Huang, Z; Mao, C; Wang, J and Sadick, A M (2022) Understanding the key takeaway of construction robots towards construction automation. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 29(9), pp. 3664-3688. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The construction industry is the major sector in China but it has been exposed to a series of problems including low productivity and workforce shortage. However, construction robots as an effective and sustainable approach to overcome the difficulties in construction industry have not been widely adopted. Few studies attempted to investigate on the adoption of construction robots in China. In order to fill this gap, this study aim to address the barriers to the adoption of construction robots in China. Design/methodology/approach: Through literature review, semi-structured interview 24 factors hindering the adoption of construction robots are summarized. Next, a total of valid 150 questionnaires delivered to the 7 stakeholders were collected. Ranking analysis was used to identify 21 critical factors was determined by the mean score analysis and factor analysis extracted 21 critical factors into 5 clusters. Findings: Results indicate that the “technological performance and management” cluster is the most dominant of the 5 clusters. The most important barrier is “Limited research and design input”, followed by “High purchase cost” and “Unstructured construction environment”. Construction robots are still under R&D have had limited field applications in the production and construction process. Originality/value: The research findings provide a useful reference for different stakeholders to identify the critical factors appropriate strategies to promote the adoption of construction robots. Furthermore, this study provides recommendations to promote adoption of construction robots.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction equipment; construction site; management; strategic management; technology |
| Index terms: | construction equipment, productivity, critical factor, factor analysis, automation, construction industry, interview, literature review, strategy, construction site, strategic management, methodology, construction process, questionnaire, China |
| Subjects: | building construction, statistical analysis, industry analysis, research methods, management, construction equipment, Geography, automation and robotics, work location, data analysis and analytics, risk assessment, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Plant and Equipment, Risk Management, Digital Applications, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here