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<doi>/ISEC.res.2017.19</doi>
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<article-title>AUTOMATION OF A STEEL WALL FRAMING<br/>
ASSEMBLY</article-title>
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<author>EDGAR TAMAYO<sup>1</sup>, MICHAEL BARDWELL<sup>1</sup>, AHMED QURESHI<sup>2</sup>,<br/>
and MOHAMED AL-HUSSEIN<sup>1</sup></author>

<aff><sup>1</sup>
Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada<br/>
<sup>2</sup>
Dept of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada</aff>


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<title>ABSTRACT</title>
<p>Modular construction has become increasingly popular in North America in recent
years. In this emerging paradigm of building construction, building components are
manufactured off site and then transported to the construction site for assembly. In
Canada, automated modular steel structure fabrication is in high demand. Offsite
manufacturing of steel wall frames for residential and commercial buildings provides
timesaving and improvement of working conditions and morale that translates to
improved productivity and safety performance. This paper demonstrates the feasibility
of efficiently fabricating steel wall frames for offsite modular construction using
automated assembly controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and
connected in a cost-effective and efficient electrical installation and centralized
communication by Fieldbus technology. In particular, this paper describes the control
strategy used to automate a steel wall framing assembly that incorporates a PLC and
Fieldbus technology.</p>
<p><italic>Keywords: </italic>Programmable logic controller (PLC), Fieldbus technology, Modular
construction, Automated assembly.</p>
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