Construction Automation and Robotics in Civil Engineering Education Programs

Abstract

Applications of automation and robotics are cited as part of the solution to improve productivity, quality, working conditions, and skilled labor shortages in the construction industry. One potential area of importance is that of infrastructure rehabilitation. Since civil engineers play an important role in construction and infrastructure rehabilitation, teaching construction automation and robotics to civil engineering students has become a contemporary issue over the past eight to 10 years. The objective of this paper is to explore the issue of whether dedicated, in-depth courses in construction automation are required or whether it is better to treat the subject with a breadth approach and as part of other construction engineering courses. This paper includes results of a review of current literature, responses from colleagues pursuing the subject, and alternative methods of incorporating construction automation and robotics topics into civil engineering curricula. It is concluded that civil engineering courses fully dedicated to construction automation are not always necessary or appropriate.