How Singapore uses robots and drones for construction and maintenance

This job used to take up to two weeks, but with the support of technology systems, everything becomes faster and more efficient.

Many Singapore companies have begun to use robots and drones for construction and maintenance to improve efficiency and safety. Not only the Sports Center, C&W Services – the facilities management and engineering division of commercial real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield (C&W), also uses drones and AI to inspect the facades of the center’s buildings, helping to reduce the time needed by an average of 50-70%.

Lam Shiu Tong, director of defense facilities and sports at C&W Services, told Straits Times, Previously they had to send experts to access the maintenance site using a system of ropes and pulleys, trying to detect each defect. “The work is laborious, but it can still be missed. Now the drone can take thousands of photos, while AI detects the problem and experts will go to the correct location of the error to fix it,” he said.

ISOTeam, a company specializing in high-rise building maintenance, also uses a similar method. Besides inspection, this unit developed drones capable of washing and painting exteriors, helping to limit the use of scaffolding and reduce risks when working at height.

“While investments in technology are costly, they ultimately deliver better returns for businesses,” Natalie Ong and Then Wan Lin, analysts at CGS International Securities Singapore, told CNBC.

The construction industry in Singapore has boomed, especially after the pandemic. Last month, the Singapore Building and Architectural Authority (BCA) forecast that construction demand in the island nation would reach 53 billion SGD (42 billion USD) this year, up 15% from previous estimates.

However, this field currently faces many challenges, as construction costs in Singapore are always among the highest in the world. Consulting firm Turner & Townsend estimates costs will increase 5% this year, due to supply chain disruptions for cement and ready-mix concrete, as well as skyrocketing electricity and water prices.

“More importantly, the shortage of unskilled workers and workers for PMET positions (experts, managers, executives and technicians) in Singapore is extremely scarce,” commented Mr. Khoo Sze Boon, CEO of Turner & Townsend in the Singapore region.

According to Ong and Lin, human resources in the construction industry in Singapore also tend to take on multiple roles, with workers being trained to be able to take on other responsibilities, causing work efficiency to decrease.

Many issues arise that urge Singaporean businesses to apply technology. The government of this country also supports when from April 2025, the Singapore Competition and Consumer Protection Department will provide new subsidies for small businesses, helping them invest in technology, including robotics and automation, which can help “save up to 50% of human resources”.

Technology solutions in Singapore are developing strongly. For example, Legend Robot now produces machines that spray putty and latex paint for residential buildings, as well as robots that can grind floors and lay tiles. According to calculations, a normal worker can paint about 200 m2/day, but the robot can handle up to 1,500 m2/day, a productivity 7 times higher. Currently, Legend Robot’s machines cost 70,000-120,000 USD.

Buildings and structures are also integrating digitalization into facilities management to help improve productivity, reduce workload and attract talent. City House, City Square Mall, Palais Renaissance and Republic Plaza now use the Digihub monitoring platform with sensors and AI that support inspection of building assets, such as air handling equipment and pumps. The system monitors the status of assets in real time, detects and predicts unusual problems that may occur, then alerts managers in real time.

According to Ivan Foo, person in charge of Republic Plaza’s facilities, he still uses humans to check periodically. But thanks to machines, inspections shifted from “daily” to “weekly”, thereby dedicating resources to more important issues.

“Young people need interesting jobs,” said Pang Zi Hao, an infrastructure digital expert. “With digitalization, we can redesign old jobs and create new ones, such as smart facilities managers or digital specialists, which can attract more people to facilities management and the built environment.”

Mr. Tong of C&W Services said that designing and constructing a building only takes about 5 years, but their life cycle is often 50 years or more, depending on usage and maintenance. This shows the importance of facilities management. “If construction and management are good, the built environment will be more sustainable. In the long run, this is something that benefits the whole country,” he added.