Construction Industry Embraces AI and Robots to Boost Site Efficiency

The construction industry is accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology to enhance process efficiency. AI and robots are expected to boost on-site productivity by taking over tasks such as material transport and repetitive work, but numerous challenges must be overcome for successful implementation, including effective collaboration methods and data utilization systems.

GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) signed a research and development cooperation agreement on the 5th with robotics firm Daedong Robotics for 'Construction Site Automation Using AI Field Robots,' exploring the potential use of robots for material transport and repetitive tasks. Hyundai Engineering & Construction, in April, partnered with HD Hyundai Infracore to jointly develop smart safety technology for construction machinery, planning to integrate systems like the 'Smart Around View Monitor,' which uses AI cameras to detect worker proximity, into construction equipment.

AI and robot technology are also being utilized beyond construction sites, extending to completed complexes. Samsung C&T successfully completed a pilot service for an AI-powered food delivery robot in the Raemian Leaders One complex in Seocho-gu last year.

There are expectations that AI and robotics will serve as key tools to connect the construction value chain and drive innovation. However, predictions suggest it will take time to accumulate sufficient successful collaboration cases between humans and AI and to establish data utilization systems for workers before these technologies can be fully integrated into actual sites. A seminar by the Korea Society of Civil Engineers highlighted the importance of accumulating case studies to identify and resolve issues arising from robot-human collaboration, emphasizing the establishment of data utilization frameworks for on-site workers as a critical task.