A recent report by MarketWatch has revealed that the construction industry is struggling with a chronic issue of low productivity. Despite the growth in technology and innovation over the past two decades, productivity in the sector has only increased by an average of 1% annually, which is significantly lower than the world economy's growth rate. The report also notes that productivity in the construction industry lags behind the manufacturing industry by a significant margin. These findings underscore the need for new and innovative solutions to address the productivity problem in the construction sector.

BIMPrinter’s mobile topographic robot (Photo: Besix)

Belgian contractor Besix made history by using an autonomous robot to trace floor plans during the construction of the 250-meter-tall Mohammed VI Tower in Morocco.

The "BIMPrinter" topographic robot, created by another Belgian company, traced the exact outlines of partition walls with complex geometry onto floor slabs, guided by the digital model of the building. This marked the first time such a technique had been used in the construction of a skyscraper, demonstrating the innovative nature of the contractor's approach to the project.

Mikolaj Zdebski, Besix's chief surveyor, praised the technique of using the robot during construction. He noted that the robot allowed them to produce a complete floor plan in under a day, three times faster than traditional methods, saving much time on the 55-floor tower.

Mohammed VI Tower is part of the Bouregreg Valley development project near Rabat, scheduled for completion in 2023 (Courtesy of Besix)

Zdebski was impressed with the quality of the tracings, noting that the robot could create accurate and detailed outlines of both straight and arched lines. The precise and detailed layout created by the robot proved useful for workers, subcontractors, architects, and client representatives alike.

Vincent Agie, CEO of Bimprinter, is confident that his robot can attract other industries beyond construction, such as athletics tracks, high-performance sports, and other fields that require precision measurements.

As a pioneer in the idea of a "drawing" robot on construction sites, Bimprinter is now facing competition from other devices developed by actors outside of Europe. "We support this race. It can help us persuade the construction industry to shift towards automation," he said.

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