The Josef Underground Laboratory, which serves as a research and experimental workplace of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University, provided an exceptionally authentic environment for the meeting. Participants were able to watch presentations and demonstrations of technologies directly in conditions that are close to the real deployment of robotic systems in underground construction, infrastructure monitoring or crisis situations. The event was held under the auspices of the Central Bohemian Region and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. The general partners were Metrostav, STRABAG, HOCHTIEF CZ and Keramost. Support was also provided by twelve strategic partners from among the major players in the Czech construction industry. The international dimension of the meeting was underlined by the participation of the Korean research partner KAERI.
Support for young talents – future technicians
The event also supported young talents – university and high school students as a generation that will co-shape the construction industry in the coming decades, with two new activities. At the Student Scientific Conference focused on robotics and automation, university students presented their projects and research results focused on modern technologies and their use in technical practice. The newly established Robotics in the Open competition became a unique opportunity for high school students to get involved. Students from the partner faculty VOŠS and SPŠS Dušní in Prague, who participated in its first year, were able to try solving practical problems and measure their skills when working with robotic systems.
Faculty of Civil Engineering, CTU as a driver of technological change
The involvement of all partners and the great interest of students was appreciated by the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, CTU in Prague, prof. Petr Konvalinka, who in his speech emphasized the responsibility of universities for preparing experts for the rapidly changing environment of digitalization, automation and robotization: "Robotization and automation are no longer a vision of the future and are becoming a common part of construction practice. The Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University wants to be an active partner in these changes - not only through research, but also by preparing students who will design, manage and implement new technologies into practice. Robotics in the underground is an example of a successful connection between academia and industry, which is moving the Czech construction industry forward."
Robotic technologies presented in underground spaces
A number of technological demonstrations and exhibitions were prepared for visitors to the event, located both in the laboratory area and directly in the underground spaces of the Josef Mine. “The main theme of this year was the transition from solving individual tasks to advanced synchronized control of multiple robotic systems simultaneously. The future of construction will be increasingly connected with autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and digitalization, and the coordination of multiple autonomous systems represents one of the most important trends in the current development of robotics,” said Ing. Jiří Šťástka, Ph.D., head of the Center for Experimental Geotechnics at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague. The technologies presented introduced the possibilities of cooperation between autonomous robots and drones in mapping the environment, monitoring infrastructure, collecting data or implementing specialized construction activities. “At the same time, the event showed how close cooperation between universities, research organizations and industrial partners is necessary for the successful development of these technologies. Although the construction industry naturally retains its proven principles, robotization and automation are increasingly entering it. Our main mission is to help these innovations on their way from the laboratory directly to real practice,” said prof. Radoslav Sovják, Director of the National Center for Construction 4.0.
Innovation and cooperation with industrial partners
The event was supported by a number of important industrial partners. Metrostav has been closely connected with the Josef Underground Laboratory workplace practically since its very inception. “We contributed to its implementation as both an investor and a contractor. That is why I am pleased that events focused on innovations and modern technologies in the construction industry are held here. I was impressed by the presentations of robotic solutions that we had the opportunity to see during the conference. I hope that in the near future we will be able to use similar technologies on our construction sites and they will help us increase the efficiency, safety and quality of implemented projects,” said Jan Kvaš, Director of Metrostav TBR.
A unique underground workplace with many possibilities
The Josef Underground Laboratory, which is part of the Center for Experimental Geotechnics of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, is a unique underground workplace for practical teaching of students and experimental activities. Its foundation is the Josef Tunnel, excavated in the 1980s in connection with the exploration of two gold deposits. The tunnel, located near the villages of Mokrsko and Čelina, was lent by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic to the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical Universitpartnerships and supporting young talents who will help shape the construction industry in the coming decades.y in Prague for educational and research purposes. The Josef Underground Laboratory was opened in 2007. So far, approximately 6 km of tunnels and shafts have been made accessible. Through the Robotics in the Underground event, the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague has been creating a space for sharing experiences, creating new