Automation in the concrete element factory

The Second Finnish French symposium on Information Technology in Const ruction is part of an on going cooperation process between the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment (CSTB) and the Division of ConstruCtion Technology of the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT. The first symposium on this same topic was organized in Sophia Antipolis, France in October 1988. The Finnish French Association for Scientific and Technical Research and its counterpart in France have also assisted in the organisation of the symposiums. In addition experts from numerous universities, research organizations and private firms have participated in the symposiums. In both France and Finland information technology has been recognized as one of the major factors which could significantly facilitate the design and construction of buildings and help in achieving both lower construction costs and a better quality of the end product. Consequently research and development programs have been initiated and carried out in both countries. This first seminar in 1988 showed that French and Finnish researchers dealing with the topic of information technology in construction have a lot in common. Perhaps the single most important common denominator is the long term perspective which has been taken. The aim of research efforts is to help solve the fundamental iSsues in CAD data management, construction management, onsite robotics etc. and to help pave the way for comrnercial development leading to applications ten years from now or even further away. The written documentation from the second seminar, organized in Espoo in June 1990 is contained in this report. The seminar provided opportunities to exchange research results in many areas of expertice, but also to establish contacts on a more personal basis. The presentations covered a wide range of topics, from the overall strategy of research funding in this area to the technical details of construction robots. Included are papers on fundamental theoretical research but also presentations on innovative commercial software products