Cost/Benefits of Robotics in Infrastructure and Environmental Renewal

Robotic systems have become common in many manufacturing and production operations because they have proven to be more robust, safe, efficient, accurate, and productive than the processes they replaced. These same attributes are desirable for construction operations associated with infrastructure construction and renewal and are often essential to deal with hazardous conditions commonly encountered in environmental restoration activities. This research developed a methodology for quantifying the cost payoff and provides a method to analyze the productivity of different equipment suites to meet civil and environmental engineering site conditions. This paper presents the results of applying the method to automation of full-scale construction equipment for infrastructure renewal and environmental restoration. In addition to the benefits of reduced health risks and potential deaths, use of automated construction equipment can lead to substantial savings through increased productivity and speed of cleanup when human productivity and efficiency are adversely impacted due to encumbrances from protective gear and required safety measures. This research compares traditional, human-operated systems with telerobotic and autonomous systems and provides a set of guidelines for developing future robotic equipment more economically.