for designing and implementing qualitative case study research projects. An overview of the types of case study designs is provided along with general recommendations for writing the research questions, developing propositions, determining the "case" under study, binding the case and a discussion of data sources and triangulation. To facilitate application of these principles, clear examples of research questions, study propositions and the different types of case study designs are provided.
Photosynthetic organisms establish symbioses with a wide range of microorganisms. This review examines the diversity of symbiotic interactions, and proposes that there is a continuum from commensalism to mutualism to pathogenesis/parasitism in plant-microbe associations. The advantage of considering commensalism, mutualism, and pathogenesis/parasitism as a continuum rather than as discrete relationships between hosts and microbes, as they have been considered in the past, is that it will motivate us to focus more on common molecular mechanisms. Abstract Photosynthetic organisms establish symbioses with a wide range of microorganisms. This review examines the diversity of symbiotic interactions, and proposes that there is a continuum from commensalism to mutualism to pathogenesis/parasitism in plant-microbe associations. The advantage of considering commensalism, mutualism, and pathogenesis/parasitism as a continuum rather than as discrete relationships between hosts and microbes, as they have been considered in the past, is that it will motivate us to focus more on common molecular mechanisms.
The paper explores the case for Regional Systems of Innovation. Acknowledging the major contribution of research on National Innovation Systems, it suggests that for conceptual and methodological reasons, mostly concerning problems of scale and complexity, that approach may be complemented in important ways by a subnational focus. Taking an evolutionary economics standpoint, the paper specifies the concepts of ‘region,’ ‘innovation’ and ‘system’ as the prelude to an extended discussion of the importance of financial capacity, institutionalised learning and productive culture to systemic innovation. Building on the notion of regions as occupying different positions on a continuum referring to processes constituting them and their powers vis-à-vis innovation policy, the paper concludes by advocating strengthening of regional level capacities for promoting both systemic learning and interactive innovation.
This is a RICS research report. Executive summary: UK housebuilding has evolved since the Second World War into a diverse and complex industry, continually trying to respond to multiple demands for quantity, quality, environmental sustainability and affordability. Drawing on several reviews of the industry history, current status, challenges being faced and drivers for change, this report discusses a number of UK housebuilding scenarios for the next 10 to 20 years, in order to provoke deliberation and encourage more strategic thinking within the industry and amongst policy makers, as part of a pan-industry movement towards a more sustainable future ... Published
The rising problems associated with construction such as decreasing quality and productivity, labour shortages, occupational safety, and inferior working conditions have opened the possibility of more revolutionary solutions within the industry. One prospective option is in the implementation of innovative technologies such as automation and robotics, which has the potential to improve the industry in terms of productivity, safety and quality. The construction work site could, theoretically, be contained in a safer environment, with more efficient execution of the work, greater consistency of the outcome and higher level of control over the production process. By identifying the barriers to construction automation and robotics implementation in construction, and investigating ways in which to overcome them, contributions could be made in terms of better understanding and facilitating, where relevant, greater use of these technologies in the construction industry so as to promote its efficiency. This research aims to ascertain and explain the barriers to construction automation and robotics implementation by exploring and establishing the relationship between characteristics of the construction industry and attributes of existing construction automation and robotics technologies to level of usage and implementation in three selected countries; Japan, Australia and Malaysia. These three countries were chosen as their construction industry characteristics provide contrast in terms of culture, gross domestic product, technology application, organisational structure and labour policies. This research uses a mixed method approach of gathering data, both quantitative and qualitative, by employing a questionnaire survey and an interview schedule; using a wide range of sample from management through to on-site users, working in a range of small (less than AUD0.2million) to large companies (more than AUD500million), and involved in a broad range of business types and construction sectors. Detailed quantitative (statistical) and qualitative (content) data analysis is performed to provide a set of descriptions, relationships, and differences. The statistical tests selected for use include cross-tabulations, bivariate and multivariate analysis for investigating possible relationships between variables; and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney U test of independent samples for hypothesis testing and inferring the research sample to the construction industry population. Findings and conclusions arising from the research work which include the ranking schemes produced for four key areas of, the construction attributes on level of usage; barrier variables; differing levels of usage between countries; and future trends, have established a number of potential areas that could impact the level of implementation both globally and for individual countries.
The term national system of innovation has been around for more than 20 years and today it has become widely spread among policy makers as well as among scholars all over the world. This paper takes stock and looks ahead from a somewhat personal point of view. It also gives some insight into how and why the concept came about. The paper argues that a key to progress is to get a better understanding of knowledge and learning as the basis for innovation and to understand how different modes of innovation complement each other and find support in the specific national context. A core of the innovation system is defined and it is illustrated that it is necessary both to understand micro-behaviour in the core and understand “the wider setting” within which the core operates. Concepts used in organization theory referring to fit and misfit may be used to enrich the understanding of the performance of innovation systems. At the end of the paper I discuss some further developments needed to make the concept relevant and applicable to developing countries. Here special attention is given to institutions and capabilities supporting learning. I point to the need to give more emphasis to the distribution of power, to institution building and to the openness of innovation systems.
Robotics is an important technological innovation in building prefabrication to fully capitalize on the benefits of off-site construction, but its uptake has been low. This paper explores the determinants affecting the adoption of robotics in building prefabrication, with a focus on precast concrete elements. A qualitative multiple-case-study method was used, with four selected case companies: two precast concrete manufacturers and two robotics suppliers. Data were collected through observation, document analysis, and in-depth interviews, drawing on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework. The results reveal that whether a precast concrete manufacturer adopts robotics rests more on the environmental and organizational context than on technological advancements. A framework of nine key determinants is derived, in which the interactions between determinants are manifested and the chain of coupled influence to the adoption decision is mapped. Regulatory environment, compatibility, interconnectedness, and firm size were found to be the most critical determinants because they were the most influential. Strategies are recommended for different stakeholders to facilitate their future adoption and application of robotics, such as increasing governmental support and product standardization, improving technical sophistication and versatility, strategizing market-oriented technology, and strengthening organizational interconnectedness. The findings provide important implications for the future adoption of robotics in precast concrete production for buildings.
The construction industry is facing many challenges including low productivity, poor regulation and compliance, lack of adequate collaboration and information sharing, and poor payment practices. Advances in distributed ledger technologies (DLT), also referred to as Blockchain, are increasingly investigated as one of the constituents in the digital transformation of the construction industry and its response to these challenges. The overarching aim of this study was to analyse the current state of DLT in the built environment and the construction sector with a view to developing a coherent approach to support its adoption specifically in the construction industry. Three objectives were established to achieve this: (a) to present the first state-of-the-art and literature review on DLT in the built environment and construction industry providing a consolidated view of the applications explored and potential use cases that could support disruption of the construction industry. Seven use-categories were identified: [1] Smart Energy, [2] Smart Cities & the Sharing Economy, [3] Smart Government, [4] Smart Homes, [5] Intelligent Transport, [6] BIM and Construction Management, and [7] Business Models and Organisational Structures; (b) to propose a framework for implementation composed of two conceptual models (i.e. the DLT Four-Dimensional Model, and the DLT Actors Model), developed according to extended socio-technical systems theory and including four dimensions (technical, social, process and policy), to support the development of DLT-based solutions that are adequate to the challenges faced by the construction industry. The DLT Four-Dimensional Model and the DLT Actors Model contribute to improve the understanding of the concepts involved when discussing DLT applications in construction and represent flexible, adaptable and scalable knowledge constructs and foundations that can be used for various further investigations; and (c) to appraise three specific use cases (i.e. Project Bank Accounts, regulation and compliance, and a single shared-access BIM model) as potential areas for DLT through the application of a decision support tool. The results show that Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) and regulation and compliance are candidate areas for DLT applications and warrant further attention. However, for the third use case (i.e. single shared-access BIM model) DLT are still insufficiently developed at this time. The research shows that there is real potential for DLT to support digitalisation in the construction industry and enable solutions to many of its challenges. However, there needs to be further investigation of the readiness of the industry, its organisations and processes, and to evaluate what changes need to occur before implementation can be successful. Further investigations will include the development of a roadmap process incorporating the four dimensions to evaluate readiness across a series of use cases for the construction industry.
This briefing paper presents the modular integrated construction (MiC) approach drawing on the literature, the theories of modularisation and production and pioneering practices. MiC is a game-changing approach introduced in Hong Kong focusing on high-density, high-rise building construction, to transform fragmented site-based construction into integrated value-driven production with the opportunity to realise enhanced quality, productivity, safety and sustainability. Wide-ranging benefits from this approach are speculated, but significant challenges co-exist. A systems framework of MiC adoption scenarios is provided with success strategies.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS – a.k.a. drones) have evolved over the past decade as both advanced military technology and off-the-shelf consumer devices. There is a gradual shift towards public use of drones, which presents opportunities for effective remote procedures that can disrupt a variety of built environment disciplines. UAS equipment with remote sensing gear present an opportunity for analysis and inspection of existing building stocks, where architects, engineers, building energy auditors as well as owners can document building performance, visualize heat transfer using infrared imaging and create digital models using 3D photogrammetry. This paper presents a comprehensive review of various literature that addresses this topic, followed by the identification of a standard procedures for operating a UAS for energy audit missions. The presented framework is then tested on the Syracuse University campus site based on the literature review to showcase: 1) pre-flight inspection procedure parameters and methodologies; 2) during-flight visually identified areas of thermal anomalies using a UAS equipped with Infrared (IR) cameras and; 3) 3D CAD modeling developed through data gathered using UAS. A discussion of the findings suggests refining procedure accuracy through further empirical experimentation, as well as study replication, as a step towards standardizing the automation of building envelope inspection.
“Building production” technology, i.e. construction automation and robotics (CAR), is on a worldwide level increasingly recognized as stating a key element of the future of construction, although CAR up to date has never experienced large-scale real-world implementation. However, the recent significantly growing demand for sustainability has the potential to serve as the necessitated trigger for CAR's large-scale deployment. In that context, systematic guidance for the construction industry is however missing, and there have been limited attempts to thoroughly investigate the impacts of utilizing CAR with regard to the sustainability performance of construction and buildings. The research presented in this paper makes a first step to fill this research gap by reviewing and investigating the available CAR strategies and technologies and developing for the first time a consistent framework of indicators for assessing the sustainability performance of utilizing CAR for buildings. The overall goal of the research is to develop, through this framework, a robust and reliable assessment method that can be used in the industrial context to assess the sustainability of building construction projects that consider using CAR. Beyond the development of the indicator framework, the research plan adopting the V-Model approach foresees to translate the framework into an assessment method which will then in several iteration cycles be verified and validated in real world.
Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, fabricates components in a layerwise fashion directly from a digital file. Many of the early applications of AM technologies have been in the aerospace, automotive, and healthcare industries. Building on the advances in AM in these industries, there are several experimental applications of AM in the construction sector. Early investigations suggest that use of AM technologies for construction have the potential to decrease labor costs, reduce material waste, and create customized complex geometries that are difficult to achieve using conventional construction techniques. However, these initial investigations do not cover the full range of potential applications for construction or exploit the rapidly maturing AM technologies for a variety of material types. This paper provides an up-to-date review of AM as it relates to the construction industry, identifies the trend of AM processes and materials being used, and discusses related methods of implementing AM and potential advancements in applications of AM. Examples of potential advancements include use of multi-materials (e.g., use of high-performance materials only in areas where they are needed), in-situ repair in locations that are difficult or dangerous for humans to access, disaster relief construction in areas with limited construction workforce and material resources, structural and non-structural elements with optimized topologies, and customized parts of high value. AM's future in the construction industry is promising, but interdisciplinary research is still needed to provide new materials, new processes, faster printing, quality assurance, and data on mechanical properties before AM can realize its full potential in infrastructure construction.
Robotic construction through concrete 3D printing is an in-progress revolution in construction industry. While
significant progress is made on hardware related challenges, software and information related issues of such
innovative system are less discussed. In this paper, a software platform is proposed for data retrieval and analysis from BIM models and utilizing it efficiently during various stages of the process. While the general idea of using BIM for automated construction has been mentioned before, the implementation details (the focus of this paper) were not previously discussed. To this aim, a framework is proposed to integrate BIM into an automated construction system. A Planning and Operations Control Software for Automated Construction (POCSAC) is developed as a major enabler for a seamless integration of BIM and Contour Crafting. The interoperation between different components of the construction system and BIM platform are designed to maximize the realized benefits through synergy of the two technologies.
For a robotic excavator, there is no operator in the cab while it is working, so the moving trajectory of the bucket teeth is planned in advance. For such a multi-joint machine, the coordinate motion control algorithm must be properly designed to achieve high tracking precision. However, due to uncertainty of the load and fluctuation of the speed, the multi-actuator system cannot work stably, resulting in tracking errors. To improve tracking performance, a cross-coupled pre-compensation algorithm is put forward in this paper. It is combined with nonlinear proportional-integral controllers to optimize the control parameters of the actuators. Experiments are performed on a 3.5-ton exactor. The results show that the proposed control algorithm is effective for improving the tracking accuracy.
Despite extensive research into attitudes and practice surrounding the uptake of off-site production technologies, there is limited understanding of how best to integrate their use into business processes at the organizational level. Drawing on an action-research case study with a leading U.K. house-building organization, this paper scrutinizes the processes through which off-site technologies were adopted and utilized. The use of off-site methods was fundamentally framed by the key stages and business milestone reviews of the house-building process, which together represented a complex and multilayered structure of business management. Five off-site reviews were aligned with the business processes. Strategies for integrating the use of off-site technologies are examined. It was crucial to establish an overall off-site strategy and integrate it into the process from land acquisition on. Organizational learning embraced the adoption of off-site methods, whereas extra reporting and management efforts introduced bureaucracy. Culture change was commonly perceived as difficult and painful. Earlier engagement with supply chains was advocated for favoring the off-site approach and improving business efficiency, whereas it also demanded greater commitment of the house builder to specific supply chains and therefore exposed the business to risks associated with planning and market changes. The strategies should facilitate building companies’ strategic management of off-site technology.
Sampling is central to the practice of qualitative methods, but compared with data collection and analysis its processes have been discussed relatively little. A four-point approach to sampling in qualitative interview-based research is presented and critically discussed in this article, which integrates theory and process for the following: (1) defining a sample universe, by way of specifying inclusion and exclusion criteria for potential participation; (2) deciding upon a sample size, through the conjoint consideration of epistemological and practical concerns; (3) selecting a sampling strategy, such as random sampling, convenience sampling, stratified sampling, cell sampling, quota sampling or a single-case selection strategy; and (4) sample sourcing, which includes matters of advertising, incentivising, avoidance of bias, and ethical concerns pertaining to informed consent. The extent to which these four concerns are met and made explicit in a qualitative study has implications for its coherence, transparency, impact and trustworthiness.
The multi-level perspective (MLP) has emerged as a fruitful middle-range framework for analysing socio-technical transitions to sustainability. The MLP also received constructive criticisms. This paper summarises seven criticisms, formulates responses to them, and translates these into suggestions for future research. The criticisms relate to: (1) lack of agency, (2) operationalization of regimes, (3) bias towards bottom-up change models, (4) epistemology and explanatory style, (5) methodology, (6) socio-technical landscape as residual category, and (7) flat ontologies versus hierarchical levels.
Over the past decade, construction project managers have been forced increasingly to cope with the lack of a skilled workforce and increases in hazardous circumstances for human operations. Construction automation systems have been widely proposed as alternatives to overcome these difficulties and to raise construction quality, enhance productivity, and improve safety. To demonstrate the efficiency of a construction automation system, we introduce a Genetic Algorithm-based Repetitive Tasks Simulation (GARTS) model for planning steel erection in high-rise building construction. This model produces an optimized movement path of a bolting robot for fabricating steel structures, proposes a collaboration plan between a robot and a worker, and quantifies the uncertainty of the duration of steel erection. As an illustrative case, the so-called robot-based construction automation system (RCA) was applied to a pilot project. The results showed the model's capacities and justified its application to other extended types of robotic construction systems.
In this paper we investigate, using a multi-level perspective, how innovations can change the relation between multiple socio-technical systems. We analyze two Dutch cases: the use of biomass in the waste and the electricity regime, and CHP in relation to the natural gas and electricity regime to explore boundary crossing dynamics. We conclude that these dynamics radically changed the way the regimes relate from almost no relation to a much more symbiotic and even integrative relation. We also find a pattern where the presence of more than one regime seems to offer extra opportunities during the early phase, but creates barriers further along the innovation path. Additionally, we introduce a typology for investigating and understanding boundary crossing innovations. Policy consequences of border crossing dynamics are still far from developed; connecting disconnected policy arenas might be the most important challenge.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been widely applied in various areas such as retail, electronic transaction, logistic and supply chain management, scientific research, security, etc. It has brought about great benefits in these areas through improving real-time information visibility and traceability. However, a widespread application of RFID in the construction industry has not taken place. One possible reason is that construction practitioners may have not been fully informed of its potentials. This paper aims to investigate various scenarios that can illustrate the uses of RFID technology in construction project management. The research starts from a brief summary of recent developments of RFID technology in different industrial sectors including construction. 16 researchers were split into 3 groups to investigate how RFID can be used in the management of materials, men, and machinery (M3) for construction projects. Perspectives for future studies are proposed in order to fully realise the potentials. The research encourages a wider adoption of RFID technology in improving current PM practices. It also provides academia with a platform for further exploring the innovative uses of RFID technology in construction.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight for future innovation research activities and for the role of universities in working with industry to promote innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
– The paper provides an overview and synthesis of the literature on innovation and the role of universities. This is supported by interviews, case studies, and surveys within academic and industrial communities.
Findings
– The paper identifies that innovation, whether at an international, national, regional, firm or project level of analysis, continues to be at the forefront of the mind of policy makers and practitioners alike. Nevertheless, our understanding of innovation is far from complete. More research is required to study innovation at these different levels of resolution and at different points in the project life cycle. In order for the research base to play its part in promoting construction innovation, an engagement mechanism is required that brings together academia and industry in a way that recognises and responds to these multiple perspectives on innovation.
Originality/value
– The paper creates value by synthesising literature on construction innovation and highlights areas for further research. Based on this, a model for effective industry/university engagement is proposed.
The use of low or zero carbon technologies has been encouraged in the UK, one of which is air source heat pump (ASHP). However, the current ASHP uptake in UK housing is low, far behind that in Europe and America. This paper aims to contribute to knowledge of utilising ASHP by examining the decision criteria for selecting ASHP and exploring underlying considerations of UK housebuilders. The research was carried out through a case study with a housebuilder and seven nation-wide suppliers, engaging four new-build projects. A wide range of decision criteria were identified. Despite the dominance of cost considerations, non-cost factors also imposed significant commercial implications on the housebuilder’s technology selection. For achieving more effective ASHP selection, a structured approach is suggested to manage the decision criteria and appreciate the stakeholders’ roles and relationships regarding technology uptake. Improved practice should enable a more informed technology decision culture in UK housing.
Some technical innovations diffuse rapidly throughout the construction industry while others take a long time or are never integrated into everyday practice. Understanding the initiation, development, implementation and outcomes of successful technical innovations within the construction industry provides guidance for the improvement of the innovation process. To further this understanding, innovation generating organizations (IGOs) in the construction industry were surveyed and the data were statistically analysed. Two sources were used to identify newly developed products, technologies and management strategies: the Construction Innovation Forum's NOVA Award website and the Emerging Construction Technologies (ECT) website. A total of 233 innovative products were identified from the two websites. The results showed that there are many statistically significant motivating factors for investment in the initial development of successful technical innovation, barriers and enablers to efficient diffusion and innovation outcomes on construction projects. Additionally, successful development, implementation and diffusion of an innovative product required an average of 38 months, 4700 worker-hours and $836 000.
The relationship between technologies is a salient feature of the literature on technical change and terms like 'dominant design' and 'technology lock-in' are part of the standard vocabulary and put competition among technologies in focus. The aim of this paper is to provide an account of the wide range of interaction modes beyond competition that is prevalent in transition processes and to develop a conceptual framework to facilitate more detailed and nuanced descriptions of technology interaction. Besides competition, we identify five other basic modes of interaction: symbiosis, neutralism, parasitism, commensalism and amensalism. Further, we describe interaction as overlapping value chains. Defining a technology as a socio-technical system extending in material, organisational and conceptual dimensions allows for an even more detailed description of interaction. The conceptual framework is tested on and illustrated by a case study of interaction among alternative transport fuels in Sweden 1974-2004.
The study suggests that the question of whether the world economy can move to a new and sustainable pattern of growth remains open. It is both a question of methods of regulation, economic incentives, and other institutional changes and a question of technological innovations. Although more attention has been paid to incentives and institutions, the potential offered by continuous technological change has been rather neglected. This emerges as a central issue in the “limits to growth” debate and its resulting world models. The study argues that, to realize large technoeconomic system transitions, society needs to develop a new model of innovation, combining some features of the much criticized linear model with features of the systemic innovation model.
Technological innovation is manifested in the development of new products, processes and techniques such that emerging technologies often substitute for more mature technologies. The interaction between technologies is typically referred to as competition, implying a confrontational interaction. The setting of technology strategy is thus often concerned with issues relating to the competition between emerging technologies and the response of mature technologies to the offense from emerging technologies-strategies for attack and defense. In this paper it is argued that the interaction between technologies should be viewed in a broader sense than mere competition, and it is suggested that a multi-mode framework provides a much richer setting for assessing the interaction of two or more technologies. This concept has been successfully applied in biological and organizational ecology, and it is shown that it can be equally useful when applied to the dynamics of technological interaction. It is proposed that the effect that one technology has on another's growth rate be taken as a classification criterion. Examples are given to illustrate that three major modes of interaction exist, namely pure competition, symbiosis and predator-prey. In addition, the notion that the interaction between technologies can in general shift temporally from one mode to another is motivated. It is suggested that, since the characteristics of the three modes differ from one another, it is appropriate to develop managerial strategies that apply specifically to each of the three modes, instead of just applying generic ‘competition’ strategies.
This article investigates transitions at the level of societal functions (e.g., transport, communication, housing). Societal functions are fulfilled by sociotechnical systems, which consist of a cluster of aligned elements, e.g., artifacts, knowledge, markets, regulation, cultural meaning, infrastructure, maintenance networks and supply networks. Transitions are conceptualised as system innovations, i.e., a change from one sociotechnical system to another. The article describes a co-evolutionary multi-level perspective to understand how system innovations come about through the interplay between technology and society. The article makes a new step as it further refines the multi-level perspective by distinguishing characteristic patterns: (a) two transition routes, (b) fit–stretch pattern, and (c) patterns in breakthrough.