Modular and Offsite Construction (MOC) Summit Proceedings
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Layout modelling of the built environment for autonomous mobile robots using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and simulation
Get PDFRobotics is a fast-growing technology in the construction industry, particularly in off-site construction and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Recent advancements in technologies have made robots more intelligent and capable of autonomously undertaking tasks. Navigation of the robots in the built environment requires analysis of robots’ sensor data, which is computationally sophisticated and time consuming. Modeling the layout of the built environment using BIM and simulation can reduce the computational burden of the sensor data analysis. This research aims to develop a method to transfer the geometry data from BIM models to virtual robots in the simulation environment, and provide the robots with priori knowledge about the built environment. This method is simple-to-use and can enhance robot navigation in terms of accuracy and efficiency. The method was implemented in a case study to demonstrate its usefulness and practicality
Carbon emissions comparison in modular and site-built residential construction
No full textThe construction industry has significant environmental impacts by consuming natural resources, emitting greenhouse gas (GHG), and generating wastes. Hence, lowering the environmental impacts of residential buildings deserve serious attention. Over the past decades, Modular construction has gained popularity as an address to that problem due to its advantages: lower cost, lower waste, higher productivity, faster construction time, and lower environmental impacts. This prefabrication technique also provides mass production specifically to address the housing crisis. In addition, lower carbon emission of modular construction makes it even more popular in residential sector. This study aims to review literature on environmental impacts of modular residential construction and their comparison with equivalent site-built homes using the life cycle assessment method (LCA). The goal is to identify the gaps in existing knowledge and suggest research opportunities for future study. The results indicate lack of comprehensive LCA framework to study the environmental impacts of modular and site-built construction. The findings recommend developing a comprehensive LCA framework for the comparison
Simulation-based value stream map for manual steel fabrication workstations
Get PDFIndustrial steel fabrication encounters numerous difficulties in having efficient steel production. These difficulties are usually caused by the presence of bottlenecks that are not easily identified using traditional methods. Value Stream Map (VSM) is a lean tool that can be used to identify process inefficiencies and plan to minimize non-value-added activities. However, traditional VSM is not designed to be applied in a non-repetitive work environment especially when workers are highly involved in the process such as in manual steel fabrication processes. Therefore, the typical VSM requires modification to achieve the desired outcomes. Hence, the goal of the current study is to produce a current state VSM and integrate it with a simulation model to plan for an optimized future state. The scope of this study is limited to the fitting and welding workstations since they represent the typical manual processes in the steel fabrication industry. The outcomes of this study will provide the ability to identify waste and improvement opportunities. Also, it will allow for precise quantification of the improvement gain and time savings. Decision-makers in the steel industry will have accurate information about the processes in fabrication plants. Also, they will be able to make evidence-based decisions that will ensure reduced waste and cost for steel operations
Decision factors for the feasibility study of developing a prefabrication plant
Get PDFA feasibility study is one of the key phases for developing a prefabrication plant, which requires an analysis of many influencing factors. This research aims to identify the main decision factors for the feasibility study of developing a prefabrication plant. To this end, a thorough literature review and semi-structured interviews with the subject matter experts (SMEs) from different countries were conducted. Analyzing the findings, this study identified 35 decision factors for the feasibility study, such as upfront costs, operation and maintenance costs, market demands, government incentives, design flexibility, plant location, logistics management and costs, and technological constraints. The results of this study will help the industry practitioners, who are seeking to develop prefabrication plants, in their decision-making process during the feasibility study phase
Novel panel system for concrete masonry walls
Get PDFMasonry is one of the oldest materials that humans use for construction. It is durable, as seen on ancient structures built thousands of years ago, yet still in excellent shape. Recently, masonry walls have struggled to be competitive among other construction materials such as precast concrete, tilt-up walls, timber, etc. This is mainly due to construction practices and the lack of a standardized modular masonry system that prevents offsite construction. In this paper, new construction methods for concrete masonry walls are proposed. These methods are based on building partially grouted masonry panels that can be built onsite or offsite, then transported and assembled on the site. The methods commonly use a restrained unbonded post-tensioned (UPT) threaded bar to join panels. A full-scale experimental program campaign at the University of Alberta (UOA) is currently undergoing to test the proposed methods. Numerical models were developed before the experimental investigation to assess the behaviour of such techniques under out-of-plane loading. Bare joints, connecting panels reinforcement, and grouting joints are the three types of panel connections proposed here. The influences of the magnitude of prestressing and lateral restraints stiffness are also studied. The results show that the proposed approaches are comparable to traditionally constructed walls with improved serviceability. Also, because of the relative ease of construction and improved post-cracking behaviour, connecting panel reinforcement is the preferred method. Whereas the increasing level of prestressing enhances service conditions but leads to premature failure. Also, lateral restraints with high stiffness, such as grout or steel, are essential to enhance post-cracking behaviour
Hindering factors to the utilisation of UAVs for construction projects in South Africa
Get PDFAs the designs of construction projects become more complex, there is a corresponding increase in the difficulty encountered in project monitoring. Hence, it is advisable to integrate innovative technologies such as the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to abate some of the problems encountered in the delivery of construction projects. This paper aims to evaluate the barriers to the usage of UAVs in construction project delivery in South Africa. Adopting a quantitative method for the study, data was collected with the aid of a questionnaire from construction professionals in Gauteng province, South Africa. Findings from the study indicate that the most significant factors hindering the deployment of drones in the South African construction industry are lack of training by institutions and lack of investment in new technologies by organisations. Conclusively, the paper recommends measures that would propel the espousal of drone technologies for effective and efficient construction project delivery in the South African construction industry
Investigation of a novel insulation foam made from gypsum drywall waste
Get PDFFoamed plastic rigid insulation panels are effective for reducing building heating and cooling loads, with consequent reductions in energy use and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, plastic foam manufacturing and in-service use result in significant GHG emissions. In addition, plastic foams are flammable, and have been implicated in recent building fires. This paper describes proprietary mixtures and methods for producing drywall waste foam (DWF) panels, a carbon-neutral, fire-protective insulation made from gypsum drywall waste and other construction and demolition (C&D) waste materials. Gypsum drywall waste is inherently fire-protective and has relatively low thermal conductivity, but is a low-value commodity with few current reuse and recycling applications. DWF panels address two pressing issues in the built environment: decarbonization of building materials, and diversion of problematic C&D waste from landfills. Investigation of DWF panel engineering properties, including density, hardness, friability, burn-through time, and thermal conductivity are reported, with results compared to analogous commercially-available materials. Potential applications and areas for future investigation are also discussed
Front matter, 2022 Proceedings of the Modular and Offsite Construction Summit
No full textProceedings of the 2022 Modular and Offsite Construction (MOC) SummitEdmonton, Alberta, CanadaJuly 27 - 29, 2022
Editor(s): Dr. Mohamed Al-Hussein, PhD, University of Alberta© University of Alberta Library, Edmonton, CanadaISSN 2562-543
IoT-based architecture to improve workflow in bricks manufacturing
Get PDFFor thousands of years, bricks have been considered as one of the most important and indispensable materials for most construction projects. Nevertheless, bricks manufacturing is mainly composed of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that still need to make greater efforts to adopt automation and digitized solutions to face the difficulties that face the industry and create improvements related to efficiency, quality, and wastes and cost reduction. This article proposes an internet of things (IoT)-based platform to improve workflow in bricks production. The platform aims to detect the number of stoppages in the production process, report these stoppages, and identify the sources for variability and inconsistency in the workflow. The article explains the development of the platform and its different components, its use in a family SME in the north of France, and the faced challenges during the use of this platform
Computer-vision based rapid entire body analysis (REBA) estimation
Get PDFAlthough much attention has been paid to the safety risk of construction sites and ergonomic risk assessment of workers, the automation of ergonomic risk assessment has not been significantly developed. This article presents a non-intrusive, automated ergonomic risk assessment approach based on computer vision, machine learning, and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). The method is called Computer-Vison Based Rapid Entire Body Analysis Estimation (CVRE). This approach is expected to realize automated monitoring and early-stage warning of ergonomic risks by automating the procedure of calculating REBA scores for construction site workers. This method consists of machine learning-based key joints and joint angles estimation of human bodies and computer-vision-based automated risk estimation. With the extensive development of machine learning and computer vision, researchers have been paying attention to assessing ergonomic risks with machine learning techniques. The proposed method has been further validated using the experimental data obtained by a motion capture system