Everett, J G (1991) Construction automation: Basic task selection and development of the cranium. PhD thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
Abstract
This thesis reviews issues facing the construction industry and some of the strategies for addressing them. The thesis focuses on the development of automation technology and its potential for solving problems of productivity, safety, quality, and skilled labor shortages. The most important step in developing automation technology is selecting appropriate tasks to automate. The new technology must be compatible with design, management capabilities, labor practices, and existing field operations. The thesis introduces a taxonomy of the construction industry, in which the industry is broken into several levels of increasing detail. The thesis proposes that automation should be introduced at the Basic Task level. The thesis defines a set of eleven Basic Tasks from which all construction field work is composed. The Basic Tasks are prioritized for suitability for automation based on technology, productivity, safety, quality, and labor acceptance. As an example of technology to improve the Basic Task Position, or heavy lifting, the CRANIUM crane mounted video system is developed. The CRANIUM extends the sensory capacity of the crane operator by allowing him to see the crane's load at all times and/or have visual contact with the craftsmen receiving the load. A full scale, fully operational prototype has been designed, fabricated, and field tested. Productivity improvements in excess of 20% are reported for some applications. The CRANIUM also improves safety and has been well received by labor and management.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Slocum, A H and Moavenzadeh, F |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | automation; crane operator; productivity; safety; taxonomy |
| Index terms: | craft worker, construction industry, taxonomy, automation, crane operator, productivity, new technology, suitability, shortages, lifting, prototype, strategy, skilled labour |
| Subjects: | automation and robotics, practitioner, economic analysis, innovation and technology management, management, occupational health and safety management, industry analysis, design criteria, modelling and simulation, data analysis and analytics |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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