Industrialisation Offers Unlimited Possibilities – Application of Scientific Research Opens a New Chapter

Experience tells us that whatever a project's scale, innovative technology can enhance productivity, improve safety, reduce construction time and boost efficiency. During a recent visit to Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), Ir Thomas HO, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), and CIC member Mrs LO LEE Oi-lin, gained insights to new technologies jointly developed by the HKPC and the construction industry. They also discovered how Hong Kong Polytechnic University and local construction materials suppliers have applied the results of scientific research to construction projects. It seems the industrialisation of construction has taken a significant step forward!

Internet of Things (IoT) – A site-wide smart system enhances environmental quality

The advanced technologies of Construction 4.0 help to improve the overall quality of construction work. As a pioneering force, the CIC has been motivating the industry to adopt innovative technologies to improve on-site productivity and safety. Recently, some construction sites have worked with the HKPC to study and apply an intelligent Environmental Monitoring System based on IoT technology. The system uses on-site sensors to collect data such as temperature, humidity and PM 2.5 concentration. If a deterioration of air quality is detected, it activates water-spray fans to eliminate airborne dust and protect workers from health hazards. The related data from the system is also displayed on an outdoor screen so that workers can monitor overall conditions in real time. If conditions worsen, the site manager can let the workers take a break or move to another location. Ir Thomas HO points out that similar systems have been demonstrated at the CIC’s iHUB, which promotes industry understanding of advanced technologies. The CIC hopes that such sharing of information will benefit more industry stakeholders and encourage them to enhance their skills and technologies and think ‘beyond the box’ to develop new uses for existing technologies.

A successful case: New concrete bucket jointly developed by CIC

The CIC’s scientific research department has been diversifying its studies on enhancing productivity and has partnered with organisations including the HKPC for projects such as developing a new automated switch concrete bucket. Usually, tremendous manual strength is needed to control a conventional concrete bucket, and workers are easily injured. The new automated switch concrete bucket enables remote control of concrete delivery, increasing worker safety. The CIC and the HKPC have also studied the capacity of concrete buckets and suggested increasing the size of a regular concrete bucket from 2 to 2.5 metres. This increase of capacity will reduce the cost of a single delivery of concrete as well as construction time and energy consumption.

3D and AI technologies for gravel sieving save on manpower and enhance efficiency

In the past, construction projects used a traditional sieve for measuring gravel size. As this required manual processing, the operation was very time-consuming. Using the latest high-speed imaging CCTV and AI technology, new sieving equipment instantly captures three-dimensional images of the gravel and calculates its length, width and depth. With this referential information, workers can save time to focus on other work and improve efficiency.

AI x aerial photography – Leading the world in reducing accidents and boosting efficiency through automatic functionality

In the past few years, an increasing number of construction projects have employed drones to conduct aerial surveys. Recently this technology took another step forward: According to the HKPC, the Trunk Road T2 project used the world's first tunnel inspection system based on drones and on-board AI processing technologies, enabling the project team to detect cracks, spalling and leaks in concrete. AI technology also helped the drones to avoid obstacles automatically in flight. In addition, the use of drones significantly reduced overhead work, subsequently minimising the risk of industrial accidents. The CIC looks forward to future collaboration with HKPC. For example, drones with AI can be used for basic construction site inspections and reporting the status of work in progress. Such data can be added to the Building Information Modelling (BIM), which is complemented by the BIM Harmonisation Guideline and 2D and 3D programmes to provide engineers and the management team with a clear overview of status for setting relevant standards. After projects are completed, the data can be shared with the whole industry for raising overall efficiency and enhancing construction safety.

Construction industrialisation – Helping SMEs enhance quality

Scientific research is the catalyst for construction industrialisation, with ‘industrialisation’ involving technological intensity, automation and the development of intelligent applications. The CIC has been committed to driving the use of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP), encouraging the industry to transfer portions of construction processes to factories while striving for high manufacturing quality regardless of scale. For example, Wo Lee Group, whose main business encompasses design, processing and welding services with imported steel, has set up a machinery and automated production line at Ping Che, Fanling. This facility is introducing multi-functional robot arms for welding prefabricated units to replace traditional welding processes at construction sites. Such adoptions of industrialisation subsequently improve worker safety and alleviate manpower shortages, and even land shortages.

Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing – Frame structure design: A university collaboration in the application of scientific results

Recently, Wo Lee Group and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University applied MiMEP to co-design a frame structure for the installation of electric motors, pump rooms, water pipes and air conditioners. According to the research team, the design focused on modularising the frame structure by integrating 200 units of different sizes and lengths into several basic modules. During the process, the university's research team collected data and tested repeatedly to ensure that the frame structure had sufficient load capacity to meet a variety of project needs, allowing for increased efficiency and productivity. Aiming to widen the research results’ usability and facilitate future maintenance needs, the team specially designed a wider frame structure with increased space for maintenance workers. The design has currently been applied in eight projects, including TaiKoo Place, Cheung Kong Center Phase II and Hong Kong International Airport. We hope the design will be more widely adopted in the future.

The CIC firmly believes that Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP) and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) will comprise the major directions of construction industry development. The CIC’s iHUB has already showcased many relevant examples. The CIC will continue to drive the development of technology and industrialisation through the use of MiC, MiMEP and DfMA, creating infinite possibilities for future construction and the building of Hong Kong into a smart city.