WS#33 Application of robotics in efficient and sustainable construction and deconstruction. AI and Robotics in Construction

WS#33 Application of robotics in efficient and sustainable construction and deconstruction. AI and Robotics in Construction

Mr. Antonio Alonso-Cepeda, Innovation Manager at ACCIONA Construction, Dr. Jason Rambach, Team Leader Spatial Sensing and Machine Perception, DFKI, Dr. Dimitrios Giakoumis, Principal Researcher in Service Robotics, CERTH-ITI, Mr. Lluis Bonet-Ortuño, Researcher from CDEI-UPC,Room 14-16

iCal

Questions to be answered

This workshop will explore the role of robotics in advancing sustainable construction and deconstruction practices. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the latest innovations in construction automation, digital twin technology, and material identification within the circular economy framework. The session will be structured around real-world case studies and shared experiences to foster collaborative insights and a roadmap for future developments.

  • Current State of construction robotics and cluster projects
  • Biggest challenges and achievements from the piloting phase of BEEYONDERS, HumanTech, RobetArme and Discover
  • Full automation vs. Human-robot collaboration in construction
  • How the AI advances are influencing Construction robotics
  • EIC and funding opportunities in robotics

Description

Key topics:

  • Challenges in construction (introduction)
  • Advancements in construction automation
  • Application of AI in road construction and maintenance
  • Digital twin technology for deconstruction
  • Robotics in material identification
  • Sharing of experiences and case studies
  • Synergies among workshop participants

Contributions from BEEYONDERS:

  1. Current state of the project (5 mins)
  2. Results from the Building Construction pilot: Final outcomes and user evaluation results from the deployment in a real construction environment (5 mins)
  3. Technical Challenges and Advantages of Exoskeleton Development in Construction (5 min)

Contributions from HumanTech:

  1. Current state of the project (5 mins)
  2. Pilot V (Robotic Mastic Application): Final outcomes and user evaluation results from real construction environment deployment (5 mins)

Contributions from RobetArme:

  1. Current state of the project (5 mins)
  2. Results from the first RobetArme shotcreting testbed deployment (5 mins)

Contributions from Discover:

  1. Current state of the project (5 mins)
  2. Technical Session: Exploring Discover Project Technology (5 min)

Contributions from EIC:

  1. Technical Session: EIC Pathfinder Challenge 2025: “Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments” (5 min)

Organisation of the WS

  • 08:30 - 08:35 Introduction
  • 08:35 - 08:55 Industry Insights and Project Overview — Overview of trends, challenges, and innovative projects in the construction and deconstruction sector:
  • BEEYONDERS
  • HumanTech
  • RobetArme
  • Discover
  • 08:55 - 09:25 Thematic and Technical Sessions: Focused presentations addressing specific challenges and showcasing project results
  • Results from the Building Construction pilot (TBD): Final outcomes and user evaluation results from real construction environment deployment
  • Pilot V (Robotic Mastic Application): Final outcomes and user evaluation results from real construction environment deployment
  • Results from the first RobetArme shotcreting testbed deployment
  • Technical Session: Exploring Discover Project Technology
  • Technical Session: Challenges and Advantages of Exoskeleton
  • Technical Session: EIC Pathfinder Challenge 2025: “Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments”
  • 09:25 - 09:45 Guided Discussion with industry experts and stakeholders. Topics include automation priorities and a roadmap for future actions
  • 09:45 - 09:50 Wrap-up: Summary of key insights, formulation of a prioritized work list for automating the construction sector, and networking invitation

Intended outcome

  • List of priorities to automate the construction sector: Definition of key technologies for automation to address current challenges, along with the maturity level of each – a prioritized work list.
  • Roadmap of priorities and key objectives: A strategic plan to advance robotics in construction/deconstruction. A list of manual operations carried out by the road sectors which is needed to be conducted automatically via AI.
  • Increase participation in Construction Topic group and Tech4Construction cluster.
  • Increase awareness on the current state of play in Construction Robotics research and respective real pilot testing outcomes

Speakers, Panelists, etc

Speakers:

● Antonio Alonso-Cepeda (ACCIONA) – coordinator of Project BEEYONDERS (speaker-panelist)

○ Dr. Goretti Arias-Ferreiro – BEEYONDERS participant (ACCIONA) presenting pilot test results.

○ Dr. Christian Di Natali – BEEYONDERS Technical Partner (IIT) presenting an exoskeleton technical session.

○ Dr. Francisco Javier Pérez-Grau– BEEYONDERS Technical Partner (CATEC), expert in the development of advanced perception technologies for aerial robots, will take part in the roundtable.

● Dr. Jason Rambach (DFKI) – coordinator of Project HumanTech (speaker-panelist)

○ Fabian Kaufmann– HumanTech Pilot V representative.

● Dr. Dimitrios Giakoumis (CERTH) – coordinator of Project Robetarme

● Lluís Bonet-Ortuño from CDEI-UPC presenting DISCOVER Project

● Other people from Topic Group Construction: Franc Mouwen from European Innovation Council EIC

Topic Groups and/or Innovation networks involved

Projects involved

BEEYONDERS https://beeyonders.eu/

HumanTech https://humantech-horizon.eu/

RobetArme https://www.robetarme-project.eu/

DISCOVER Project: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101129909

Further information

Organisers

  • Mr. Antonio Alonso-Cepeda, Innovation Manager at ACCIONA Construction, antonio.alonso.cepeda@acciona.com
  • Dr. Jason Rambach, Team Leader Spatial Sensing and Machine Perception, DFKI, Jason.Rambach@dfki.de
  • Dr. Dimitrios Giakoumis, Principal Researcher in Service Robotics, CERTH-ITI, dgiakoum@iti.gr
  • Mr. Lluis Bonet-Ortuño, Researcher from CDEI-UPC, lluis.bonet.ortuno@upc.edu
Thu 08:30 - 09:50
#artificial intelligence, #circularity, #construction, #construction robotics, #deconstruction, #digital twin, #human-robot interaction, #robotics, #workers