Securing World-Class Smart Building Technology by 2025

▲ Conceptual diagram of 'Development of Construction Equipment Automation and Control Technology,' one of the key areas in the Smart Construction Technology Development Project (Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 19th that it will commence the 'Smart Construction Technology Development Project' starting this April. It also stated that a call for research institutions will be held over six days from the 20th to the 25th. Through this call, research institutions for 12 detailed tasks and a project leader overseeing the entire project team will be selected.

The Ministry plans to secure a core technology package that can be immediately disseminated across construction sites by 2025, while improving productivity in the construction industry by more than 25% and reducing construction periods and accident rates by more than 25%.

Previously, in October 2018, the Ministry established the 'Smart Construction Technology Roadmap' and has been promoting projects such as the Smart Turnkey Project and the operation of the Smart Construction Support Center accordingly. This project is also part of the roadmap, aimed at early acquisition of core technologies for technological innovation. The project was confirmed after passing the preliminary feasibility study in June last year.

The Smart Construction Technology Development Project consists of four key focus areas and 12 detailed tasks. It is a large-scale research and development (R&D) project with a budget of 196.9 billion KRW over six years starting this year (147.6 billion KRW from the government and 49.3 billion KRW from the private sector). Major technologies included as research tasks for construction process innovation are ▲real-time integrated control BIM-based modular construction for earthwork equipment automation and collaboration among multiple equipment ▲unmanned remote construction using robots ▲smart safety management and digital twin-based virtual construction simulation (a twin model that reproduces the actual structure).

The development process is divided into three stages: from core technology development to comprehensive test application (testbed) for verification of developed technologies. The project scale, which was mostly under 30 billion KRW, has been significantly expanded to around 200 billion KRW, enabling demonstration in actual large-scale construction sites. Notably, for the first time in the construction sector, the project will be promoted as a 'Construction Order-linked R&D Project' by linking actual construction projects with R&D projects from the start of research, securing real verification cases (Track Record) for smart construction technologies, thereby increasing the possibility of practical application.

Lee Seonghae, Director of the Construction Policy Bureau at the Ministry, said, “Many of the research tasks are still in the early research stages or are being applied on a limited or pilot basis even in leading countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. If these technologies are completed and disseminated to construction sites by around 2025, it will be possible to enter the ranks of leading technology countries.” He added, “To smarten the entire construction process from design and construction to maintenance, we plan to apply for a preliminary feasibility study this year for a smart maintenance technology development project for road facilities and underground facilities, each with a budget of around 200 billion KRW, and pursue it as a follow-up.”