Skibniewski, M J (1986) Engineering and economic analysis of robotics application potential in selected construction operations. PhD thesis, Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
Abstract
This thesis evaluates the impact of robotics implementation in the construction industry, with the emphasis on the robotization of surface treatment operations. The primary contribution of this dissertation is the development of a comprehensive, multi-dimensional analysis of costs and benefits associated with a specific robotic application. An example analysis of technical and economic feasibility is performed on two case studies, i. e. robotic sandblasting and robotic form cleaning. The technical feasibility is determined by an ergonomic evaluation of individual steps taken to accomplish the given work task, and by analysis of the requirements for robot control and process monitoring. The robot system costs and benefits are treated in a manner not yet applied in the economic analyses of robotics in the manufacturing industries. Specific constraints characteristic of robot construction applications, such as performance in a harsh work site environment, difficult climatic conditions, exposure to dust, etc. are exposed and incorporated in the case study analyses. Also, some changes in the nature roboticized work process versus the traditional, human-performed work process are considered. Net Present Value (NPV) method is used to determine the economic feasibility of robotics in the analyzed applications. The value to the contractor of the proposed robot systems is established. Also, the potential return to robot system developer from the distribution of the proposed systems is quantified on the basis of the indicated system development, marketing and dissemination cost, and on the basis of the benefit from sales revenue. The conclusion of this research indicates a reasonable economic potential in the robotic performance of concrete form cleaning, despite a clear technical feasibility of work robotization. However, a far stronger technical and economic potential of the application of robotics to the performance of sandblasting work, currently performed in construction by humans, has been determined. The key quantifiable benefits of this application include the removal of human workers from the exposure to silica dust, potential to increase process productivity, and significant labor savings. A new approach to the design of the future construction robotics is suggested. (Abstract shortened with permission of author. )
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case studies; case study; cleaning; construction operations; developer; economic analysis; manufacturing; marketing; monitoring; net present value; productivity; robotic |
| Index terms: | revenue, manufacturing industry, dissemination, economic analysis, exposure, climatic condition, case study, construction operation, savings, net present value, productivity, marketing, advanced construction robotics, robotics, monitoring, cleaning, implementation, construction industry, dissertation |
| Subjects: | control systems, data collection methods, business, industry analysis, knowledge translation, management, public and environmental health, contractual arrangements, construction operations, economic analysis, design analysis, climate science, research dissemination and communication, building construction, automation and robotics, maintenance engineering |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Procurement, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Design Practice, 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