AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION

Technology in Construction

Abstract
Automation in construction is using technology to ease the
construction process and analyze the data to make a reasonable decision.
List of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………….….……1
1.1 Definition………………………………………………….……..1
1.2 History…………………………………………………….……..2
1.3 Objectives…………………………………………………….….2
2. BIM TECHNOLOGY…………………………………………………….……3
2.1 Definition………………………………………………….……..3
2.2 Software programs that support this technology………….……3
2.3 Objectives and uses of BIM technology…………………………4
3. AUTOMATION IN PROJECT CONSTRUCTION……………………………….5
4. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MIS)…………………………….6
4.1 Introduction to MIS……………………………………………...6
4.2 Origin and background…………………………………………..7
4.3 Types of MIS……………………………………………………..8
4.4 Advantages and disadvantages………………………………….9
4.5 Structure of MIS………………………………………………..10
5. FUTURE OF AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION…………………………...11
6. REFERENCES……………………………………………………………….13
 AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION:

1.1 Definition:
Automation is a technology conserved with the application of mechanical,
electronic and computer-based systems to operate and control production.
Also, it can be defined as construction using appropriate
technology through its phases. This technology helps to
monitoring, designing, managing and controlling and
construction a project. Robotics, an example for this
technology that are being used in increasing numbers in
manufacturing and construction throughout the world.
Also, the BIM technology which analyze the building model
to detect safety hazards and suggest a preventive
measurement.
Figure (1): history of cranes

1.2 History:

Period Developments
1100s Pulleys, levers
1400s Cranes
1500s Pile drivers
1800s Elevators, steam shovels, internal combustion engine,
power tools, reinforced concrete
1900s Slip-form construction
1910s Gantt charts, work breakdown structures (WBS)
1920s Dozers, engineering vehicles
1930s Prefabrication, hydraulic power, concrete pumps
1950s Project evaluation and review technique (PERT),
computers
1960s Time-lapse studies, critical path method (CPM)

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 1970s Robotics, computer-aided design (CAD), discrete-
event simulation
1980s 3-D CAD, 4-D CAD, mass production of personal
computers, spread sheets, relational databases,
geographic information systems (GIS), large-scale
manipulators.
1990s Internet, intranets, extranets, personal digital
assistants (PDAs), global positioning
systems (GPS), barcodes, radiofrequency identification
systems
(RFID), wireless communications, remote sensing,
precision laser radars (LADARS), enterprise resource
planning (ERP), object-oriented programming (OOP),
concurrent engineering, industry foundation classes
(IFC), building information models (BIM), lean
construction (LC).
2000s Web-based project management, e-Work, parametric
modelling, Wi-Fi, ultra-wide band (UWB) for tracking
and positioning, machine vision, mixed augmented
reality, nanotechnology.

1.3 Objectives:
Construction Automated describes the field of research and development
focused on automating construction process. This Technology includes:
1- Automated machine tools.
2- Transfer lines.
3- Industrial robots.
4- Automated assembly systems.
Therefor the objectives can be summarized as follows:
1- Automated personnel and equipment tracking.
2- Automated materials handling such as: trucks, loaders, conveyors, sizers
and automatic mixers.
3- Automated mechanical construction systems.
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 4- Remoted supervision from distant locations.
5- Intelligent and integrated control over all construction processes to
optimize resource value.
6- Analyzing and detecting safety hazards and suggest preventive measure.

2. BIM TECHNOLOGY:
2.1 Definition:
It refers to building information modeling. It is a technology tool which helps
to monitoring, designing and managing the project through its phases even due
to construction. It is a physical representation of construction site. Or, it can be
defined as the process involving the generation and management of digital
representations of the physical and functional characteristics. Construction life
cycle analysis by BIM ideas can be summarized as:
1- Requirements identification.
2- Project planning.
3- Design and engineering.
4- Building construction.
5- Operation and maintenance.
6- Decommissioning.

2.2 Software programs that support this technology:

1- Autodesk Revit Architecture.
2- Graphisoft ArchiCAD.

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 3- Bentley Architecture.
4- CADSoft Envisioneer.
5- Rhino BIM (BETA).
6- Nemetschek Allplan Architecture.
7- Nemetschek Vectorworks Architect.
Figure (2): 4D CAD

2.3 Objectives and uses of BIM technology:

The evolution of BIM started with architects, and many still see its value
emerging from its use in the design phases. Most in the design community, along
with many contractors (43%) and owners (41%), say that architects experience
a high level of value.

Nearly half of all users recognized, that structural engineers can garner a
high level of value from BIM. Such elements as steel columns, beams
and trusses are frequently modeled by users. Contractors are the most likely
(47%) to see structural engineers realizing significant benefits.

BIM can offer granular detail about task-specific assignments. Also, it can
help construction planners forecast which LEED credits are attainable with a new
project. When synced with green construction software, BIM can help identify
how your firm can get bonus LEED credits for regional environmental priority.
Construction managers can use this function to avoid hazards before the
building process has even begun. So, the benefits can be summarized as:
1- Reducing rework.
2- Improves productivity.
3- Reducing conflicts and changes during construction.
4- Availability clash detection.
5- BIM technology can also be used in business such as in marketing and
project’s outcomes.

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3. AUTOMATION IN PROJECT CONSTRUCTION:

Automation can be defined as any equipment, tool or system that operates

by itself – under human control – using technology. Fields that are using this
technology or this concept are many such as building construction. There are
many tools that can contribute to the establishment of projects and through its
phases.

• Conception phase:
Conception phase is the first phase in project management which
identifies the project’s characteristics. And by using technology such as
3D visualization and 3D models will provide a good and satisfying first
inspection view for the project.

• Design phase:
Technology can also contribute with project’s designers -
architectures, structure, electrical and mechanical -. For example, the
Autodesk Revit That helps all of the design participants to connect with
each other.

• Tendering phase:
Tendering phase is the phase of choosing the contractor or the other
major participant to the construction phase. There are ways to use
technology in this phase such as the electronic tendering. Electronic
tendering is an online process that manages the tendering cycle from the
advertisement of the notice straight through to the issuing of an award.
It provides a centralized process to help organizations improve
efficiencies and accountability while
reducing traditional tendering costs.

• Construction phase:
Construction phase is the phase of
establishing the project and converting
it from the conception to the real world. Figure (3): using robots in construction
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 The technology is used world widely in
this phase and there are many researches
to develop the construction operation.
The simple mechanical equipment used
in the traditional sites such as loaders,
mixer trucks and cranes. This days there
are construction by robots, computer
printing and mechanical assembling Figure (4): 3D concrete printing
under the supervision of humans.

• Handing over phase:

The handing over phase is the last
phase of project management which
aims to handing over the project to the
current owner satisfied within the
required specifications. This days,
technology will offer a first overview
for the customer or the owner before
even construction by using the VR technology.
Figure (5): VR technology in construction
This technology offers testing the utilities
before the final handing over.

4. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MIS):

4.1 introduction to MIS:

Management information system (MIS) refers to the processing of
information through computers and other intelligent devices to manage and
support managerial decisions within an organization. MIS professionals help
organizations to maximize the benefit from investments in personnel,
equipment, and business process. MIS is the only major that focuses on both
business processes and information technology. The main purpose of the MIS is
to give managers feedback about their own performance. Top management can
monitor the company. Information displayed by the MIS typically shows "actual"
data over against "planned" results and results from a year before. Thus, it
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measures progress against goals. The MIS receives data from company units and
functions. Some of the data are collected automatically from computer-linked
check-out counters; others are keyed in at periodic intervals.

4.2 Origin and background:

The MIS represents the electronic automation of several different kinds

of counting, tallying, record-keeping, and accounting techniques which was the
ledger on which the business owner kept track of his or her business.
Automation emerged in the 1880s in the form of tabulating cards which could
be sorted and counted. These were the punch-cards still remembered by many:
they captured elements of information keyed in on punch-card machines. The
cards were then processed by other machines some of which could print out
results of tallies. Each card was the equivalent of what today would be called a
database record, with different areas on the card treated as fields. IBM had its
start in 1911. It was then called Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company.
Before IBM there was C-T-R. Punch cards were used to keep time records and to
record weights at scales. The U.S. Census used such cards to record and to
manipulate its data as well. When the first computers emerged after World War
II punch-card systems were used both as their front end (feeding them data and
programs) and as their output (computers cut cards and other machines printed
from these). Card systems did not entirely disappear until the 1970s. They were
ultimately replaced by magnetic storage media (tape and disks). Computers
using such storage media speeded up tallying. The computer introduced
calculating functions. MIS developed as the most crucial accounting functions
became computerized.

Waves of innovation spread the fundamental virtues of coherent

information systems across all corporate functions and to all sizes of businesses
in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Within companies’ major functional areas developed
their own MIS capabilities. Often these were not yet connected: engineering,
manufacturing, and inventory systems developed side by side sometimes
running on specialized hardware. Personal computers (micros, PCs) appeared in
the 70s and spread widely in the 80s. Some of these were used as free-standing
"seeds" of MIS systems serving sales, marketing, and personnel systems, with
summarized data from them transferred to the "mainframe." In the 1980s

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networked PCs appeared and developed into powerful systems in the 1990s in
many companies displacing midsized and small computers. Equipped with
powerful database engines, such networks were in turn organized for MIS
purposes. Simultaneously, in the 90s, the World Wide Web came of age,
morphed into the Internet with a visual interface, connecting all sorts of systems
to one another.

Midway through the first decade of the 21st century the narrowly
conceived idea of the MIS has become somewhat fuzzy. Management
information systems, of course, are still doing their jobs, but their function is
now one among many others that feed information to people in business to help
them manage. Systems are available for computer assisted design and
manufacturing (CAD-CAM); computers supervise industrial processes in power,
chemicals, petrochemicals, pipelines, transport systems, etc. Systems manage
and transfer money worldwide and communicate worldwide. Virtually all major
administrative functions are supported by automated system. Many people now
file their taxes over the Internet and have their refunds credited (or money
owning deducted) from bank accounts automatically. MIS was thus
the first major system of the Information Age. At present the initials IT are
coming into universal use. "Information Technology" is now the category to
designate all software-hardware-communications structures that today work
like a virtual nervous system of society at all levels.

4.3 Types of MIS:

Transaction processing system

Types of MIS

Operation information systems

Decision support system

Expert systems

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• Transaction processing systems:
TPS is a type of MIS which records a huge volume of recurring and
routine data. It records transactions relating to inventories, raw materials,
customers and sales. Many organizations use these systems to record day
to-day transactions such as banks. They use these systems to record
deposits and payments made into bank accounts. And managers use TPS to
record transactions related to payments made to suppliers, customer
billing and so on.
• Operation information systems:
These systems were introduced after TPS. Operations information
systems are used to plan and schedule production and assembly
functions. They help managers to take various curial decisions like how
much raw materials to be ordered, when to schedule production and when
to assemble the final products. It also helps managers to take decisions
about the manpower which will be require in the production and assembly
processes.
• Decision support system:
A DSS helps managers to make important decisions. It consists of
three fundamental components:
• Database management system (DBMS): it stores large amount
of data related to all problems the DSS has been designed to
tackle.
• Model-based management system (MBMS): it helps to convert
data from DBMS into useful information which help managers
in decision making process.
• Dialog generation and management system (DGMS): it
provides a user-friendly interface between the system and the
managers who are not experts in computer.

• Expert systems:
These systems use human knowledge stored in a computer to solve
problems same as human beings. These systems recognize, formulate and
solve a problem. They also explain their solutions and learn from their
experience.

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 4.4 Advantages and disadvantages of MIS:

Advantages Disadvantages

Fast reaction to market changes. MIS expense.

Relevant information by compressing the MIS cannot be used independently
data.
Competitive advantages. Employee training.
Facilitates planning and controlling. MIS inflexibility.
Inadequate information.

4.5 Structure of MIS:

Structure of MIS

Physical components Processing functions Outputs to users

1. Physical components:

• Computer equipment and associated equipment.

• Hardware such as CPU, input and output devices.
• Software. It is a set of information to hardware, system software
and application software.
• Database which is a collection of records and stored data on disks.
• Procedures and instructions to users contained in manual
instruction books.
• People and personnel including system analyst, computer operator,
programmers, data entry operators and users.

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 2. Processing functions:
• Processing the transactions.
• Maintaining master files.
• Producing reports.
• Processing inquiries.
• Process interactive support application.

3. Output to users:
• Transaction documents.
• Reports.
• Enquiry and adhoc reports.
• Output of interactive support application.

5. FUTURE OF AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION:

The building construction

will be different in the future
because of using technology.
And not just using it but
developing it. For example,
drones could provide the eyes
for automated vehicles on Figure (6): 3D printing by WinSun company
building site and 3D printing.
Chinese company “WinSun” claimed to have 3D printed 10 full-size
single-story houses in one day. Using a robotic arm means that the
team can print up to 10 times faster and create a huge variety of
forms, including curved, hollow and geometrically complex shapes.
Technology can also be used to collect, save, share the data in
the moment of need. Cloud software, one the technologies of sharing
the data even for the people who are not in the organization. Another
benefit associated with cloud software is that you can invite anyone
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to collaborate and take part in the project – this includes those in and
outside of the organization. This is especially beneficial when it comes
to smooth collaboration with customers and partner companies.
Projects often include dealing with a wide range of people across
different levels, and cloud-based collaboration breaks down barriers
so the entire team and everyone involved in the project can work
together to achieve the goals.
One of the techniques that may be used in the future is mobile
and smart phones’ applications for monitoring the project’s progress
and in the future even construction remotely by using robots under
the supervision of human.

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6.REFERENCES:
.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_information_system
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921889005800144
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926580512000799
• https://www.slideshare.net/anandkhare/automation-in-construction-66306300
• http://www.vtt.fi/inf/pdf/technology/2013/T109.pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_information_system
• http://www.bimthinkspace.com/2008/11/effects-of-bim-on-project-lifecycle-
phases.html
• https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/project-planning-factory-automation-
5249
• http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/e-tendering.html
• https://www.ukessays.com/essays/information-technology/physical-structure-
of-management-information-system-information-technology-essay.php
• https://www.slideshare.net/kanishg/structure-of-mis
• http://www.parallelprojecttraining.com/community/groups/viewdiscussion/532
-how-technology-has-impacted-project-management?groupid=7

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