Smart tech like robotics, automation to be used at more BTO sites from 2027: Chee Hong Tat

A screeding robot, guided by lasers, levelling and smoothing the floor surface during a demonstration at a construction site on Sept 21.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Published Sep 25, 2026, 07:30 PM

Updated Sep 25, 2026, 07:30 PM

SINGAPORE – The use of smart technology like robotics and automation will be stepped up in the construction of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to help speed up the building of new homes.

So far, the use of smart technology has yielded encouraging results. It will be scaled up at more BTO construction sites in 2027 to boost construction productivity and reduce manpower needs, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.

Speaking at the HDB Awards Ceremony held at the Resorts World Convention Centre on Sept 25, he said: “As we build more and build faster, we must also build smarter... What matters is not how sophisticated the technology is, but whether it can help to solve practical problems on our worksites.”

One such effort is using robotics for labour-intensive processes like floor screeding. While conventional methods require workers to manually set up level pegs, screeding robots use lasers as a guide and can help workers in levelling and smoothing floors before tiles or vinyl are laid.

Two robots have been deployed under a trial project in 80 flats across two BTO projects in Bukit Merah and Ghim Moh.

In 2027, these robots will be trialled in at least four more BTO projects to assess their performance under different site conditions. HDB will then study their potential for wider deployment.

National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat (centre) at the HDB Awards Ceremony held at the Resorts World Convention Centre on Sept 25. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat (centre) at the HDB Awards Ceremony held at the Resorts World Convention Centre on Sept 25.

ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Smart hoists – a temporary lifting system installed on the outside of a building – will be used at about half of BTO sites tendered from 2027, to free up workers for other tasks.

A smart hoist works like a lift, with buttons for each floor, and has safety features such as sensors that scan for obstructions and cameras that detect if workers are wearing the appropriate gear.

One worker can supervise up to three smart hoists, compared with a conventional hoist that needs a dedicated operator to manually steer it across floors using a joystick.

Chee said: “While this may sound like a relatively simple improvement, the manpower savings add up across many blocks and projects, leading to a sizeable overall increase in productivity.”

One HDB block typically has at least one hoist.

Smart hoists – a temporary lifting system installed on the outside of a building – will be used at about half of BTO sites tendered from 2027, to free up workers for other tasks. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Chee said he has asked HDB to work towards deploying these technologies in all new BTO projects.

In addition, under the shortened time for completion scheme introduced in 2023, contractors tendering for selected BTO projects commit to completing them three months earlier.

As part of the tender, contractors propose construction methods and technologies for improving productivity and shortening construction times.

Around 10 projects currently fall under the scheme.

One solution that will be implemented is an inloader – a heavy-duty transport vehicle – that is equipped with a hydraulic jack for loading and unloading precast components so that cranes do not have to be used.

HDB is also piloting an excavator for earthworks in Tengah that uses satellite positioning and digital terrain models for more precision.

And to reduce repetitive work by contractors, HDB will launch on Sept 28 a catalogue of precast components. The catalogue has detailed specifications and drawings – of 17 components at present – so they do not have to be developed from scratch for every project.

The door of the smart hoist will not close if it detects safety hazards, such as a worker without a helmet or a hand in the way of the door. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

The door of the smart hoist will not close if it detects safety hazards, such as a worker without a helmet or a hand in the way of the door.

This could help save up to 20 per cent in project man-hours, Chee said.

HDB added in a statement on Sept 25 that while the catalogue provides greater consistency, there is still flexibility for consultants to design distinctive BTO projects.

With the catalogue, standard components such as staircases and household shelters will have common specifications across all HDB projects. It also has variations for other components such as facades, bathroom units, columns and beams.

HDB said the catalogue helps to strengthen supply resilience as contractors can procure standardised components from a wider range of suppliers.

On Sept 25, 30 projects received awards from HDB for their achievements in design, construction, engineering and landscape.

Two design consultants – LOOK Architects and 3PA – won awards for innovative designs for BTO projects in the new estates of Berlayar and Mount Pleasant respectively, with HDB noting that they had thoughtfully integrated nature and heritage into the projects to give them distinctive identities.

The design of Berlayar Residences drew on the Southern Ridges and waterfront, while Mount Pleasant Crest incorporated elements from the former Old Police Academy.

Isabelle Liew is a journalist at The Straits Times. She covers housing issues in Singapore, with a focus on public housing.

9 月 21 日，在建筑工地的一次演示中，一台由激光引导的刮平机器人正在找平地面。

《海峡时报》照片：梁崇俊

发布于2026年9月25日晚上7:30

更新于2026年9月25日晚上7:30

新加坡——在预购组屋（BTO）的建设中，将加大力度使用机器人和自动化等智能技术，以帮助加快新房的建设。

国家发展部长徐芳达表示，迄今为止，智能技术的应用已取得令人鼓舞的成果。2027年，这项技术将在更多预购组屋（BTO）建筑工地推广应用，以提高建筑效率并减少人力需求。

他在9月25日于圣淘沙名胜世界会议中心举行的建屋发展局颁奖典礼上发表讲话时说：“随着我们建造更多、更快的房屋，我们也必须建造得更智能……重要的不是技术有多先进，而是它能否帮助解决我们工地上的实际问题。”

其中一项举措是利用机器人技术完成诸如地面找平等劳动密集型工序。传统方法需要工人手动设置水平桩，而找平机器人则使用激光作为引导，可以帮助工人在铺设瓷砖或乙烯基材料之前对地面进行找平整度的调整。

在武吉美拉和金文泰的两个组屋项目中，已在 80 套组屋中部署了两台机器人进行试点项目。

2027年，这些机器人将在至少四个组屋项目中进行试用，以评估其在不同场地条件下的性能。之后，建屋发展局将研究其更广泛部署的潜力。

国家发展部长徐芳达（中）于9月25日在云顶世界会议中心举行的建屋发展局颁奖典礼上。海峡时报摄影：阿里芬·贾马尔

国家发展部长徐芳达（中）于9月25日在云顶世界会议中心举行的建屋发展局颁奖典礼上。

圣路易斯照片：阿里芬·贾马尔

智能升降机（一种安装在建筑物外部的临时升降系统）将在 2027 年起招标的 BTO 项目中约一半使用，以便让工人腾出手来执行其他任务。

智能升降机的工作原理与电梯类似，每层楼都有按钮，并具有安全功能，例如扫描障碍物的传感器和检测工人是否佩戴适当装备的摄像头。

一名工人可以同时监管多达三台智能起重机，而传统的起重机则需要专门的操作员使用操纵杆手动控制其在楼层间移动。

Chee表示：“虽然这听起来像是一个相对简单的改进，但节省下来的人力在许多街区和项目中累积起来，最终会大幅提高整体生产力。”

一栋组屋通常至少配备一台起重机。

智能升降机——一种安装在建筑物外部的临时升降系统——将从2027年起在约一半的预购组屋（BTO）招标项目中使用，以便让工人腾出手来从事其他工作。（海峡时报照片：庄俊良）

Chee表示，他已要求建屋发展局努力在所有新的组屋项目中部署这些技术。

此外，根据 2023 年推出的缩短竣工期限计划，参与特定预购组屋项目投标的承包商承诺提前三个月完成项目。

作为投标的一部分，承包商提出提高生产效率和缩短施工时间的施工方法和技术。

目前约有 10 个项目属于该计划范围。

即将实施的解决方案之一是使用装载机（一种重型运输车辆），该装载机配备液压千斤顶，用于装卸预制构件，这样就无需使用起重机。

建屋发展局 (HDB) 还在登加地区试用一种利用卫星定位和数字地形模型进行土方工程的挖掘机，以提高精度。

为了减少承包商的重复性工作，建屋发展局将于9月28日推出预制构件目录。该目录包含17种构件的详细规格和图纸，因此无需为每个项目从头开始开发。

智能提升机的门如果检测到安全隐患，例如工人未佩戴安全帽或有人用手挡住门，则不会关闭。（海峡时报照片：梁崇俊）

如果智能起重机检测到安全隐患，例如工人未佩戴安全帽或手挡在门前，则门不会关闭。

Chee表示，这可以帮助节省高达20%的项目工时。

建屋发展局在 9 月 25 日的一份声明中补充说，虽然该目录提供了更大的一致性，但顾问仍然可以灵活地设计独特的预购组屋项目。

有了这份产品目录，楼梯和家庭避难所等标准构件在所有建屋发展局（HDB）项目中都将采用统一的规格。此外，它还涵盖了外墙、浴室单元、柱子和梁等其他构件的各种规格。

建屋发展局表示，该目录有助于增强供应韧性，因为承包商可以从更广泛的供应商处采购标准化组件。

9月25日，建屋发展局为30个项目颁发了奖项，以表彰它们在设计、建造、工程和景观方面的成就。

两家设计顾问公司——LOOK Architects 和 3PA——分别凭借在 Berlayar 和 Mount Pleasant 新区组屋项目中的创新设计而获奖。建屋发展局指出，他们巧妙地将自然和历史融入到项目中，赋予它们独特的个性。

Berlayar Residences 的设计灵感源自南部山脊和滨水区，而 Mount Pleasant Crest 则融入了前旧警察学院的元素。

Isabelle Liew是《海峡时报》的记者，主要报道新加坡的住房问题，尤其关注公共住房。