Advances in Automation and Intelligence in Construction

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 January 2025 | Viewed by 1374

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Construction Management Department of Engineering Technology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77340, USA
Interests: construction engineering; management sustainability; artificial intelligence applications in design and construction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Although construction industry is one the least digitized industries in the world, there are several advances in automation and intelligence are shaping the construction industry. 

Building Information Modeling (BIM) Enhancements: BIM continues to evolve, enabling more comprehensive and collaborative project management. Advances include the integration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for enhanced visualization, clash detection, and real-time project monitoring.

Prefabrication and Modular Construction: Automation has facilitated the growth of prefabrication and modular construction. Robotics and automated assembly lines are being used to manufacture components off-site, leading to increased efficiency, reduced waste, and faster project timelines.

Construction Robotics: Robotics are being employed for tasks that are dangerous, repetitive, or labor-intensive. These robots can perform tasks such as bricklaying, concrete pouring, and even site cleanup. Drones are also used for site surveys, progress monitoring, and inspection.

Autonomous Heavy Equipment: Construction equipment is becoming increasingly automated and autonomous. Self-driving machinery like excavators, bulldozers, and dump trucks are being developed to optimize operations, enhance safety, and improve precision.

AI-Powered Project Management: Artificial intelligence is being used to analyze and predict project outcomes, optimize schedules, allocate resources efficiently, and identify potential risks. Predictive analytics help project managers make more informed decisions.

Construction Software Integration: Software platforms are becoming more integrated, allowing seamless data exchange between various tools used in construction, from design and planning to scheduling and cost estimation.

Internet of Things (IoT) Sensors: IoT sensors are being embedded in construction materials and equipment to monitor conditions such as temperature, humidity, stress, and structural integrity. This real-time data helps ensure quality and safety.

Construction Site Safety: Wearable technology and IoT devices are being used to monitor workers' health and safety conditions, alerting supervisors in case of accidents or hazardous conditions.

Material Optimization: Machine learning algorithms are being employed to analyze data on material properties and construction processes to optimize material usage, reduce waste, and enhance sustainability.

Digital Twin Technology: Digital twins replicate physical assets in a virtual environment. They enable real-time monitoring and simulation, helping stakeholders visualize, analyze, and manage construction projects throughout their lifecycle.

Automated Quality Control: Automated quality control systems use computer vision to detect defects in construction materials, structures, and components, improving overall project quality.

Smart Construction Equipment: Equipment and tools equipped with sensors and connectivity features enable real-time monitoring, preventive maintenance, and improved resource allocation.

Dr. Ebrahim Parvaresh Karan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence in construction
  • smart construction
  • Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in construction
  • autonomous heavy construction equipment
  • pre-fabrication and modular construction

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

32 pages, 16018 KiB  
Article
Research on Positioning and Simulation Method for Autonomous Mobile Construction Platform
by Xinyu Shi, Chaoran Wang, Tyson Keen Phillips, Chengpeng Sun, Haining Zhou, Wenxuan Zhao, Weijiu Cui and Da Wan
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051196 - 23 Apr 2024
Viewed by 948
Abstract
In the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, the positioning technology for a mobile construction platform (MCP) is critical to achieve on-site, continuous, large-scale construction. During construction, MCP movement and construction actions seldom occur simultaneously. Therefore, this paper categorizes the MCP into stationary [...] Read more.
In the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, the positioning technology for a mobile construction platform (MCP) is critical to achieve on-site, continuous, large-scale construction. During construction, MCP movement and construction actions seldom occur simultaneously. Therefore, this paper categorizes the MCP into stationary and moving states for positioning studies, respectively. When the platform is stationary, it is positioned using an improved ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor. When the platform is in motion, a single UWB positioning technique cannot meet the required accuracy for positioning, and fusion positioning using both UWB and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) is considered. The experimental results show that compared with only UWB positioning, the improved UWB positioning algorithm improves the positioning accuracy by 53% in the stationary state, and the fused UWB/IMU positioning improves the positioning accuracy by 46% in the moving state. As a result, the positioning accuracy of the MCP is significantly improved regardless of whether it is in a stationary or moving state. Furthermore, this paper integrates the positioning technique with the robotic arm construction technique to successfully simulate an on-site continuous construction of a wooden cabin, which provides the potential for large-scale continuous construction in real-world scenarios in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Automation and Intelligence in Construction)
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