Pipelayers

Lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints.

The occupation of "Pipelayers" faces an automation risk of 23.0%, closely aligning with its base risk of 23.2%. This relatively low risk score means that while some tasks are susceptible to automation, much of the work still demands human oversight or skills that current technology struggles to replicate. Automation technologies have progressed in areas that involve repetitive or highly predictable actions, which is reflected in the specific tasks most at risk for automation within this occupation. The methods and equipment used in pipelaying, such as lasers and other measurement instruments, lend themselves well to robotic or computer-assisted operation, increasing the feasibility of automating such activities. Among the top three tasks most amenable to automation are the installation and use of instruments such as lasers, grade rods, or transit levels; cutting pipes to the required lengths; and connecting pipe pieces and sealing joints using welding equipment, cement, or glue. These activities are relatively formulaic, involve straightforward manipulation of tools and materials, and can often be executed by machines programmed for precision and consistency. For example, pipe cutting can be mechanized with automated pipe-cutting machines, and the sealing of joints is increasingly being handled by robotic welders in controlled environments. Automated measurement tools also reduce the need for human involvement, making these tasks prime candidates for replacement by advanced equipment. Conversely, pipelayers engage in several responsibilities that are highly resistant to automation, thus acting as bottlenecks that preserve the necessity for skilled human workers. The top three resistant tasks include training or supervising others in pipe laying, which requires nuanced judgment and interpersonal skills; locating pipes needing repair or replacement using magnetic or radio indicators, which involves analysis and adaptive problem-solving; and tapping or drilling holes into pipes to introduce auxiliary lines or devices, a task demanding adaptability and spatial reasoning. These tasks depend on bottleneck skills, particularly originality, which registers at low automation risk levels (2.3% and 2.0% respectively). The need for innovation, contextual decision-making, and the ability to react to unforeseen situations ensures that human pipelayers remain essential despite moderate automation risks in other aspects of their work.