Naghshbandi, S N; Varga, L and Hu, Y (2022) Technology capabilities for an automated and connected earthwork roadmap. Construction Innovation, 22(4), pp. 768-788. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: The development of communication and artificial intelligence technologies has raised interest in connectivity and increased autonomy of automated earthmoving equipment for earthwork. These changes are motivating work to reduce uncertainties, in terms of improving equipment object detection capability and reducing strikes and accidents on site. The purpose of this study is to illustrate industrial drivers for automated earthwork systems; identify the specific capabilities which make the transformation happen; and finally determine use cases that create value for the system. These three objectives act as components of a technology roadmap for automated and connected earthwork and can guide development of new products and services. Design/methodology/approach: This paper used a text mining approach in which the required data was captured through a structured literature review, and then expert knowledge was used for verification of the results. Findings: Automated and connected earthwork can enhance construction site and its embraced infrastructure, resilience by avoiding human faults during operations. Automating the monitoring process can lead to reliable anticipation of problems and facilitate real-time responses to unexpected situation via connectedness capabilities. Research findings are presented in three sections: industrial perspectives, trends and drivers for automated and connected earthwork; capabilities which are met by technologies; and use cases to demonstrate different capabilities. Originality/value: This study combines the results of disintegrated and fragmented research in the area of automated and connected earthwork and categorises them under new capability levels. The identified capabilities are classified in three main categories including reliable environmental perception, single equipment decision-making toward safe outcomes and fleet-level safety enhancement. Finally, four different levels of automation are proposed for earthwork technology roadmap.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | drivers; earthwork; resilience; technology innovations; technology roadmap; use cases |
| Index terms: | earthwork, connectivity, construction site, literature review, environmental perception, methodology, decision-making, object detection, transformation, monitoring, mining, technology innovation, artificial intelligence, automation, earthmoving |
| Subjects: | networking, geotechnical engineering, decision analysis, computer vision, automation and robotics, research methods, data analysis and analytics, construction operations, artificial intelligence, construction methods, environmental behaviour, work location, control systems, business |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Site Management, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Risk Management, Sustainability |
| 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