In the context of future challenges, concrete 3D printing is seen as a key technology for transforming the construction industry. Concrete 3D printing not only offers new architectural freedoms or the functionalization of buildings, but also the opportunity to transform the usually linear planning and construction process through the digital fabrication of material-efficient components. In the case of 3D-printed buildings to date, the application of concrete 3D printing is predominantly focused on the fabrication of walls and therefore only represents a small part of the overall context of a construction project with regard to required ceilings; structural connections; windows and doors; or electrical, sanitary, or air-conditioning systems. For concrete 3D printing, however, to benefit from the automated fabrication, those subsequent (manual) fabrication and assembly processes need to be taken into account at an early stage in the 3D-printing design process. This leads to implications of concrete 3D printing on project delivery that have hardly been investigated so far with regard to project organization, responsibilities, or decision points. For this purpose, a literature review was carried out in order to record the previous findings on the implications of concrete 3D printing on project delivery. The aim of the study is to question the need for alternative project delivery methods. The results indicate that the traditional planning and construction process will continue to be valid in principle. However, on the one hand, new roles and changes in responsibilities may emerge, and, on the other hand, in comparison to the traditional project delivery, a holistic design process and an early contractor involvement will be required in order to fully exploit the potential of concrete 3D printing. Therefore, for concrete 3D printing to become more integrated in the future, it could be necessary to adopt alternative and cooperative project delivery models.
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From Process to System: A Review on the Implications of Concrete 3D Printing on Project Delivery
Published:
30 November 2023
by MDPI
in The 1st International Online Conference on Buildings
session Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization
Abstract:
Keywords: Concrete 3D Pringing; Project Delivery; Construction Management; Early Contractor Involvement;
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