This master's thesis examines current initiatives and research trends in the field of automation in the construction industry. It focuses on the comparison between manual work and the use of robotics in construction and on the identification of opportunities and challenges in automation and robotization of construction. Construction plays an important role in the economy and society of Slovenia and North Macedonia. It faces challenges such as high labour costs, labour shortages, safety at work, sustainability and lower productivity than in other industries. Therefore, the introduction of automation and digitalization is crucial. The literature review shows that in the construction industry, both domestically and internationally, there is an increasing use of automation, digitization and robotization in various types of construction structures, such as roads, bridges and tunnels. The case study compares manual work with the use of robots such as an excavator robot, a placement robot and a four-legged robot dog. Analyses show that the benefits of robotics are increased productivity, working time, safety and savings in time and costs. In conclusion, we give some examples where cooperation between construction companies, academic institutions, suppliers and clients is essential if we want to automate construction in Slovenia, North Macedonia and the wider region. The results show the great potential of robotics in solving the challenges of construction and increasing its efficiency.
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