Future of Construction

Problem / Research Question

How can AI and robot teleoperation make construction work safer and open it to a more diverse workforce?

Why It Matters

Women make up less than 10% of the construction workforce. As construction becomes automated and teleoperated, equitable technology design can remove barriers while improving safety and productivity.

What britelab Is Doing

The FAIR4WISE project develops a new robot teleoperation method based on deep learning and blockchain certification to augment construction workers' capability and promote diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in the workplace. As construction jobs become automated and teleoperated with robots, this transition can enable safe, remote work away from hazardous sites — reducing barriers for women, who represent less than 10% of the construction workforce. The project investigates gender differences in collaborating with and teleoperating robots, and uses those insights to build learning and teleoperation methods that are accessible and equitable across genders.

• Develop an inclusive robot teleoperation interface adaptive to gender-related diversity and experience
• Design a federated learning mechanism to mitigate AI bias using data from underrepresented workers
• Create a blockchain-based platform certifying worker skill competence and performance for fair hiring
• Measure the impacts of these technologies on future construction work, job design, and worker self-efficacy
• Build an education and workforce training platform integrating adult learning and AI/robot technologies

Methods & Technology

Research Team

• Yuqing Hu (PI), Architectural Engineering
• Scarlett Miller (Co-PI)
• Yi Wu

  PhD Student

Funding Agency

Outcomes / Impact

If successful, the technology ecosystem will improve worker productivity, safety, and health while opening new and equal work opportunities for women and other underrepresented workers — breaking down barriers as the industry transitions to the era of robots and AI. The work brings together an interdisciplinary team spanning engineering, computer and information science, human factors, industrial-organizational psychology, education, and legal affairs.