Are Robots Going to Steal My Construction Job?

Are Robots Going to Steal My Construction Job? 

Since records were initiated in 1880, sea levels have risen by about 21 cm. US government agencies have warned that sea levels are rising at an increasingly rapid rate, and that by 2050, they could increase by another 25-30 centimeters.  Reports indicate that if emissions aren’t reduced by 2050, over 800 million people, across 570 cities, will be at risk from rising sea levels

Venice and Miami Beach are just two popular destinations that are constantly hampered by frequent flooding. According to the Coastal Risk 

Screening Tool created by Climate Central, other major cities that are at risk of persistent flooding in the next 80 years include Tokyo, Mumbai, New York City, Bangkok, San Francisco, London, Sydney, and more . Various solutions have been implemented in the construction world to combat the threat of rising waters, including flood barriers, surge barriers, seawalls and breakwaters, relocation to higher elevations, restoring wetlands, and remodeling utility infrastructure . While it is commonplace to continue building structures to protect our current infrastructure, a more sustainable and permanent solution is preferable in order to tackle the rising water threats of this century. Industry pioneers are using new technology and innovation, while challenging today’s traditional construction methodologies, to reimagine new sustainable living environments that will address precarious climate challenges that lay ahead. For example, UN-Habitat in conjunction with Oceanix, launched the idea of Oceanix Busan, a zero-waste, hurricane-resistant, floating city, to make this pioneering dream a reality . Nevertheless, creating an offshore environment comes with many challenges, and although inspiring, is a complicated concept that shows that innovation and implementation of technology is essential for the future of housing; not just for prospective building and sustainable solutions, but for navigating all the unfamiliar challenges faced along the way. In short, technology must be a part of the solution. 

For Oceanix, a key motive for implementing a solution that seems far more onerous than building barriers and remodeling existing infrastructure is the appeal of creating a self-sufficient, decentralized neighborhood. Doing so could enable independence, as well as complete sustainability. So, building a floating city enables engineers to find a solution to the imminent threat of rising sea levels to human life, livelihood, homes, and existing infrastructure. At the same time, this solution allows for the breaking of the cycle that keeps society tethered to outdated systems for energy, water, and gas, and grants the ability to introduce new technology appropriate for our time to help usher in a new era of sustainability. For example, current infrastructure has existing electric grids, water aqueducts, waste systems, and gas supply. Therefore, if a city is short on a specific utility, its lack of independence from a centralized system restricts its ability to implement new systems and new technologies to adapt. With a decentralized neighborhood, the reliance shifts from “legacy” networks to systems that allow self-sufficiency. As a result, through building these offshore communities, Oceanix has the ability to start from scratch and incorporate technologies and ideas as sustainable solutions that are presently overlooked or impossible to utilize alongside cities’ current frameworks. 

Not only is the decentralization of new neighborhoods an exciting idea that can be implemented by floating cities, in many cases it is a requirement in order to build them. One of the major concerns of building an offshore neighborhood, is the burden it places on existing infrastructure that was not designed to have the capacity to support an entirely new neighborhood. To guarantee the realization of floating cities or neighborhoods, people need to be able to live there comfortably, safely, sustainably, and desirably. Accordingly, resources that need to be considered in terms of self-reliance potentially include new forms of transportation, as well as adaptive infrastructure for the new oceanic environment, such as energy, sewage, and water systems. For example, food waste could be disposed of as compost in neighborhood gardens and converted into energy, and algae ponds can treat sewage dispelled from its population (Smithsonian). Quite amazingly, technology plays a big role in solving these challenges of not burdening local infrastructure and resulting need for new infrastructure, while designing the neighborhood and infrastructure in a way that it can beautifully, and comfortably, deal with the aquatic environment. 

Another challenge, and perhaps one of the greatest challenges that needs to be addressed when building this new environment is the waves and ocean tide. The platforms need to be able to rise with the waves and according to the height of the ocean tide, yet in a livable manner in which residents don’t feel the oscillation of the waves. This requires engineered metal frames that can serve as dynamic foundations for the building to render the wave forces obsolete. This is just one of many examples of new engineering feats required just to build in the ocean. Many new technological tools will be required to address living in a new, unique environment, and ensure that they are durable, cost effective, and comfortable to live in. 

Not only are floating cities an innovative and impressive solution to combat rising water levels, but they can also be a solution for rising population challenges across Europe and Asia, and where accessible land is scarce. The world’s growing population is creating a demand for residential and public facilities that is greater than ever before. The Oceanix project is particularly interesting due to the visionary and bold way they are reimagining new living environments from scratch. Many of the principals and approaches harnessed in the Oceanix project can help reframe the way we build traditional neighborhoods and help create processes that will allow sustainable decentralized living environments at scale. Questions that should be considered are, if we are creating a decentralized, independent system from scratch, is it feasible and cost effective to scale the approach? And, in terms of the population crisis, would it make more sense to repurpose cities, rather than creating an entire environment from scratch, or is it harder to refurbish infrastructure in an optimal way when working off of “legacy” networks from a couple of decades back? Either way, one thing is for certain. The change that is required for maintaining a sustainable future is complicated, and technology is and will most likely continue to play a critical role.

Would you be willing to live in a floating city? Do you believe that it is a solution at scale? Is there a topic in construction technology that you would like to learn more about?

Send your thoughts to: eliyahu@globalconstructiontech.com

I would like to send a special thank you to Matteo Pietrobelli, the chief engineer and CTO at Oceanix, who was our inspiration for this article. 

If you found this article interesting, comment, like and share below.

Learn more: 

Global Construction Tech. – Innovating the Construction Industry

LI: Global Construction Tech. 

Listen to our podcast: 

https://spoti.fi/3Z1vjgx