Investigating Stakeholder Perception and Developing a Decision Framework for Robot Adoption in Construction

Abstract

Considering the benefits of using robots in the manufacturing and automobile sectors, robots are currently being developed for the construction industry; however, the rate of adopting robots in this industry is still in its nascent stage. As robots are introduced to project sites, safety, productivity, ease of use, level of robot autonomy, etc. become important parameters for wide-scale adoption; however, research that analyzes the point of view of construction industry stakeholders on adopting robots, to our best knowledge, is still limited. Identifying the expectations and perceptions of different stakeholders about robotic technology is crucial to ensuring the effective utilization the human–robot teams on project sites. This research aimed to study and compare stakeholders’ perceptions, levels of trust, and comfort levels in using different robotic technologies on their project sites. Based on these perceptions, this research developed a decision-making framework that will guide industry stakeholders in understanding what steps need to be followed while deciding to robotize a particular task. The research used a questionnaire to collect relevant data from various construction industry stakeholders. The results suggest that these stakeholders have a positive attitude toward the adoption of robots, with drones and layout robots receiving the most favorable response. The top factors that drive robot adoption include a robot’s ability to save time by reducing rework and the ability to help in monitoring and quality control. However, factors such as high costs and lack of a skilled workforce were identified as barriers to robot adoption. This research contributes to the body of knowledge concerning how different stakeholders in the construction industry perceive the utilization of robots in the construction sector.