“By 2050, robots will do the heavy lifting while autonomous cranes and excavators will be handled by social humanoid robots,” he said during a webinar today.

“This is the envisioned future of the construction sector as we gear towards full-scale digitalisation.”

Noting that the soon-to-be-launched National Construction Policy 2030 (NCP 2030) is themed “Digitising the Construction Sector”, Fadillah explained that digitalisation will accelerate the adoption of technology in all work processes before, during and after construction.

He said that with the anticipated introduction of robotic applications at construction sites by 2030, the industry will “exponentially reshape” the way infrastructure, real estate and other built assets are designed, constructed, operated and maintained.

Fadillah was delivering the opening keynote address at the 2021 Asia Economic and Entrepreneurship Summit, an economic forum organised annually by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific with other partners.

He stressed the need for pre-emptive action to mitigate climate change, stating the industry has to design, build and operate infrastructure which brings sound socio-economic benefits while also protecting natural resources and the environment.

“Above all, I believe resilient and inclusive infrastructure which is sustainable can change our lives,” he said.