Main findings for robotics in infrastructure

Australia’s existing infrastructure faces many future challenges including: an increasing and ageing population, expensive housing, a shortage of social housing, urban sprawl, increased congestion, changing climate and security risks. Robotics can help to overcome these challenges by providing a cost-effective and safe means to build, manage, maintain and decommission infrastructure, especially in remote areas. Australia’s population (currently 24 million) is set to increase by 11.8 million people over the next 30 years and our infrastructure will need to expand to cater for this increase. There is also growing public expectation that infrastructure (such as access to water and the internet) will always function at peak levels, regardless of challenges created by extreme weather events or natural disasters. Advanced robotic technologies are necessary to ensure continuation of Australia’s high standard of living, and the success and prosperity of all sectors of the economy reliant on essential infrastructure.