For years, the construction industry has been grappling with a shortage of qualified labor, insufficient occupational safety, and rising costs. These challenges have had a significant negative impact on productivity across the sector and its stakeholders, as well as on the general perception and popularity of the industry. While construction is not the only field suffering from low productivity, it is certainly among the last when it comes to embracing change and adopting new technologies.

Other industries have long turned to automation and robotics, but this type of modernization in construction has only gained momentum in recent years. With a notable drop in the cost of digital solutions, doors have opened to automating and improving on-site processes through robotic systems, linking construction execution with robotics.

Robotics has been gradually developing in construction over the past few years, especially in areas such as manufacturing, prefabrication, and logistics. However, one of the most transformative shifts in the industry is the application of robotics directly on construction sites—particularly for repetitive, hazardous, or physically demanding tasks.

Where Can Robotics Be Applied in Construction?

This article explores the most current robotic solutions being used on construction sites—technologies that have brought centuries-old processes to a new level and opened the door to a new way of thinking. Construction robotics can be applied to several on-site processes, such as:

• Building walls and other structural elements
• Operating autonomous equipment – Robotics can control autonomous machinery using technologies such as sensors, GPS, and machine learning algorithms. For example, autonomous drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors can quickly and accurately survey construction sites.
• Remote operations to reduce on-site workforce – Remote monitoring and control systems allow human operators to observe robot activity in real time, assess performance, and make necessary adjustments. This helps keep operators in safe locations, reduces site congestion, and lowers the risk of injury.
• Performing inspection and monitoring tasks

Dusty Robotics

Dusty Robotics develops tools for automated layout of building and mechanical systems. This American company has created a robot capable of printing full-scale floor plans onto concrete or other surfaces—dramatically reducing the time it takes compared to manual layout.

The Dusty FieldPrinter system requires a file containing movement control points—indicating its location in 2D space. After this setup, a floor plan can be added in DWG or CSV format for printing directly onto the floor.

FieldPrinter can print any combination of points, text, and lines directly from a CAD file. Line styles can be customized to display different layer types, such as wall types or mechanical systems.

Boston Dynamics

Perhaps the most famous construction robot is Boston Dynamics’ “Spot”—often seen at international construction expos. While its dog-like gait is a spectacle in itself, Spot plays a much more serious role in construction tasks.

Potential uses of Spot on construction sites include:

• Monitoring site progress – Frequently capturing 360° photos and videos for documentation and progress tracking, which can then be integrated into site records and used to automate reporting.
• BIM model vs. real-world comparison – When equipped with a laser scanner and a programmed path, Spot can collect highly accurate 3D data to monitor construction progress. These scans can be compared with the BIM model to detect clashes early and reduce costly rework.
• Worker safety and site security – Spot can explore restricted or hazardous areas, allowing workers to avoid potential injury. The collected data can be integrated into the BIM model to flag high-risk zones on-site.

Semi-Automated Masonry (SAM) System

Construction Robotics has developed the SAM system to help reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve the quality of masonry work. The system automates physically intensive tasks like lifting and placing bricks and applying mortar. Human workers focus on precise positioning, cleaning excess mortar, and monitoring the process.

Hadrian X

Developed by Fastbrick Robotics, Hadrian X is a bricklaying robot capable of placing 1,000 bricks per hour. This robot can construct a full family house in just two days—including channels for electrical and plumbing systems, and spaces for doors and windows.

Despite the presence of such cutting-edge technology, the application of robotics and digital tools on Croatian construction sites remains limited at this point. However, pilot projects developed at universities or promoted through private sector initiatives are promising signs of growing awareness.

One such initiative is the ASAP Project – Autonomous System for Assessment and Prediction of Infrastructure Integrity, a collaboration between three faculties at the University of Zagreb: the Faculty of Civil Engineering (GF), the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FSB), and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER).

Author: Kristijan Vilibić, mag.ing.aedif.