▶ To build an integrated smart construction platform using Hyundai Doosan Infracore’s Xite Cloud

▶ An integrated platform to take an early lead in the global smart construction market, which is expected to be valued at KRW 1,900 trillion by 2025

▶ “It will be a game changer in the construction industry with innovative technology by applying digital technology to construction sites.”

Hyundai Doosan Infracore and SK ecoplant will join hands to take the lead in the smartization of the construction industry

Hyundai Doosan Infracore announced on November 23 (Tuesday) that it had signed an MOU with SK ecoplant for “mutual cooperation in smart construction technology” at the Global R&D Center in Dong-gu, Incheon. It is the first collaboration project between the construction equipment industry and a major construction company in Korea to develop and demonstrate advanced smart construction technology.

Through this MOU, Hyundai Doosan Infracore and SK ecoplant agreed to implement jointly smart construction technology advancement and field demonstration for innovation in construction productivity, safety, and quality.

Hyundai Doosan Infracore will utilize the cloud-based integrated smart construction platform Xite Cloud to advance technology for the smartization of the construction industry. It will advance platform technology such as earthwork volume analysis, control, and work management and develop new functions including digital twin technology, which reproduces into a virtual environment the construction site where construction machines operate.                                               

Moreover, it will apply an automated system like 3D machine guidance that can link platform and information to the equipment group operating on-site.

SK ecoplant plans to provide field data, construction know-how, and voice of customer (VOC) so that smart construction technologies can be flawlessly applied to actual sites and construct the testbed for technology demonstration. Through this, the two companies will lead the digitalization of the construction industry to increase productivity and stability. Moreover, the smart construction technology advanced through this cooperation will be applied to construction sites operated by SK ecoplant in the future.

The need for digitalization of construction sites has emerged worldwide due to the decreasing labor force, reduced working hours, and continuous occurrence of safety accidents. According to “Smart Construction Global Insight” announced by the Center for Smart Construction Technology, the construction market is expected to be valued at USD 1.6 trillion (about KRW 1,900 trillion), or 10% of the total construction market size, by 2025. The two companies joined forces to take the early lead of the market.

“Cloud platform-based smart construction technology is the key to digitalizing construction sites. The advanced smart construction technology developed through this cooperation will provide the innovation that will be the game changer of the construction industry,” said Lee Dong-wook, executive vice president of Hyundai Doosan Infracore R&D Center.

According to Chang Hyo-shik, head of OXG of SK ecoplant, smart construction technology is greatly helpful in accurately predicting various variables that may occur in actual sites and improving productivity and safety. “We expect the technological cooperation with Hyundai Doosan Infracore to improve smart technology drastically in the construction industry by applying smart construction technology from the time of designing the development project,” he added.

Launched by Hyundai Doosan Infracore in 2020, Xite Cloud is the only integrated smart construction platform in Korea. It can survey sites in 3D with a drone and reduce the time for calculating the earthwork requirement from tens of days to just a few days. It also improves the work productivity of novice operators by 40% with the excavation automation technology.

Xite Cloud won the top prize for two consecutive years at the Smart Construction Challenge hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and it is expected to make its first appearance in the global market at the CES 2022 next year.                                                    <End>

■ Photos

1. Demonstration of Xite Cloud, an integrated smart construction platform developed by Hyundai Doosan Infracore

2. Hyundai Doosan Infracore and SK ecoplant officials pose for a commemorative photo after signing an MOU for cooperation in smart construction technology. From right to left, Hyundai Doosan Infracore's Managing Director of Strategy/Planning Division Lee Yoon-seok, R&D Center Vice President Lee Dong-wook, SK ecoplant’s head of Eco-Infra OXG Chang Hyo-shik, and head of DT Group Cho Jae-yeon of Hyundai Doosan Infracore’s Global R&D Center in Dong-gu, Incheon