Resilience: Technological Transformation for the Construction Industry


Date: 5 October, Thursday
Time: 9.00am – 11.00am

Synopsis


This session explores the latest advances and projects in the Built Environment sector. Representatives from Government agencies and industry will share their views on resilience-related Research & Development, focusing on Robotics and Automation.

 
 

About the Speakers

 

Mr Atsushi Nakagawa

Atushi Nakagawa - Construction Transformation Project in Collaboration with HDB (~9.13MB)

SPEAKER
Mr Atsushi Nakagawa
Deputy Managing Director
Obayashi Singapore Pte Ltd

Nakagawa began his career in Obayashi in 1990. He was posted to Obayashi’s Singapore Office in 2001 and was appointed as General Manager (Building) as well as Director in 2014. In the last 33 years with Obayashi, Nakagawa has contributed to Obayashi Singapore as the Company localized its operations. He holds a wide portfolio of projects ranging from commercial, mixed development, education institutions and data centres.

Currently as the Deputy Managing Director of Obayashi Singapore Private Limited, he provides management oversight on the overall performance and operations including Planning & Engineering. Today, he continues to play a pivotal role in leading and setting the standards on the service delivery to the stakeholders.

 

Topic: Construction Transformation Project in collaboration with HDB


In this presentation, Mr Nakagawa will share on the ongoing Construction Transformation Project (CTP), a collaboration between Obayashi and HDB. This project targets to achieve a higher overall construction productivity through design, planning and system implementation. For the Construction Transformation Project (CTP), 3D volumetric precast elements were created, which works in tandem with optimised manpower and resource allocation on site to better increase productivity and safety over the entire construction period. Obayashi will also be bringing in equipment and technologies from Japan to assist in achieving greater productivity in the CTP. One such example will be the “Skyjuster©”, which enables the reduction of hook time per element in the construction process. This project will also see the use of 3D Concrete Printing. Obayashi will be collaborating with HDB to use HDB’s local 3D Concrete Printer (e.g. to create aesthetic and functional sculptures that provide shade and rest for the residents).

 

 

Mr Benjamin Lee Sze Chong resized

SPEAKER
 Mr Benjamin Lee Sze Chong
 Project Director
Teambuild Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd

Mr Benjamin Lee Sze Chong is highly invested in adopting robotics to transform the construction industry. His interest lies in the seamless integration of cutting-edge automation technologies, along with the adoption of robotics technologies to elevate operational efficiency within construction processes.

His interest extends to the comprehensive enhancement of construction workflows. From the intricacies of project planning and management to the details of on-site execution, he is unwavering in his commitment to refine construction processes. Mr Lee is also focused on identifying opportunities for construction innovation, implementing construction best practices, and fostering a culture of constant improvement.

Mr Lee has a track record of successfully leading and completing numerous transformative projects, including Lift Upgrading Projects, HDB New Builds, as well as Design and Build Industry Projects. His ability to navigate these projects to produce tangible results showcases his proficiency in the construction sector.

 

Topic: Transforming Singapore's Construction Industry: Adoption of Robotic Solution at Construction Site


Mr Lee will bring the audience on a journey through the construction sites of Singapore and highlights the transformative impact of robotics and automation on wall finishing processes. He will also share on how traditional construction methods are evolving as robotics technologies take center stage, revolutionising how walls are plastered, skimmed, and painted, as well as provide a glimpse of a future where smart technologies elevate the building process to new heights during his presentation.

 

Mr Pongsak Lasang resized

SPEAKER
Dr Pongsak Lasang
Assistant Director, Head of Strategic Promotion Center
Panasonic R&D Center Singapore

Pongsak heads the Strategic Promotion Center of Panasonic R&D Center Singapore, and focuses on defining and formulating the company’s strategy and direction for future growth and sustainability, as well as creating customer and lifestyle-centric innovative solutions for the company's regional and worldwide partners. He is also actively researching cutting-edge technologies in the areas of AI, Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, Lightweight Deep Learning, 3D Scene Understanding, and Smart Energy Management Platform.  He places a heavy emphasis on seeking out innovation-driven solutions to resolve customers’ problems.

 

Topic: Robotic-Integrated Smart Inspection of Built Environments (RISE)


Building inspections at construction site are heavily reliant on manual checking and evaluation. This approach is impacted by issues such as manpower shortage, subjective error, lack of traceability and inefficient reporting to relevant stakeholders. In this presentation, Pongsak will introduce RISE, the automatic building quality inspection and management solution, empowered by robotics, computer vision and AI technologies to capture and reflect building defect information, in compliance with CONQUAS (Construction Quality Assessment System) for indoor quality assessment of new building projects. This solution helps reduce the manpower for inspection and report generation, as well as improve defect detection, especially for geometry related measurement. Supported by the BCA (Building and Construction Authority) and NRP (National Robotic Programme), the solution has been tested and refined under real-world conditions in Singapore.

 

Dr Meera Chitra Sunil resized

SPEAKER
Dr Meera Chitra Sunil
Development Scientist
Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC)
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

Chitra Sunil Meera is a Scientist at the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC), A*STAR. She served as the Lead Principle Investigator for the remote-control excavator program, aiming to enhance safety and productivity in excavator operations in urban construction. With a strong background in Robotics Engineering, she has since been deeply involved in cutting-edge research and projects in construction robotics, haptics, industrial automation, artificial intelligence and deep neural networks. In her previous position as Assistant Manager (Computer Vision) at L&T Smart World and Communication, she was involved in tackling real-time challenges related to smart city and safe city applications. She has published in renowned journals and conferences in robotic systems.

 

Topic: Enhancing Safety and Productivity with Remote-Operated Excavator Technology


The presentation will provide an overview of the current state of excavator operations in the built environment and address the safety and productivity concerns associated with conventional control. It then introduces the concept of remote-control technology and its potential to address these challenges effectively. Key topics covered include the design of remote-control platform for excavator program, features and integration with earthworks planning module to ensure precise and efficient operations. The presentation will showcase real-world case studies, demonstrating the positive impact of remote-operated excavators in enhancing safety, reducing human errors, and optimizing productivity. Furthermore, it highlights the potential cost savings and benefits that come with employing this technology.