Publications / 2024 Proceedings of the 41st ISARC, Lille, France

Assessment of Traditional and Robotic Approaches to Interior Construction Layout: A Framework and Comparative Study

Catherine Caputo, Ashtarout Ammar, Ashley Johnson
Pages 113-120 (2024 Proceedings of the 41st ISARC, Lille, France, ISBN 978-0-6458322-1-1, ISSN 2413-5844)
Abstract:

As the construction industry witnesses a growing integration of robots and automated systems on complex construction sites, project teams exhibit varying definitions of successful robot employment. Notably, there is an absence of standard criteria for stakeholders to assess the impacts of these technologies on productivity, cost, safety, and pertinent human factors. Existing studies suggested key framework elements, yet none provided a comprehensive, quantitative means to assess on-site construction robots. In response, this study introduces a holistic framework of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as a reference for researchers to evaluate single-task robots. A case study was conducted using a set of extracted KPIs, comparing the traditional construction interior layout method with the performance of a single-task mobile layout robot. The study demonstrates a comparative approach that project teams can adopt to maximize robot benefits and meet project-specific goals.

The case study accounts for the unpredictability of robot implementation that project teams may need to adapt to. The results highlight drawbacks of recent automation, such as technological inefficiencies. Depending on the application, these challenges can increase project completion time and affect space utilization. This research presents a comprehensive productivity analysis of a recently introduced mobile layout robot. Additionally, we highlighted robot advancements in comparison to previous layout robots assessed in past studies. These advancements provide positive cost and safety implications. The conclusions offer insights into the feasibility of adopting these technologies and considerations for stakeholders seeking to implement them.

Keywords: Robotics, Automation, Single-task Robots, On-site, Construction, Interior Layout, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Efficiency, Productivity