Grant: Alliance Grants

Advanced technologies, such as automation and innovative materials, have been gradually incorporated into building design and construction processes; however, these advancements often target a single performance aspect (e.g., energy efficiency or productivity). This project aims to takes an interdisciplinary approach - developing and integrating new technologies in structural design, thermal efficiency, computational design, and robotic construction - to develop a holistic solution for the design and construction of high-performance exterior walls. The integration of robotics, innovative materials, and additive manufacturing (or construction) will enhance the safety, sustainability, and productivity over the lifecycle of the walls. The project will develop innovative, lightweight, robot-friendly building blocks with integrated hygro-thermal and structural functions that facilitate modular design and additive manufacturing. Individually, modular design and additive manufacturing have proven to improve productivity compared to conventional construction methods. Our holistic solution will increase productivity even further. During construction, the blocks will be assembled by intelligent, multi-fictional robotic systems, which will be developed specifically for the new blocks. New construction methods using computational optimization and lean methods will be developed to assist site workers in conducting repetitive, high-risk tasks. Walls built with the new blocks will comply with modern building codes for energy, moisture, and airtightness. This interdisciplinary project will lead to substantial scientific advancements in robotic and modular construction methods, along with digital information in building design and construction. The foreseeable outcomes consist of safe, reliable, and sustainable engineering designs, as well as enhanced productivity in the design and construction phases. The integration of blocks, robotics, and computational design will be an important step towards the industrialization of building design and construction. The Alberta building industry will witness, learn, and adopt the new technologies, thereby enhancing their business and technical competitiveness.