ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for
Human-Robot Teaming for
Sustainable and Resilient Construction (HaRTCon)
Engineers Australia Visit
25 September 2026
On 25 September, we were pleased to welcome members of the Engineers Australia Sydney Division Electrical/ITEE College Committee to the ARC Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming for Sustainable and Resilient Construction (HaRTCon) at UTS.
The visit included a tour of our robotics lab and live demonstrations of some of the technologies being developed across the Hub, followed by an afternoon tea, discussion and Q&A.
It was a great opportunity to share more about HaRTCon’s research and projects, exchange ideas, and discuss areas of shared interest and potential collaboration.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the discussions.
Round Table
04 September 2026
The ARC HaRTCon Research Hub, UTS, UNSW and Monecc recently welcomed industry and research partners to the Future-Proofing Built Assets: Sustainability & Operational Excellence Round Table at UTS.
The event brought together university researchers, building owners, asset and facility managers, consultants, contractors and technology providers for an open discussion about the energy and operational challenges facing existing buildings—and the opportunities for closer collaboration between industry and research.
UTS, EC Focus, N2 Engineering, LCS Air, NXT Engineering and Monecc also made presentation and shared valuable insights across government support and energy incentives, research capabilities, asset management, building electrification, energy efficiency, intelligent building technologies and energy optimisation.
Participants also toured the UTS Robotics Institute, where they saw several robots in action and explored how robotics and human–robot collaboration could contribute to safer, more efficient and more sustainable construction and built-asset operations.
A key takeaway was the collective expertise, openness and energy in the room. By connecting research capabilities with industry knowledge, innovative technologies and practical project-delivery experience, we can help transform buildings into smarter, more sustainable, efficient and future-ready assets.
4th UTS Node HaRTCon Seminar
19 August 2026
This HaRTCon UTS Node featured two insightful presentations from Dr Gibson Hu and Resul Dagdanov.
Gibson presented “Robots in Timber Construction”, exploring the potentials of robotic technology in timber construction.
Resul presented “Improving the Trustworthiness of Robots Through HRC”, examining how human–robot collaboration can contribute to more trustworthy robotic systems.
Together, the talks reflected two important areas of HaRTCon’s research: advancing robotics for construction and strengthening effective collaboration and trsut between people and robots.
3rd UTS Node HaRTCon Seminar
22 July 2026
HaRTCon’s third UTS seminar featured presentations by Distinguished Professor Yen-Chen Liu from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, and Associate Professor Johnny Wong, a HaRTCon Chief Investigator at UTS.
Professor Liu presented “Human-Centered Autonomous Robots in Dynamic Real-World Environments,” while Associate Professor Wong shared his research on how computer vision, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies can improve productivity, sustainability and performance across a range of construction processes.
We were also delighted to welcome Associate Professor Yu-Ting “Tracy” Kao from National Cheng Kung University, who was visiting UTS alongside Professor Liu.
2nd UTS Node HaRTCon Seminar
3 June 2026
On Wednesday 3 June, HaRTCon held its second UTS Node Seminar, bringing together Hub members for updates and research presentations.
The seminar commenced with a brief Hub update, followed by two excellent presentations organised by Alireza Fini:
• Mina Mortazavi – Prefabricated Seismic Mounts for Building Services Integration
• Habib Ghasemi – Structural Engineering, Study and Performance of steel frames in the elliptic bracing
These seminars provide an opportunity for researchers, students, and Hub members to learn about the diverse research activities taking place across HaRTCon, identify opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen connections within the Hub.
HaRTCon Symposium
24 April 2026
The inaugural 2026 HaRTCon Symposium brought together leading researchers, industry professionals, government representatives, students, and stakeholders in the fields of robotics, AI, and construction to discuss key challenges and opportunities in the construction sector and highlight current progress and potential solutions in Human–Robot Teaming (HRT) for construction.
HaRTCon Official
Hub Lauch
23 April 2026
On the 23rd of April 2026, the official launch for the ARC Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming for Sustainable and Resilient Construction (HaRTCon) took place at UTS. The event brought together our partner researchers, industry partners, government representatives and more to celebrate the launch of our collaborative program advancing human-robot teaming for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable construction industry.
Engineers Australia Webinar
27 November 2025
On the 27th of November 2025, Shankar Sankaran (HaRTCon Outreach and Training Leader), Hiyam Al-Kilidar (UTS FEIT), and Rowan Braham (Laing O’Rourke) co-led an Engineers Australia webinar titled "Managing Sociotechnical Risks in Digital Transformation". The session explored the critical balance between human factors and new technology in engineering.
HaRTCon Welcome Seminar
30 October 2025
On 30 October 2025, we held the official Welcome Seminar for the ARC Research Hub for Human-Robot Teaming for Sustainable and Resilient Construction (HaRTCon) at UTS, with many partners joining both in person and online. It provided an excellent opportunity to meet the wider network, align our shared ambitions, and begin building the relationships that will guide the Hub’s success.