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The 9th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in construction (ISARC) was held in Tokyo from 3 June to 5 June 1992. This annual symposium seems to grow in worldly stature with each passing year. At the opening address the Chairman of the ISARC Working Committee, Professor Yukio Hasegawa, told the packed Keidanren Hall that around 500 delegates were attending this year's event. Although the world recession inevitably took its toll there was an impressive list of some 60 delegates from overseas (ie outside Japan) representing 16 countries. They contributed to the technical sessions through their own papers and through chairing other sessions to give the whole event a truly international flavour.
The scene was set by the Chairman of the Symposium Organising Committee, Mr Teruzo Yoshino of the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors. He followed Professor Hasegawa by stressing the role that sensible development and deployment of appropriate automated construction techniques and robotics could have in offsetting the current adverse demographic trend, in meeting the desire for enhanced safety and in improving competitiveness through higher productivity. Further welcoming addresses and keynote lectures elaborated on this fundamental role.
After lunch on the first day the symposium entered it now traditional phase of reporting on the current status of automation and robotics in construction around the world. These markers of progress related to Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Finland, Sweden, UK, USA and Japan and were delivered respectively by Jonathan O'Brien (who insisted he was representing the Southern Hemisphere and not just Australia!), Francois Peyret (for Salagnac), Martin Wanner, Abraham Warszawski, Pentti Vaha, Par Ahman, Fikry Garas, Miroslaw Skibniewski and Shigeyuki Obayashi.
It is noted that in almost all cases the deployment of robotics in construction around the world is coming about through technology (and research) 'push' rather than industry 'pull'. Japan continues to lead the way with, across all industries, some 60% or so of the world robot population according to Kumano and Cusack in their initial addresses.
After the strenuous first day delegates and organisers mingled at the buffet dinner party that evening. It was an occasion both for renewing acquaintances for the seasoned ISARC contributors and for making new friendships.
The final two days saw the technical sessions - 23 in all - with virtually 100 papers presented and discussed. The papers were grouped in sessions, some covering hardware for particular application (eg roads and tunnelling), general technological development (eg sensors and manipulators), software for management functions (eg simulation and scheduling) and other areas of interest (eg needs, feasibility and future prospects).
In the writer's opinion the three sessions on robotics for tunnelling were most impressive. All 14 papers were the work of Japanese authors and its possible to stand back as an observer, admire the complete dissection of tunnelling operations and see automated systems emerge from the efforts of the construction corporations. Devices were now available, delegates were told, for tunnel face marking, shotcreting control, tunnel shield control, bolt supply and tightening (for segment lining assembly), slurry feed and outflow, pre lining work, and shield excavation and soil measuring. With all that who can say that tunnelling is boring (English pun)?.
In addition to the technical sessions, videos of robots in action were being shown continuously; a separate poster exhibition displayed various corporations' achievements. After the symposium there was, for overseas delegates, an organised tour to the Kawasaki Man-made Island project in Tokyo Bay and then on to the 70-storey Landmark Tower project in Yokohama; where IAARC held its historic first AGM.
- Copies of the proceedings of the symposium can be obtained from:
The Japan Industrial Robot Association (JIRA) 3ã5ã8, Shiba-koen
Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan.
Price ¥ 20000 (Yen) (¥ 18 000 (Yen) for IAARC members).
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