FEATURE Robotics


Robotics and automation in construction


for safer, faster and accurate projects Automation and robots are having a transformative impact on workers, project managers and the construction sector at large, writes Raffi Holzer, Avvir’s co-founder and CEO


N


early every facet of our lives is impacted by robotics and automation whether we realise it or not. From


machines that help build the products we use, the logistical infrastructure that underpins world economies, down to the apps we use, our world is built on and by robotics and automation.


As automation continues to change so many aspects of our world, one less- discussed topic is how this evolution has transformed the construction industry. On work sites across the world, automated drones navigate dangerous heights to keep workers safe, installation robots take on the tedious task of fi nishing drywall, and dog-like robots carry laser scanners to generate 3D renderings of entire projects – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.


Safe workforce


Even under the best conditions, construction sites can be dangerous places to work. In 2019 alone, some 1100 workers were killed on the job in the US and over 80,000 injured on work sites, states the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Robots can navigate risky, hard-to-


reach places that pose danger to workers. Automated drones are used on some construction sites to scale heights to perform inspections. Not only does this technology keep workers safely on the ground, but the increased effi ciency of drones can drastically cut inspection times.


Eliminating the four most common causes of construction accidents – falls, electrocution, getting caught between objects and getting struck by objects – would save 582 lives each year in the United States alone. Drilling overhead into concrete or metal ceilings is a common and necessary assignment across most construction sites (to hang ducts, piping and electrical equipment), but is also a strenuous, repetitive, time-consuming task that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. A semi-autonomous robot can take on these


30 February 2022 | Automation


tasks. Mobile systems use digital plans to mark and drill holes in overhead surfaces, increasing speed and accuracy and keeping operators on the ground. On other sites, robots work alongside human operators to fi nish drywall installation, a notoriously laborious and tedious job. In some cases, the system has decreased fi nishing periods from seven days to only two.


Progress tracking Four-legged robots mounted with light detection and ranging laser systems (LiDAR) roam some job sites, picking their way around scaff olding and over debris. Their purpose: to create digital renderings of entire projects and provide real-time insights on job status and quality. This captured data is used to create digital twins of a project, accurate down to an eighth of an inch. These renderings are compared to the original project design to transform a system of record into a system of reality. Whereas a traditional building information model (BIM) becomes out of date the moment construction begins, these progressive scans create a direct link between the real world and the system meant to record it.


Linking BIM to as-built conditions is signifi cant, since it can dramatically increase the accuracy of budget forecasting and production tracking. Most importantly, it helps identify potential issues before they happen and prevents expensive rework, which costs the construction industry over a trillion dollars per year.


On one job site in northern California,


robots mounted with 3D cameras were used to map out the construction of a 200,000 square feet medical centre. Tedious, time-consuming measurement once conducted with photography, photogrammetry, tape measures and visual inspection was completed in a fraction of the time with automation. Entire 50,000-feet fl oors were scanned in as little as 20 minutes.


As technology develops and costs


drop, robots will become a common sight at job sites around the world, working alongside skilled craftspeople to improve safety and eff ectiveness.


CONTACT:


Avvir www.avvir.io


automationmagazine.co.uk


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