Introduction
Automation in the construction industry is comparatively slower than in the manufacturing industry. However, with recent technological advancements seeping into the construction industry, it is a matter of time before the Qatari construction industry becomes fully automated.
The evolution of the construction industry is perennial. It depends on automation in its many forms: From automated digital design and analysis processes to automated creation of construction documentation and, finally, to the act of construction.
In simple words, automation in the construction industry can potentially meet global infrastructure and building needs safely.
What does construction automation mean?
The literal meaning of construction automation is the processes, tools and equipment that use automated workflow to build buildings and infrastructure. Automation in construction is used at any stage of the project.
Industrialised automation is the deployment of processes, systems and materials within the construction that is similar to manufacturing. Industrialised automation and construction automation are fundamentally linked. Industrialized construction has a radical effect on the way of construction worldwide due to the increased adoption of automated tools.
A brief history of automation in the construction industry
The idea of mechanised automated construction has been in existence for millennia and the idea of it is being demonstrated over centuries. In the third-century BCE, China's prefabrication techniques were used to build a terracotta army, in the 1920s in Berlin the same method was used to build houses.
Fast forward to thirty years, and the invention of the first industrial robots was achieved in the 1950s. Soon, by the 1960s, industries started to use industrial robots. In the 1960s and 1970s, construction robotics surfaced. Japan was one of the first countries to innovate construction robotics and automation in the 1970s and 1980s because of the construction labour shortage due to the ageing population and disinterested youth.
Benefits of automation in the construction industry
Automation in the construction industry benefits are correlated and cascades each other and steers to experience additional benefits. The following are some of the benefits:
- Sustainability
Needless to mention, everything is done keeping sustainability in mind. Automation in the construction industry can make construction sustainable. For example, machines can be used for carrying heavy loads at job sites, which can cut off carbon emissions. This is just one such example. Recyclable resources are also being used in construction projects.
- Reduction in labour shortage gap
One of the pivotal reasons for the birth of automation in the construction industry is to shorten the labour gap. It is to attract the future generation who are keen to use advanced technologies. The government and private sector are collaborating to educate the new generation.
- Increased safety
It is a known fact that the construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries for workers. Automation in the construction industry can reduce the risks of on-site accidents, such as collisions with objects and falls.
- Improved production and efficiency
Prefabricated plans can undoubtedly improve the quality of production and efficiency.
- Expanded data and analysis through data collection
The goal is to accumulate enough data from construction automation which can be used in future. This can help assess, which can ultimately benefit future constructions.
- Increased predictability and better quality
Everything that is happening on-site is inspected by the inspecting authority. The more the construction industry adopts automation, the faster it can cut down on inspection relying on predictable and repeated quality building components.
- Scalability
A building project can scale up with less difficulty if standardized components are used. For example, an off-site manufacturer can prefabricate the needed components for a building in advance, store them and deliver them when needed. This allows the project to lead on schedule.
What does the future of construction automation look like?
Once the construction industry embraces automation like the manufacturing sector, there is no looking back for big businesses that want to stay competitive. In the construction industry of Qatar, smart innovations are leading the way into the future for many companies.
With the most recent 17th Project Qatar, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani showed faith in the advancement of automation in Qatar’s construction industry.
Moreover, the automation revolution in Qatar’s construction industry is accompanied by sustainable development goals. Companies attending the 17th Project Qatar Expo declared their agendas for achieving large-scale automation and that too with a reduced carbon footprint.
Conclusion
In the past 50 years, the growth in automation in the construction industry is significant. It will eliminate the skilled labour gap by attracting the younger generations. It can also make job sites safer and increase analysis and insight through real-time data collection. Global Security Systems, which is one of Qatar’s leading innovators in sustainable automation technology for the construction industry, has similar goals.
