2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The construction industry is grappling with numerous challenges, including declining productivity, workforce shortages, inadequate occupational safety, and poor working conditions. These issues present a unique opportunity to leverage breakthrough technologies, particularly automation and robotics, which have the potential to significantly enhance productivity, safety, and quality within the industry. This study explores the barriers to the widespread adoption of automation and robotics in construction. It aims to understand the current integration levels of these technologies and their potential to improve construction processes in terms of efficiency, safety, and quality.
The research identifies and evaluates key obstacles to the adoption of automation and robotics, such as high initial costs, a lack of specialized workers, and resistance to transitioning from traditional methods. It hypothesizes that large-scale enterprises are more likely to successfully integrate these technologies due to their greater access to financial and technical resources, whereas smaller firms face more significant challenges due to inadequate infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. The study concludes with recommendations to overcome these barriers, promoting the broader use of automation and robotics in the construction industry to enhance efficiency and overall performance.