Automation in Construction Activities

Automation in Construction Activities
Entrepreneurial ActionResearch
Name: Personal Identifier:

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
Chapter 2: Research methodology...................................................................................................5
Chapter 3: Literature review..........................................................................................................10
Impact on automation for reducing cost and increasing safety factors in construction.......17
Chapter 4: Discussion....................................................................................................................20
Benefits that could be attain by construction through enhancing automation in construction
practices................................................................................................................................22
Impact of automation for reducing cost and increasing safety factors in construction........24
Chapter 6: Recommendations........................................................................................................26
Chapter 7: CONCLUSION............................................................................................................27
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................28
(Books and Journal)..............................................................................................................28

Chapter 1: Introduction
The construction sector is one of the most necessary sector in all over the world. It is
playing an essential role in economic development of country. The construction is high hazard
sector that mainly comprises wider range of the activities consisting plans, constructs, design,
maintain and demolishes buildings. Scope of the automation in construction is wider that
encompassing different construction stage from planning and design by construction of facility,
operation to building recycling and the engineering structures. The businesses are mainly looking
for automating repetitive ways, dangerous risks and the time consuming to increase efficient and
make improvement in worker’s safety(Aghimien, 2019)
.
The construction industries play a vital role in world economy & contribute around 7-8% of total
employment around the world though the industry suffer long enough for innovation & low
technological advancement. Technology in today’s world considered as a backbone for any
country's development. In recent times the construction industry gradually started using
automated & robotics system in construction like, 3D printing, robots including mule for
specialize in brick laying & some tailored robots to perform some specifically design tasks.
Though these are at initial stage of usage but have significant impact on humanize functions as
how they use to do construction work manually. These automations in construction industry
bring a new era for life style with innovative, less labour intensive, cost benefit techniques not
only save time but also save expenses that usually occur with manual labour. Growing demand
for smart homes, villas, resorts etc. in UAE, the country may experience a major growth in
automation in construction sector.
Current research is based on the Ali & Sons Contracting Company LLC (ASC), is a local
business operate their commercial activities in Abu Dhabi in the year of 1979. It is a subsidiary
of Ali & Sons Holding. Mainly, it is a general construction company and also specialising in
civil construction of residential. Along with this, it is also a commercial and industrial building
that classified through contractors Committee and planning department of Abu Dhabi as a
Special category in relation to building and steel construction.
Research Aim

This is one of the important sub section of entire research as it is a base on which each
and every activities of investigation are based. Mainly, it expresses the purpose and an aspiration
of the research on which investigator can easily undertake overall analysis. With the assistance
of this, researcher can attain reliable and valuable results at the end of the study. As it makes
entire research activities more effective and successful as well. In this context, the main aim of
research is “To critically discuss the impact of the automation on the construction activities
instead of humans in terms of the productivity, cost, quality and safety.”
Research Objectives
It is also an important phase of undertaking research activities as it is based over the research
aim developed by investigator to execute the same. Along with this, investigator focus on
variables present in the research aim so that realistic and appropriate objectives of study can be
easily developed. By this, investigator can gather detailed information that directly contributes in
drawing a valid conclusion at the end of investigation. In relation to this, there are some
appropriate objective that can be understood by following objectives:
• To identify the concept of automation on construction activities.
• To analyse the benefits that could be attained by construction through enhancing
automation in construction practices.
• To evaluate the impact on automation for reducing cost and increasing safety factors
in construction.
Research Questions
It is important for an investigator to develop an appropriate question that support in
addressing the specified problem with the aim of taking right solution. Mainly, it is related with
the research objectives that develop an important area on which researcher can improve the
chances of attaining reliable outcomes within the research activities. Research questions help
investigator in evaluating the areas for further improvement in the study. All the research
questions can be understood by following points:
• What is the concept of automation on construction activities?
• What are the benefits that could be attained by construction through enhancing
automation in construction practices?

• What is the impact on automation for reducing cost and increasing safety factors in
construction?
Hypothesis
• H0: Automation has improved quality and productivity
• H1: There’s no impact of automation on construction activities
Scope of research
The scope of this project is very broad because it is based on the impact of the
automation on the construction activities instead of humans in terms of the productivity, cost,
quality and safety. In relation to construction activity that cover various aspects of construction
life from initial planning and design by construction facility and also manage all the operation
and maintenance. In construction sector, recent development of computer science, and robotics
have also provide scope to the company in improving its productivity level. Along with this,
various new technologies and machinery have also developed that make construction activity
easier. One of the main benefit of using advancement of technology within the construction
activity is to minimise the construction cost and project time period. This will directly contribute
in maximizing the productivity level. Furthermore, various construction industry also operates
and conduct within the risky condition. As it requires robotics with the aim of improving safety
and quality work that directly contributes in attaining success in the construction industry. This is
the reason that investigator undertake current investigation as it provides assistance in improving
the chances of attaining positive results at the end of the investigation.
Project plan
It is an important section of undertaking research activities as it provides assistance to
researcher in completing whole study in more effective way. Mainly, it includes various plans
and activities along with appropriate time frame so that researcher can easily complete the study
and attain reliable outcomes. For this, investigator develop a Gantt chart that is related with the
graphical representation consist various activities and task along with specified time frame. This
will support in successfully execute each and every task activity without any kind of issues and
obstacles.
Evidence management of the project from idea
This research has various opportunities that assist researcher in determining the actual
impact of automation on construction activities. Now a day’s, majority of business are

developing new and advancement of technologies to make their activities more effective and
smooth manner. As automation may increase the productivity of construction project by reducing
the laborious work and duration. One of the main advantage of implementing automation in
construction industry may assist in improving the quality of work as compare to unskilled
workers. Basically, the construction industry is one of the important or fundamental economic
sector in over the world. In this context, automation and technological innovations have
interrupted the construction landscape as it also bringing with new aspects and prospects that
directly contributes in increasing profitability level of construction company by providing safe
and productive project. In addition to this, the major opportunity of undertaking this project is
that automation help construction activity to improve the quality of project that directly assist in
maximizing overall performance of business organization.

Chapter 2: Research methodology
Research methodology is explained as the particular process that used to determine, choose
and also examine the information regarding topic. It allows reader to evaluate the validity and
also reliability of study. Methodology explains wider philosophical underpinning to selected
research methods consisting using the quantitative or qualitative methods or mix. It is necessary
that researcher should be clear regarding academic basis for all research methods choices which
have made. Study about the research methods helps in provide the guidance about conducting the
research project in significant manner. It provides essential training or guidance to selecting
methods, tools and materials which are necessary to chosen issue. There has been research onion
used for the purpose of doing the research methodology. Saunders research onion mainly
illustrates different stages included in doing research work that developed through Saunders et.
al., (2007). Layers of onion provides detailed explanation of research process stages. The
different stages included in research onion mention below:
Research Philosophy- It is related to the belief regarding way under which the data regarding
phenomenon should be collected as well as analysed in significant manner. There are
interpretivism and positivism two different philosophies of research.
Interpretivism philosophy- This is based on principle that stated an investigator mainly
performs particular role in order to observing things. In this, research is mainly based on what
the interest of investigator is. Interpretivism is mainly linked with philosophical position of
idealism & is used with diversity approaches. With help of this research It helps in accessing to
multiple methods, with purpose of reflecting of different parts of issues. Through accessing to
interpretivism results in using of information & resources effectively.
Positivism philosophy- It is based on idea that the scientific knowledge is acceptable of
world and also characterised through testing hypothesis that derived from existing knowledge
theory. In regards to this, body of investigation mainly generated through philosophical stance
that can be replicated through other investigators. It is based on the empirical data with large
samples which used to make the generalizations. In the positivism research philosophy, role of
an investigator is limited regarding data collection as well as interpretation in objective manner.
In this type of the research, findings are mainly quantifiable and observable. It is mainly based
on the quantifiable observation which lead to the statistical analysis. Research philosophy is
essential in projects as well as research because it help in understanding of subjects, field, assist

in solution of problem,improve communication & writing skills at wider level. It has been too
examined that research philosophy helps in making aware about beliefs and assumptions which
have been made. The process of research is time consuming which is needed to be done in most
efficient manner.
Justification: There has been interpretivism research philosophy used as this adheres the
factual knowledge that mainly gained through the observation. In this, interpretivist investigator
is seen playing necessary role in making the sense and also interpreting gathered data. The main
benefit of using this research philosophy is that it provides the information and data in detailed
manner.
Research Approach- It is related to approach that an investigator takes that can have explained
as either deductive or inductive. The research approach are process and plan for conducting an
investigation that span steps from wider assumptions to the detailed data collection and also
analysis. Different research approaches are given below:
Deductive approach- When conducting the deductive research, it is necessary to begin
with theory. This approach can be defined through hypothesis means that can have derived from
propositions of theory. It is the one that people are related with the scientific research. It is
generally related with the quantitative investigation. The benefit of this approach is that there is
possibility to define the causal relationships among variables and concepts. There is more
possibility to generalize the research related findings to certain extent. The main benefit of
deductive research approach is to define the causal relationship among variables and concepts.
Inductive approach- This approach is systematic process for examining the qualitative
data under which analysis is to be guided through particular evaluation objectives. It moves from
particular observations to wider generalisations. The main focus of inductive approach is to
move from the particular observation to wider generalisations.
Justification: In this, inductive research approach has been used as it is based on the
qualitative research method. The benefit of using inductive research approach is that it begins
with proper observations that proposed towards end of investigation and getting positive
outcomes.
Research Choice- It seek to inform an investigator what data is gathered through using the
effective and efficient sources. It is the responsibility of an investigator to select the better