Bademosi, F M (2019) Robotics and automation in construction: Assessment of knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for talent cultivation in industry and education. PhD thesis, University of Florida, USA.
Abstract
The construction industry is considered one of the least digitized industries around with a good number of its processes being laborious and monotonous. However, recently, the industry has witnessed an increase in the volume of new technologies implemented in practice. One prospective opportunity for innovative technologies in construction is the implementation of robotics and automation, which entails the application of autonomous machines that carry out construction tasks and operations automatically through intelligent programming and controls. To meet the market demand for skilled professionals, there is a need to integrate robotics and automation technologies and processes in construction curricula. However, to ensure proper planning of the integration of robotics and automation in construction education, it is necessary to establish a consensus on the competencies required from construction technology and innovation professionals. The principal purpose of this research was to identify the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) construction management students must possess to perform in the future workforce successfully. A series of semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine the factors that influence the adoption of construction robotics and automation technologies in the industry and establish a list of the KSAs required for their successful integration in construction processes. The research provided a report on the cost, benefit, risk, and barrier factors that influence the decision of industry professionals to adopt the technologies. The results showed that economic and financial factors, especially regarding the acquisition costs of the technologies were assessed as the top factors considered by experts. Using the Delphi technique, consensus was measured for the 99 construction robotics and automation KSAs identified during the semi-structured interviews. After the final round of the Delphi study, 91 KSAs achieved complete consensus and strong levels of agreement, with only 8 KSAs achieving partial agreement levels. By identifying these essential KSAs, a robotics and automation competency benchmark and performance assessment framework was developed to assist educators and industry professionals in cultivating talent and advance innovations in construction robotics and automation. Future research directions include testing and validation of the developed competency benchmark and performance assessment framework and curriculum development in construction robotics and automation.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Issa, R R |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Delphi technique; automation; construction education; construction technology; education; innovation; integration; market; programming; skills; workforce |
| Index terms: | new technology, Delphi method, acquisition, robotics, financial factor, advanced construction robotics, performance assessment, construction technology, testing, construction industry, implementation, automation, interview, Delphi technique, validation, programming, integration, construction education, construction process, curriculum development |
| Subjects: | automation and robotics, assessment methods, building construction, professional education, digital engineering, programming, economic analysis, contractual arrangements, curriculum development, innovation and technology management, professional practice, professional development, organizational analysis, industry analysis, business, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Procurement, Engineering Principles, Education, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Site Management, Human Resources, Digital Applications |
| 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