Innovation Challenges

Santarli

Tower cranes are heavily deployed on large-scale construction sites to lift construction materials. The efficiency of the tower crane usage largely depends on the ability of the site management and lifting supervisors to plan the lifting schedule and coordinate lifting works.

Ideally, the lifting schedule should consider the various trades and subcontractors on-site and be optimised based on key factors, such as the urgency of work, delivery of materials, and availability of work areas. Currently, lifting supervisors decide on what needs to be prioritised or delayed. This decision is subject to the individual’s judgment. Due to unforeseen site circumstances, such as poor weather, the lifting schedule often needs to be quickly adapted to minimise impact to the site progress.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

The lifting schedule of the tower crane can be better planned by introducing a shared digital platform for the site contractors to facilitate the scheduling of lifting assignments. Site contractors can input their lifting requirements into the digital platform, and the platform would weigh the different factors of consideration to generate an optimal and unbiased schedule. Site management should be able to review the schedule before execution. The generated schedule should be adaptable to changes to contractor requirements and site conditions, such as poor weather. Site contractors should also have the flexibility to make adjustments according to their requests.

Sensors and IoTs can be incorporated into the leased tower crane in a non-invasive manner, in order to automatically collect and track data on the lifting operations. This offers visibility of site progress: for example, whether the lifting schedule is on track and which stage of the lifting operation the material is currently at. The data collected would be channelled into the digital platform to provide accurate and real-time updates to all the affected parties.

An operator is attached to an excavator throughout his workday. With the help of the foreman and banksman, he gets assigned to tasks that need to be completed with an excavator, and he needs to navigate within the worksite to the specific position to commence work.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

The utilisation and productivity of the excavators on the construction site could be further optimised with the help of technology to monitor the excavator’s activities. This could support intelligent decision making and better deploy the excavators to their assigned positions at the worksite.

Currently, there is limited visibility on the excavator’s activities, and the data needs to be manually collected. In other words, we are interested in monitoring the behaviour of the operator to gain actionable insights on his performance and fitness for work.

We seek a sensor and/or IoT system which enables the real-time collection of data that can be analysed and conveyed to the foreman or site manager to support better planning of work activities. Another possible value-adding opportunity is to estimate the total volume of land excavated - data that can in turn be reported to the client. The proposed solution must be adaptable to various models of excavators to increase the chances of deployment of the solution at scale.

Expected Outcomes

The proposed solution augments existing excavators to support monitoring of its operator and its operations (activities). The data gathered from monitoring the excavator and/or the operator is analysed, visualised and reported to the foreman or site manager for review or further action. Ultimately, the solution improves the productivity of the excavators.

Production metrics comprise data on the actual quantity of work completed daily, as well as the resources and manpower mobilised for the different trades on a construction site. Currently, site supervisors manually record production metrics on paper. They submit the records to site engineers who compile and tabulate the data collected.

This process is tedious, time-consuming and prone to human error. There is also lag time before the generated data is received by the site management and the organisation’s senior management.

Hence, these stakeholders do not have up-to-date information on actual versus planned production metrics, to better track the progress of works, investigate on-site issues, and call for early intervention if necessary.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

A digital solution would assist site supervisors in their daily routine to gather actual production metrics for their site. The existing data collection method is limited by the paper format, and a new digital means would serve to ease the data collection process and allow more data to be collected, such as data specific to individual workers and machinery deployed on-site.

The platform must be able to be installed on the personal devices of site supervisors and act as their personal assistant by giving them timely reminders to submit the production metrics. The submitted production metrics would then be sent to the site engineer or management for review and validation. For reporting purposes, the actual production metrics collected would be compiled, tabulated, visualised and compared against the planned production metrics. A solution with the capabilities to calculate the projected days delayed or ahead would also be useful for site resource planning.

Expected Outcomes

Building and Construction Authority (BCA)

A facade is an exterior face of a building comprising materials and connections. In response to ageing buildings and increasingly complex facade designs, a Periodic Facade Inspection (PFI) regime will be made mandatory to facilitate the early detection of facade deterioration and allow defects to be rectified in a timely manner.

Facades can come in many forms, including engineering facades like curtain walls and cladding, and architectural finishes like plaster and tiles. The use of cladding can be seen on commercial, office and industrial developments. Commonly-used materials for claddings are metal, stone and board materials. The fixings or connections of the claddings to the main structural framing are mostly concealed by the facade barrier.

Under the PFI regime, the building owner shall engage a Competent Person (CP) to identify areas of problematic facade and carry out full visual and close-up inspection (i.e. involving physical contact with the facade) of the facade condition. With the conventional close-up inspection method, the inspection process is laborious and time consuming. Currently, the close-up inspection of cladding facade may involve the dismantling of facade panels or the use of a borescope to assess the conditions of the connections. The dismantling and subsequent reinstallation of the cladding panel after inspection and the use of borescope are inefficient and may compromise the safety and performance of the cladding.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

Inspection technologies, such as mmWave and active infrared technologies, could perform the inspection in a non-destructive testing manner and eliminate the need to dismantle facade panels or carry out activities that could affect the structural integrity.

If combined with drones or wall-climbing technologies, we could also omit the usage of height-access equipment. The solution could quickly inspect a large surface to identify cladding panels with a higher risk of failure -- for example, loose panels -- and highlight the risky panels to CP for further investigation. The cameras and inspection technologies would need to be adapted into a form that can be fitted and integrated into the drones or wall-climbing technologies.

Expected Outcomes

The solution streamlines the inspection of the cladding facades, so that a thorough inspection can be done with minimal expense of manpower and time. Ultimately, the solution supports the early detection of facade deterioration, so that the defects are rectified in a timely manner.

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Kajima Corporation

After the building structure is completed, materials for finishing works need to be carried from the loading points of each floor to the exact location on that floor where the work takes place. Materials, such as bricks, cement, tiles, and wall panels, come in various shapes and sizes, and have different considerations when being transported.

In order to prevent clutter at the worksites, the materials are collected by workers as required before the start of their work. They typically use manual equipment, such as trolleys and wheelbarrows. The planning for the material collection process is done by the supervisor or the workers themselves. At each site, there are different sub-contractors in charge of different tasks, sharing the sameloading site.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

A robotics solution could support the on-demand delivery of materials that are optimised based on the work progress. The solution would allow subcontractors to focus on their tasks at hand and spend less time collecting materials from the loading point. The robotics solution would ideally be able to carry all types of materials, but as a start, bricks and cement are of higher priority.

The following technical capabilities and specifications would best fit existing needs:

● Capability to navigate the building floor, which includes concrete slab with steps of up to 150mm in height and slopes of up to 1:12 ratio, with minimal human intervention;

● Ability to carry loads up to 500kg;

● Allowance for the full load of materials to easily fit through a normal-sized door;

● Capability to load and unload materials with minimal human intervention;

● Prevention of collision with people or structures; and

● Manual override of the automated functions.

Penta-Ocean Construction

When carrying out Addition and Alteration (A&A) works to existing buildings, it is important for the contractors to check the actual layout and conditions of the as-built services, such as air conditioning duct, water pipes and electrical trays located in the ceiling space. This information is usually captured in different 2D drawings,and the accuracy of the information needs to be verified on-site as any difference could potentially impact the requirements for A&A works.

The conventional method to check the as-built services concealed in the ceiling space requires the following steps:

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology has been tested to improve step 3. However, significant manpower and time are still being exhausted to perform steps 1, 2 and 4.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

An inspection technology that can capture information on the layout of as-built services with minimal destructive interventions performed to the ceiling would save time and manpower, and improve safety.

The following are the requirements for the solution to be useful:

The proposed solution should consider how the inspection would be done at height and over a large area with minimal manpower. Any data captured would also need to be organised and referenced to the location. It is also desirable that the information gathered can support the conversion to a Building Information Modeling (BIM) knowledge base.

Expected Outcomes

The solution provides a way to gather details on the layout of as-built services located in the ceiling space while minimising the need to open up the ceiling and disruption to the room occupants. The solution reduces the time needed to check the as-built services and potentially allows the task to be executed with just one person.

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Corrosion monitoring is important in Singapore due to high humidity levels and proximity to saltwater bodies. Linear Polarisation Resistance and Open Circuit Potential measurements are the common tests for corrosion monitoring of reinforcing bars (“rebars”) inside concrete structures. Both tests require hacking of the concrete cover surrounding the rebars, so that contact can be made with the rebar to complete a circuit. These concrete covers usually have a thickness of 20mm but can have a thickness of up to 50mm for critical structures. Some structures have exposed wires connected to rebars to ease the process of measurement testing, but this cannot be replicated throughout the entire structure.

The current practice is time consuming and hard to execute, especially when workers have limited access to the site (for example, in the scenario where tunnels and the site are already in operation). The hacking of concrete cover damages the concrete structures and could hasten corrosion rates when the rebar is exposed to air and moisture.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

An inspection or monitoring technology that allows for a non-destructive testing approach towards both the concrete and rebar would improve the corrosion monitoring process by eliminating the need to hack off the concrete cover.

We are open to different measurement techniques, such as impedance or electrical pulse. One way to monitor for corrosion is to study the chlorine penetration and pH level in the concrete layer as well as the condition of the passive film layer surrounding the rebar. Concrete usually has a pH level of 12 and can decrease when chlorine penetrates the concrete and destroys the passive film layer surrounding the rebar. 

The solution needs to be battery powered and portable to be feasible for field applications. We are also interested in solutions that can help us determine the rate of corrosion and lifespan of a concrete structure.

Expected Outcomes

The solution assists the inspection and/or monitoring process of the state of rebar or concrete to accurately identify if corrosion has taken place. Repair actions can then be taken to prevent further damage. Such a solution would help to eliminate the time and manpower needed to remove the concrete cover, while maintaining or lowering the total cost of corrosion monitoring.

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Chuan Lim Construction

The conventional method of installing large Reinforced Concrete (RC) pipes with diameters up to 3m and weigh up to 16 metric tonnes involves a crane, lifting equipment, and a team of more than 8 workers with the relevant expertise to execute the work over 6 to 8 hours. The work is manual and poses safety risks, such as lifting equipment failures and pinch points. These RC pipes are installed in open trenches about 6m deep and will become part of the sewer and water infrastructure.

To improve productivity, a new mechanical system that uses hydraulics to pull the RC pipes along the sleepers has been developed and has shown successful results by increasing the number of pipes laid per day from 1 to 4. The operating procedure for the mechanical system can be found in the Resources section.

Opportunity Areas and Key Challenges

The mechanical system could become smarter by incorporating sensors and/or IoT systems. One of the challenges faced is that the system needs to be accurately operated as the pipe reaches its final position to connect with another pipe. If force is overexerted, one or both pipes could be damaged, and would need to be reworked or replaced. The operator currently relies on the banksman to provide accurate information and instructions to act on.

We seek a sensor and/or IoT system that can improve the mechanical system or the pipe installation process in at least one of the following ways:

● Provide real-time and precise information or alerts on the position of the pipe to the operator;

● Simplify or automate the operation of the mechanical system to manoeuvre the pipe into its final position; and/or

● Track the performance of the mechanical system and its operation, and analyse the data to improve the entire pipe installation process.

Expected Outcomes

pipe installed per day) and decreases the manpower required in the process by at least one person.

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Building designs are constrained by factors such as cost, time and challenges faced during the production process, but never imagination. The benefits of utilising 3D printing in construction provides breakthrough opportunities in various parts of a building such as its facade, allowing for a unique look and therefore potentially increasing the value of the building.

Bespoke and complex facades can be made sustainable with 3D printing. It unleashes the potential of fascinating designs while reduces reliance of laborious production processes from the likes of craftsmen.

Opportunities Areas and Key Challenges

The 3D design and printing services enable the construction of building components, particularly facades that are aesthetically impressive. As part of the prototyping process, the solution provider will produce computational designs of facades and physical samples (in the range of 300mm x 300mm to 500mm x 500mm) based on the computational design. The solution must cater for large-scale production and consider factors like cost and sustainability.

Additional Information Required

As part of your submission, you should include computational design examples of facades that you can generate and/or photographic examples of complex 3D models that you have previously produced.

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This is a tedious and time-consuming process, and involves searching for the relevant building plan drawings specific to the housing project found in HDB’s databases.

What We Are Looking For

Expected Outcomes

The automation solution searches and retrieves relevant drawings from HDB’s databases to support the processing of A&A work plan submissions. The solution streamlines the workflow and saves a significant amount of time and manpower.

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Both installation and inspection of precast elements involve a lot of manual work. The installation team uses simple markings and manual measuring methods to determine the position and orientation of the precast elements before the elements (pillars, walls and slabs) are lifted in. After installation, the inspection process would once again require the tedious process of cross-referencing documents and drawings, and using manual measuring methods to audit the accuracy of the installations.

For industrial projects, the number of precast pillars required for installation could amount to thousands. An Augmented Reality (AR) solution that could project the 3D models onto the construction site would help the different stakeholders better visualise the required layout for accurate execution of the precast element installation. Once the installation is done, the AR solution can help the inspector to visualise the installation requirements to verify the accuracy.

For the initial stage of development, our priority is to have the structural elements visualised. But the solution could further expand to mechanical and electrical systems. 

The solution needs to be operable from a mobile device or tablet, and could be integrated into the existing Common Data Environment system that is currently used during the inspection process.

Hong Leong Holdings Limited, King Hup Construction Pte Ltd

For a residential or hospitality construction project, almost every unit needs to be installed with cabinets. On a fortnightly basis, the supervisor will survey the units and manually record down the progress achieved with details on the stage of installation on a paper progress monitoring chart (see Resources for an example of this chart).

The current process to conduct quantity surveying checks is time consuming and needs to be done on-site. If the quantity surveyor only partially completes their verification, a lower claim amount will be issued.    

What We Are Looking For

Penta-Ocean Cosntruction, SK E&C

Construction companies currently use multiple digital platforms to support document management, site management, safety management and project management activities. However, none of the existing digital platforms is able to provide all the features required by these companies. 

These platforms are not fully compatible with each other, and this results in data silos and even data loss. The data often needs to be retrieved from the different platforms to generate the reports required by various construction stakeholders. 

CSCES

The fabrication of Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) modules is currently done in dedicated production facilities located in Singapore and Malaysia. 

Pre-pour stage

• Measure the mould size.
• Verify the size of the rebar and measure the spacing distance.
• Measure the size of the openings and verify the accuracy of their positions.
• Verify the size of the electrical conduit and the accuracy of its position.
• Verify the size of the plumbing pipe and the accuracy of its position.

Post-pour stage

• Measure the resulting carcass size.
• Measure the size of the openings and verify the accuracy of their positions.
• Verify the accuracy of position for mechanical and electrical provisions. 

The inspectors currently travel to the site to conduct quality checks on selected activities in the fabrication process. COVID-19 has made it more challenging to conduct these visits. At the fabrication site, the inspectors require the assistance of the workers to make measurements manually using measuring tapes or digital calipers, while they observe and capture photographic evidence for documentation purposes.

What We Are Looking For

This leads to higher energy consumption to meet the cooling demands. Cooling a typical office space is estimated to account for approximately 60% of the total energy consumption of a building. Thus, an effort to reduce cooling demands by 15-20% would significantly save energy and operating costs.

What We Are Looking For

Hongkong Land & JTC Corporation

The cleaning of industrial/commercial building façades is done annually and in some cases, half-yearly. The work typically involves a minimum of 3 persons, 2 of whom work at height using a gondola or rope access system, with one safety personnel. The duration needed to complete the cleaning process of a building typically ranges from one to three months. 

As part of the process of cleaning, there is further potential for added synergy to also incorporate inspection and repair elements into the gondola or rope access system.

An unmanned robotics solution that can replace current manual methods of cleaning, inspecting and repairing can lead to the following benefits:

• Lower the life cycle cost of the building;
• Reduce the manpower requirements for façade maintenance;
• Improve resilience of the building by detecting and repairing building defects early;
• Reduce the safety risk from working-at-height;
• Uniform cleaning of building façades to remove human error with results that are highly replicable on other buildings.

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For a robotics solution to be feasible for usage in a washroom, it should have the following specifications:

• The solution is battery operated
• The solution must not have cameras or collect data that compromise personal privacy
• The solution can navigate within the washroom while toilet is still open for usage and avoid/stop work when human is nearby
• The solution must not be hazardous to the human operator and passersby
• Electrical protection (due to damp cleaning)
• Manageable weight of machine (due to usage by mature worker strength) if solution transportation of the machine to the washroom
• Sleek/slim design of machine to navigate washroom with people inside (due to toilet layout; tight space)

What We Are Looking For

Photogrammetry is a workflow to convert photographs or videos of physical space into a virtual 2D or 3D model that can be measured and manipulated. Drone photogrammetry is already being conducted on a weekly basis for site monitoring. 

The process to produce drone photogrammetry is time consuming and tedious. It takes several days of flying the drone to capture enough input photos.

The flight is semi-automated and still requires a pilot to manage the flight schedule, battery life, and any potential risk to the drone, such as weather. 

The data processing currently requires a person to download the data from the drone manually and upload it to the photogrammetry software for processing. Any technical issues are hard to resolve due to the lack of local support.

Expected Outcomes

The solution replaces the existing method to produce drone photogrammetry by enhancing the drone flight operation and data processing, while minimising the need for human intervention.

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CKR Group

During the design stage of Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) projects, permutations of unit layout plans are explored manually. Besides fulfilling the architectural vision and requirements, residential unit layout plans seek to maximise the gross floor area and minimise the number of volumetric moulds required. 

Volumetric moulds are used to produce the concrete finish of constructed modules. The moulds could cost S$70,000-100,000 and take up to three months to fabricate. If the unit layout plan is optimised to allow for more repeated use of volumetric moulds, significant cost savings can be achieved. 

The design stage takes up to six months to complete due to the need to manually explore possible permutations of unit layout plans and iterate the plan between the consultant and contractor. 

The following are the steps taken for the design stage of each PPVC project:

1. The consultant prepares the unit layout plan and passes it to the PPVC specialist contractor for a design study. 
   
2. The PPVC specialist contractor prepares the building information modelling (BIM) drawings, checks the design, determines mould groupings, and submits a study on the mould requirements, which includes details on how the moulds could be used repeatedly.
   
3. The consultant evaluates the mould requirements and revises the unit layout plan to reduce the number of moulds required. The consultant passes the revised plan back to the PPVC specialist contractor to study the mould requirements. 

What We Are Looking For

In Singapore, cooling is a major driver of electricity consumption and demand. For example, air conditioning consumes a high percentage of energy in buildings.

Building owners have been trying to implement passive cooling methods that do not consume additional energy, such as tinting windows with heat- and UV-blocking films, to control heat gain and heat dissipation in a building. 

For the benefit of environmental sustainability, we are looking for radiative cooling solutions that can be applied to the external surface of a building, such as concrete walls, glass facades and windows. The solution should be most effective during the day, when there are high levels of solar radiation and therefore, greater demand for cooling. Nano-materials are desirable due to their high potential efficiency.

• Is suitable for tropical climates.