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Impact of digital fabrication on construction industry
Impact of digital fabrication on construction industry
Introduction
Irregular shaped buildings can be crafted with precision
shift in construction industry can be observed form traditional construction methods to technically advanced methods of construction
As explained by Gershenfeld (2012) digital fabrication is the process of manufacturing in which material itself is digital
Digital fabrication has paved path for itself into the construction industry so that irregular shaped buildings can be crafted with precision and complex structures can be build with ease. A construction company making use of digital fabrication will have a competitive advantage over its competitors in the construction market. A shift in construction industry can be observed form traditional construction methods to technically advanced methods of construction. Digital fabrication with manufacturing processes and material is now becoming popular for the construction of buildings with informal or freeform structures. As explained by Gershenfeld (2012) digital fabrication is the process of manufacturing in which material itself is digital. Laboratories are used to develop digital materials for fabrication. In more general terms digital fabrication can be defined as a type of process used in the manufacturing of construction projects where computers controls the machines. The processes are decided based on the chemical and physical properties of the material being used.
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Introduction (cont.)
The processes are decided based on the chemical and physical properties of the material being used.
Technologies such as CAD, CAM, CNC and 3D printing are used.
In the opinion of Ham and Lee (2019) these digital technologies will support design optimization, production of construction segments in factories through design data, on-site assembly and installation.
The processes are decided based on the chemical and physical properties of the material being used. Several digital technologies such as reverse engineering using 3D laser scanning, building information modeling (BIM), and computer aided engineering (CAE), computer aided manufacturing (CAM) and computerised numerical controls (CNC) are used. In the opinion of Ham and Lee (2019) these digital technologies will support design optimization, production of construction segments in factories through design data, on-site assembly and installation. Digital fabrication also assists in improving the quality of unusual or irregular shaped buildings and also reduces the construction cost considerably. Complicated designs and models require advanced computerised tools which are highly efficient to understand the design codes and help to implement the process of fabrication very easily.
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Literature Review
Gibson, Rosen and Stucker (2014) have mentioned in their work that additive manufacturing supports geometrical manufacturing that can be derived through 3D computer aided design models.
In the opinion of de Soto et al. (2018) it is important to assess the effects that digital fabrication will have on productivity and cost.
Digital fabrication is explained by Gramazio and Kohler (2014) as a link between methods of construction and digital technologies.
Gibson, Rosen and Stucker (2014) have mentioned in their work that additive manufacturing supports geometrical manufacturing that can be derived through 3D computer aided design models. These are used to create low cost and high quality customized products.
It has been observed that in irregular shaped buildings with complex structures traditional methods of construction and conventional materials are not so successful. To overcome this digital fabrication is coming into light to make buildings which are not suitable for conventional methods of construction. In the opinion of de Soto et al. (2018) it is important to assess the effects that digital fabrication will have on productivity and cost. Digital fabrication is explained by Gramazio and Kohler (2014) as a link between methods of construction and digital technologies.
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Research Methodology
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework has been selected for assessment
Secondary data has been collected from the projects which have made use of digital fabrication for the construction of buildings with irregular shape.
Criteria for evaluation of the benefits gained through digital fabrication have been established
Content analysis process has also been used to identify the benefits and drawbacks of digital fabrication with the help of the data collected.
Evaluation is done as a comparison of conventional methods as well as methods of digital fabrication. Processes controlled by computers and advanced technologies have been deployed in these projects. Data has also been collected using academic journals and publication related to the digital fabrication in construction industry particularly of irregular shaped buildings. Case studies have also been utilized to gather the required data. Critical factors will be determined based on these criteria. Evaluation standards have been...