To support the growing construction industry, which presently accounts for 11 per cent of the UAE’s gross domestic product (GDP) and in cooperation with Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OAMK), one of Finland’s largest universities of applied sciences, the American University of Sharjah Enterprises (AUSE) has launched a series of workshops to explore the pivotal role of robotics and 3D printing in Sharjah’s construction sector. The workshops on ‘The Importance of Robotics and 3D Printing in Developing the Construction Sector in Sharjah’ were designed to bring the local construction community, a main pillar of the UAE’s economic diversification policy, to the next level in keeping with the 21st century requirements.

The first workshop hosted by the American University of Sharjah (AUS) revolved around the latest innovations in the world of robotics and 3D printing in relation to the construction industry.

Leading architects led the discussions that also focused on the AUS’s major contributions to 3D printing technology development in support of the UAE’s sustainable development efforts. Four Finnish experts, AUS instructors and students, engineers, and specialists from the government and private sectors attended the first session which shed light on 3D printing’s impact on the more than AED 836-billion construction industry. Recent studies have shown that 3D tools help reduce unskilled labors by 50 per cent; construction period, 50 to70 per cent; cost, 30 per cent; and construction waste, 70 per cent.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO, AUSE and Sharjah’s Research, Technology, and Innovation (STRIP), said: “The workshops are a major boost to our efforts to promote knowledge enrichment and entrepreneurship in Sharjah and the UAE. In addition, we seek to provide the AUS instructors and students with an opportunity to learn from international experts and know the emerging global technological trends. These initiatives are in line with the directive of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to equip our citizens and residents with world-class competencies that will allow them to keep up with ongoing technological evolution.”

“The first workshop was designed to enhance STRIP’s role in the UAE’s economic diversification and growth as well as contributions to the non-oil sectors. We achieve this by ensuring that our local institutions will be part of the global digital revolution and technological transformation, in addition to promoting economic openness driven by research and development initiatives. This workshop served as an ideal platform to share experiences and exchange best practices with Finnish experts, opening up new opportunities to explore the role of robotics and 3D printing in accelerating the growth of the local construction sector,” Al Mahmoudi added.

He further noted: “The construction industry is poised for unprecedented growth with the value of the construction projects between 2016 and 2030 is expected to reach AED 1920 billion, 20 per cent of which are residential developments. The workshop also signals the beginning of our cooperation with Oulu University and other elite academic and research institutions in Finland. Such partnerships will pave the way for more high-quality and technology-focused initiatives in support of the comprehensive and sustainable development plans in the emirate and the rest of the state.”

Kimmo Paajanen, International Project Manager, Oulu University, concluded:“ We are honored to be part of the AUSE’s program. The AUSE is making a major progress in driving innovation and promoting empowerment through technology transfer to boost the socio-economic development process being pursued by Sharjah and the UAE. We are keen to share our expertise and provide participants with modern knowledge concerning robotics, 3D printing, information management, and building construction process. This is in line with our shared efforts to build human capacities and strengthen international relations in the fields of research and science and technology. We look forward to participating in similar initiatives developed to build capacity, stimulate innovation, and reinforce the emirate’s technological development.”