Factors Influencing Adoption and Integration of Construction Robotics and Automation Technology in the US

Abstract

Robotics and automation technology (RAT) has emerged as one of the most important drivers of the Industry 4.0 digital transformation of industrial operations. Although RAT has been explored in construction over the last several decades, its applications in the field have been limited, despite its potential and rise in application opportunities. Prior studies have focused on the resistance factors that impact the adoption of RAT. However, there is limited work that simultaneously identifies the positive and negative factors that influence the decision of construction companies to adopt RAT. This study aims to identify, through semistructured interviews with prominent experts in the US, the positive and negative factors of adopting RAT and then use these adoption factors in a survey to allow these same experts to pairwise compare their importance. The survey results were prioritized based on their perceived impact on construction companies’ decision-making using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results indicated that the intention to use RAT is primarily positively affected by long-term cost savings and adversely affected mainly by the initial investment costs. Because construction professionals are inclined to make decisions on the adoption of RAT based mainly on costs, the understanding gained in this study of the other factors impacting RAT adoption decisions allows companies to improve how they manage their RAT adoption efforts.