GS E&C

◆ Construction robots to undergo advance testing for performance, productivity and on-site applicability before deployment
◆ Tests assess integration with actual construction processes, taking into account workers, materials, and preceding and subsequent work activities
◆ GS E&C establishes an end-to-end framework for Physical AI, from technology scouting and validation to deployment across construction sites

GS E&C has established a dedicated testing environment to validate Physical AI technologies before deploying them at construction sites.

GS E&C announced on September 22 that it has established a PoC (Proof of Concept) Center at its R&D Institute in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, by remodeling part of the existing facility. The center is designed to test the performance and operational feasibility of new technologies and construction robots before they are introduced at actual construction sites.

The PoC Center goes beyond testing the performance of individual robots. It is designed to identify and assess a wide range of variables that may arise when technologies are deployed in real construction environments. Through the PoC process, GS E&C evaluates factors such as the division of roles between workers and robots, work sequences, movement routes and operating conditions, while designing the processes required for successful on-site deployment.

The center is currently testing a range of construction robots, including a concrete leveling robot. For processes such as floor leveling after concrete placement, where both quality and productivity are critical, GS E&C is independently assessing not only the robots’ work accuracy and productivity but also the conditions required for effective on-site application.

Based on the results and effectiveness of the PoC Center, GS E&C plans to further enhance its capabilities and consider establishing additional PoC facilities with expanded functions and capacity.

Unlike manufacturing plants, where work is carried out along standardized production lines, construction sites are highly dynamic and unstructured environments. Work areas, access routes, personnel and materials continuously change as construction progresses. As a result, even a high-performing robot may not lead to meaningful productivity gains unless its interaction with existing workers, material delivery and movement, and preceding and subsequent work activities is considered comprehensively.

For this reason, GS E&C is focusing not simply on introducing new robotics and AI technologies, but on how those technologies can be effectively integrated into existing construction processes.

During the preliminary validation stage, the company comprehensively evaluates potential benefits such as reducing workers’ burden from repetitive tasks, improving quality consistency, lowering safety risks, enabling nighttime or unmanned operations, and ensuring compatibility with subsequent work processes. Technologies that pass this stage are then tested at actual construction sites, with proven solutions subsequently expanded to other projects.

To systematically identify and develop Physical AI technologies, GS E&C also operates the ICC (Innovation Connect Council), an internal innovation council involving relevant business and operational departments.

Through the ICC, GS E&C identifies factors that reduce productivity at construction sites as well as specific technology needs, and searches for domestic and overseas startups and robotics and AI technologies capable of addressing those challenges. When necessary, the company collaborates through joint technology development or investment, validates the effectiveness of solutions through PoC testing, and then deploys proven technologies at actual construction sites.

GS E&C also maintains ongoing exchanges with domestic and international construction companies, robotics firms and research institutions, sharing technology deployment cases and practical experience gained at actual construction sites. The company is also expanding cooperation with overseas partners through various initiatives, including technology exchanges, scouting for promising technologies and investment partnerships.

A GS E&C official said, “Rather than simply bringing robots onto construction sites, it is important to identify technologies that meet actual site needs, thoroughly validate them and seamlessly integrate them into existing construction processes.”. “Our goal is to enhance productivity and safety while strengthening cost competitiveness through this approach,” the official added.