Construction Automation and Robotics: From One-Offs to Follow-Ups Based on Practices of Chinese Construction Companies
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 146, Issue 10
Abstract
The follow-up issue is one of the major factors that limit the application of construction automation and robotics. Specifically, many research results with fundamentally good ideas end up gathering dust on a shelf without any follow-up research and development (R&D) or applications. Nevertheless, some construction companies have successful experience in the follow-up issue. Therefore, this study presents and analyzes the processes from R&D to follow-ups of four representative Chinese construction companies that developed their own automation and robotic products and implemented them continuously. Based on the four cases, an intercase analysis was conducted, and 11 influential factors that lead to successful follow-ups were identified. To understand the identified factors effectively, they were then categorized according to an existing theoretical framework, i.e., the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework, which is widely used in studies on innovation adoption. As a result, four technological factors (interdisciplinary cooperation, continuous R&D, pilot test, and technological foresight), five organizational factors (company size, human resources, development strategies, organizational structure, and management system), and two environmental factors (market demand and competitive pressure) are obtained. Suggestions are proposed for both the technology providers and adopters, such as establishing industrial alliances, training interdisciplinary personnel and skilled workers, and expanding the business scope to promote wider implementations. It is expected to be valuable for the stakeholders in many countries and regions with the need to implement construction automation and robotics because the analysis has not been confined to the practice in China.
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Data Availability Statement
Data analyzed during the study were provided by a third party. Requests for data should be directed to the provider indicated in the Acknowledgements. Information about the Journal’s data-sharing policy can be found here: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001263.
Acknowledgments
This study has been supported by the Tsinghua-Glodon Joint Research Center for Building Information Modeling, Joint Research Project of the University of Maryland and Glodon Company Limited. The authors also acknowledge all the interviewees for their help in the case study: Xiaoming Chen, Linfeng Sheng, Jiqing Li, and Liang Ma, from Shanghai Mechanized Construction Group Co. Ltd.; Jiantao Wang, Qingchuan Feng, Chunlin Wang, Jianfang Tian, Zhiyong Zuo, and Dongrong Xie, from China Construction Science and Industry Corporation Ltd.; Hongbin Pei and Ziping Ke, from China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd.; Kaiqiang Wang, Di Li, Mingyong Ouyang, Zhen Ye, and Shengfei Chi, from China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd.
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Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 146 • Issue 10 • October 2020
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© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 11, 2020
Accepted: May 12, 2020
Published online: Jul 29, 2020
Published in print: Oct 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Dec 29, 2020
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