factory, which requires years of operation to turn a profit, small flexible manufacturing assets are easy to scale through the building life cycle. This means that the right equipment is always available to match cur- rent needs. The environmental implications of this change in construction meth- odology are significant to both the industry and society as waste from constructing and maintaining buildings starts to become a thing of the past. The European Commission estimated that 25 to 30 percent of all waste in Europe is generated from construction. Similar figures are echoed around the world. The waste is heavy, dirty, expensive to remove, and often not recycled. The introduction of digital technology makes construction as efficient as any advanced manufacturing process where precise component quantities are made to order. Because these have assured quality and exacting specifications based on the as-built construction, they are guaranteed to match the structure and have predictable performance over a predetermined life cycle. Additional value is produced because, as in a modern mass-customization car factory, every part is accounted for and there is no waste. Deploying modular and cassette façade design methodology means buildings can easily be modified to take advantage of new technologies as they arise. In coming years, high-performance concrete and steel components will have evolved to become stronger, lighter, and more durable. New building materials will also be developed and faster 3D printers working on or off site will make optimized components to be fitted by new types of robots. Many building owners and operators will, by these means, simply adapt, refresh, and renew buildings throughout their lives to suit contemporary needs. Lightweights rule When promoting the lightweight Dymaxion House in the 1920s, Buckminster Fuller asked prospective buyers, “How much does your house weigh?” The same question should now be asked about every building because each extra pound requires more energy and resources to manufacture, transport, and assemble, as well as to heat, cool, clean, and maintain after construction. Immediate and substantial long-term saving can be made when weight is reduced. Therefore, precise weight calculations are made for all Newtecnic proj- ects so that true and consequential extended costs can be calculated accurately. It is important to calculate weight when components are being repurposed or recycled and it means that machines with the ca- pability to handle components can be more precisely optimized when their designers know exactly how much they will have to lift. Like a constantly updated digital user manual, all the information required to construct and operate buildings, and their interconnected machines and systems, can exist within the building’s 3D digital-twin simulation model. This is available on the cloud for investigation, examination, and testing at any time from the earliest design stage. Concepts for robots and drones are included together with manufactur- ing, construction, and disassembly instructions and methods.
The merging and blending of these advances indicates that construc- tion is on the cusp of a revolution, and I am proud that Newtecnic is in the vanguard of a technological movement that solves many of the cost, environmental, energy, logistics, and waste problems that the industry faces. Applying first principles, appropriate technology, and thinking of build- ings not just as a kit of parts but as systems that can change, develop, and adapt over time, their useful life can be extended while staying relevant for future generations. This can happen when good ideas and engaged, upskilled people combine with exciting technologies to make the construction industry more agile, environmentally positive, and economically sustainable while producing aptly impressive buildings that enhance our cities and society. ANDREW WATTS, FICE, FIED, FIET, FRSA, RIBA, is CEO of Newtecnic (www.newtecnic.com), an engineering design house that undertakes the engineering design of building structures, façades, and MEP installations in partnership with leading international developers, architects, and contractors. In partnership with the Engineering Departments of Cambridge University, Newtecnic’s R&D team analyzes, develops, tests, validates, and specifies new building technologies and methods. Newtecnic has offices in the U.S., UK, and Saudi Arabia. 10 tips for effective digitalization and robot deployment 1. Use automation to close the disconnect between design and manufacturing. 2. Embrace mass-customization for innovative and better- made structures. 3. Deploy onsite construction labs for local manufacture. 4. Engineer buildings for the future of cobotics. 5. Create digital twins of buildings as living user-manuals. 6. Use fewer cranes during construction and maintenance by deploying robots to do the heavy lifting in hazardous conditions. 7. Inspect buildings with drones, which is safer and more accurate — with no cradles required. 8. Use LiDAR-equipped drones to check as-built condition against the digital twin. 9. Reduce waste by manufacturing and delivering components to order. 10. Calculate weight to better understand environmental impacts and true operating costs.
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csengineermag.com
july 2018
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