‘Co-evolution through interaction’ of innovative building technologies: The case of modular integrated construction and robotics

Transfer Learning Enabled Process Recognition for Module Installation of High-rise Modular Buildings

“…the 32-storey steel framed modular building in the Pacific Park of New York City, US, and the 40-storey residential building with concrete modules named Clement Canopy in Singapore. Yang et al (2018) pointed out that HMB with standard design of modules and repetitive processes of module installation is in favor of the development of construction automation. As module installation is one of the critical construction activities in the delivery of HMBs (Lawson et al 2014), it is important to recognize the module installation process automatically so as to facilitate automation in the construction of HMB.…”

An Efficiency-orientated Total Factor Productivity Measurement Model for Construction Projects

“…However, productivity in construction in general has been alleged to be lower than that in many other industrial sectors (Borg and Song 2015). Therefore, the need of productivity enhancement has triggered the rapid emergence of many new construction technologies such as modularization and mechanization (Pan et al 2019;Yang et al 2018). Modularization and mechanization are two labor-saving technologies and have been reported with substantial benefits for buildings (Yang et al 2018).…”

“…Therefore, the need of productivity enhancement has triggered the rapid emergence of many new construction technologies such as modularization and mechanization (Pan et al 2019;Yang et al 2018). Modularization and mechanization are two labor-saving technologies and have been reported with substantial benefits for buildings (Yang et al 2018). Many studies found that equipment technology has a greater impact on productivity; technological advance in the equipment is characterized by the substitution of equipment for labor in the manufacture of goods (Goodrum and Haas 2004), resulting in production's increase in the equipment-to-labor ratio (Salter 1966).…”

“…Similarly, if material technology has a greater improvement, it would result in a declining material-to-labor ratio (Goodrum et al 2009). Recent research found that within the relationship of symbiosis, construction productivity is beneficial by adopting both technologies (Yang et al 2018). Investigations into the benefits of the two construction technologies prevail at the industry level (Yang et al 2018), but there is a lack of quantitative evidence to support adopting Site Efficiency Enhancement Strategies (SEESs) concerning modularization and mechanization at the project level.…”

“…Recent research found that within the relationship of symbiosis, construction productivity is beneficial by adopting both technologies (Yang et al 2018). Investigations into the benefits of the two construction technologies prevail at the industry level (Yang et al 2018), but there is a lack of quantitative evidence to support adopting Site Efficiency Enhancement Strategies (SEESs) concerning modularization and mechanization at the project level. Lacking of quantitative evidence of adopting modularization and mechanization at the project level supports the need for development of a simulation tool for SEESs evaluation.…”