ENGLISH LECTURE 13

I. Read the text carefully!

AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS IN CONSTRUCTION
Construction is one of the most creative and hardest industries. It can’t
excuse the lack of progress, technology and engineering knowhow. The need
for construction industry in automation and robotics is doubtless. The first
large-scale experiments in the field of robotics in construction industry
started in the early 1990s.

The casting, erection, joining and finishing of building components require a

high level of skilled manual work on a site. The problem with the shortage of
skilled personnel and the need to increase productivity in the industry has
prompted research and development into robotics in the construction
industry.

Innovations in IT (Information Technologies), simulation, engineering and

management software, and object-oriented programming are opening new
possibilities for engineers and designers. Automation and robotics are
referred to the new technologies that have come to improve the efficiency of
work, make it easier and also to speed up production.

For example, in Japan the leading position of civil engineering today is

primarily explained by entirely automated and computer-controlled process
though workers are still involved in overseeing operations. The process of
construction begins with the installation of speed platform for covering the
upper floor. Further robots, equipped with computer controlled systems,
accurately install all modules, and automatic machines weld beams and
columns according to the draft.

After installation of intermediate floors integrated stepped platforms are

raised hydraulically to the next level, and the whole cycle repeats. The
automated system allows not only to reduce day and night time of
constructing, but also to minimize labor costs (on average, by 30 %) and it
practically eliminates injuries. Accuracy for complex technical projects is a
guarantee for predictable behavior of buildings during earthquakes, strong
wind loads and other tests of strength and stability.

The ideal situation in future construction world looks like a space where
people and robots co-work and interact with one another. Large volume
structures will be built widely with preassembled components. Intelligent
robots will work to assemble predominantly heavy components. Each robot
will be able to communicate easily with people.
Retrieved from: English for Civil Engineering by Danilenko Silman, 2016

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II. TASK 1: Find the synonym of these words in the reading text!
1. heavy industry =
2. shortage of progress =
3. automatic machine =
4. professional labour =
5. scope of construction =
6. new opportunities =
7. 3D-modeling =
8. to set modulus =
9. to co-work with people =
10. to reduce cost =

III. TASK 2: Find the antonym of these words in the reading text!
1. easy project =
2. ground floor =
3. low level =
4. light breeze =
5. fragility of material =
6. stagnation in progress =
7. ancient technique =
8. destruction =
9. unpredictable behaviour =
10. automated work =
11. routine work =
12. doubtful =
13. to disassemble components=
14. to reduce productivity =
15. to increase injuries =

IV. TASK 3: Answer these questions correctly!

1. Which country takes the leading position in civil engineering and why?
2. What new technologies contribute to construction industry?
3. What’s the image of the ideal future construction world?
4. Why is there an acute need of construction in automation and robotics?
5. What might happen if robotic technology were not applied in
constructions?