A 7,382-tonne, 4,030-sq-m building complex in Shanghai, China, is being moved about 10 metres a day using an army of small robots.
Consisting of a set of traditional shikumen-style buildings, the complex is being moved out of the way to allow for the construction of a three-storey underground structure beneath it.
This will include the development of 53,000 square metres of cultural and commercial zones, a parking facility with more than 100 spaces, and a transport hub connecting Metro Lines 2, 12, and 13 in the city.
Called the Huayanli complex, the collection of buildings were built in the 1920s-1930s and are part of the Zhangyuan area, which itself is more than 140 years old. The complex also features architecture that combines western and Chinese elements.
An army of 432 walking robots
“The project has attracted attention not least due to the dense layout of historic structures, including Zhangyuan’s great hall, a 1928 building that once housed a night school for patriotic education in the 1940s, leaving little room for renovation or underground development,” a press release by the local government in Shanghai explains.
The move is temporary and the complex will be returned to its original location once the underground construction work is complete. But how is this all being achieved?
According to Shanghai‘s official government page, the incredible civil engineering feat is being carried out using 432 small walking robots. These bots can gently lift the structure and then ‘crawl’ very slowly.
Touted as China’s largest relocation project of its kind in terms of size, weight, and complexity, the task at hand necessitated a novel solution owing to the tight layout of Zhangyuan. The area is peppered with narrow alleys and densely-packed old buildings, making traditional construction tools unusable.
Addressing these challenges, the project utilised drilling robots for foundation work, which can navigate through tight corridors and doorways. Special earth-moving robots with folding arms, which can operate in spaces as narrow as 1.2 metres wide, were also deployed.
AI helped create 3D models of site
According to reports, deep learning AI helped these machines distinguish between clay and solid obstacles. Engineers used building information modelling (BIM) and point cloud scanning to create highly detailed 3D models of the buildings and site.
These models enabled the engineers to identify collision risks, plan precise movement routes, and design curved soil transport paths. A conveyor-belt system was also installed to remove soil efficiently, much like a factory line, reducing disruption. Once the underground construction is finished, the Huayanli complex will be moved back to its original location.
“We designed multiple curved transportation routes for soil removal, implementing a factory-line-style system with track hoists and conveyor belts to minimise disruption while maintaining high efficiency,” said Zhang Yi, general manager of the urban renewal construction company of Shanghai Construction No 2 (Group).
Upon completion, the renewed Zhangyuan complex will integrate above-ground historical preservation with underground modern facilities, linking the surrounding high-rises, shopping areas, and neighbourhoods.