Meet Dr Soungho CHAE, Chief Research Engineer at Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTRIS), an expert in building construction management with ICT (Information Communication Technology) and RT (Robotics Technology) from Japan’s Kajima Corporation.
“The Kajima Corporation contributed to developing the industry and the economy through construction projects since its foundation in 1840. Today, the Kajima Group consists of 92 domestic companies and 142 overseas companies.”
As part of the HumanTech project, Kajima will support a trial test of remote demolish robot control, seeking to revolutionize traditional working methods.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. What are you focused on?
A: My research area is building construction management with ICT and RT. Especially, I have research performance in evaluating the effectiveness of advanced technologies such as image processing, sensing, measuring and visualization and applying it to construction sites.
Q: And about your organisation, Kajima Corporation, what have you set out to achieve?
A: The Kajima Corporation has been contributing to the development of industry and the economy through construction projects under the slogan of the “Enterprising Spirit” since its foundation in 1840. Today, the Kajima Group consists of 92 domestic companies and 142 overseas companies.
Kajima Technical Research Institute (KaTRI) has been supporting the technology base of the entire Kajima Group. Since KaTRI was established in 1949, all its researchers have collaborated to develop Japan’s first structures and infrastructures, such as skyscrapers, long bridges and deep tunnels looking ahead to the future. We are proud of the achievements of our predecessors.
In September 2013, we established Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTRIS) in Singapore. At KaTRIS, we have researchers working across a wide range of topics which engage not only in R&D work but also in marketing and strategic planning.
Q: Now, let us know about your role at HumanTech.
A: Kajima will support a trial test of remote demolish robot control in Japan. I hope It should be a game changer in the construction industry by proofing the potential of changing traditional working methods, which need to gather the workforce on site.
Q: What is the positive impact you hope to generate through HumanTech?
A: I hope to collaborate with our EU team to deploy the applications we are developing at HumanTech and to keep working for the construction industry in the future globally. Japan’s trial test will be done by April 2025.
Q: Is there a net zero future for construction?
A: I think achieving net zero in construction is more difficult than in other manufacturing industries, as the built environment is assembled by many kinds of components produced by different stakeholders. Modular and off-site construction is key to achieving this goal.
Q: How will technology evolve in the construction sector over the next decade? What impact do you think the changes it will bring about will have?
A: In the next decade, construction processes will be simplified and modularized by digitalisation and robotisation, and the core of the construction jobs will be transferred to computational systems.
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