Construction Law
The Future of Robotics in Construction Part 1
There’s no shying away from the fact that robotics will play an important role in the future of construction. We’ve already witnessed the future of construction in movies that utilize robotics as a device to enhance human strength or serve as advanced tools for development—movies like Alien, Edge of Tomorrow, WALL-E, Red Planet, and 2001: A Space Odyssey—but these devices won’t be fiction for much longer.
In this four-part series, the Miami construction lawyers at Cotney Construction Law will discuss the future of robotics in the construction industry, focusing on the innovative work of the Japanese construction company, Shimizu.
The Construction Industry is Aging
The construction industry is getting older. Whether you live in the United States, Japan, or somewhere else entirely, there’s a good chance that your region has been stricken with a construction industry labor shortage. The younger generations simply don’t have the same amount of interest in trade jobs as the previous ones did, and it’s showing in the unparalleled skills gap dominating the construction industry globally. When a third or more of your workforce is over the age of 50, and the work is physically demanding, it becomes difficult for an industry to prosper. That’s the grim reality facing the construction industry in 2018, but if Shimizu’s work in robotics can reach the necessary benchmarks to offset this skills shortage, the future of construction will be bright nonetheless.
Simple Infrastructure, Advanced Robotics
Shimizu’s idea of incorporating robotics into the construction industry can seem like a pipe dream, but it’s not as far fetched as you might believe. Obviously, robotics are already being utilized in an array of industries like manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare, but this technology needs to be scaled up significantly to accommodate the needs of the construction industry. Fortunately, outside of the actual robotics that are still being developed and tested, the infrastructure needed to prime the project site for the inclusion of robotics is largely in place. The world is already starting to make the transition to 5G mobile technology. This technology is expected to be completely integrated by 2020 and will allow multiple robots to communicate with each other to perform advanced tasks.
What does this mean for the construction industry? It means a transition from traditional construction techniques to ones that incorporate robotics is both achievable and inevitable. Sooner than later, robotics will be utilized to improve efficiency, boost productivity, cut costs, and reduce the frequency of workplace injuries.
To learn more about the future of robotics in the construction industry, read parts two, three, and four.
If you would like to speak with a Miami construction lawyer, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.