Building Technology and Processes

Head of Section: Michael Mast

We research, innovate and educate design, production and management of products, buildings, cities and infrastructure to the benefit of people (society) within planetary boundaries.

Background

Construction has been instrumental in building our societies. The industry has contributed to creating societies that can be considered sustainable within economic and social dimensions. However, the economic and social progress achieved has been made at the expense of the environment. Construction consumes 35% of materials, produces 37% of society’s waste, and represents 40% of CO₂ emissions, but only represents 8% of the value production of society. At the same time, the construction industry has been declared ripe for disruption from emerging technologies such as augmented reality, robotics, virtual design and construction, 3D printing, digital twins, digital supply-chain integration, and automation.

We are on the verge of a new construction reality in which two macro-trends should converge: the need for sustainability and new technologies that can transform the products, processes, and organizations of construction. This necessitates a paradigmatic shift in understanding of technology, society and nature as interdepedant dimensions which must co-evolve.

Technology Implementation

We research, operationalize and evaluate technology implementation along two dimensions of transformation:

• the transformative power of construction where construction represents the technology by which we transform society at the expense of nature. Here construction is the subject of the transformation/technology implementation.
• the transformation of construction practices within the sector to support realizing a sustainable society within planetary boundaries. Here construction is the object of the transformation/technology implementation.

Main areas of Research

• a. Program Danmark: The Danish society faces massive project investments in the green transition, but our abilities to successfully regulate, formulate and deliver projects are challenged. Program Denmark addresses this through a national research and learning program of major projects.
• b. Circular Construction Platforms (CircOp): CircOp utilizes platforms to accelerate the transformation of construction towards circularity by de-risking investments in circular solutions. The vision of CircOp is to transform the construction industry from short-term linear projects based on a fragmented supply and value chain to lasting circular platforms based on reversed, coordinated and integrated supply and value chains.
• c. 3D Construction Printing (3DCP): 3DCP is a key technology in the future of construction, enabling flexible, faster, and safer building processes. To achieve a Net Zero construction sector, this program focuses on (i) designing sustainable, structurally and materially efficient concrete elements (ii) exploring low-carbon and biogenic materials for 3DCP; (iii) using 3DCP for preserving, upcycling, and recycling existing buildings and materials.
• d. Nature-Based Solutions & Water Climate Adaptation: This program addresses technology implementation in the water sector, aiming to incorporate nature-based solutions (NbS) such as constructed wetlands, green roofs, green walls and other SUDs (LAR) to support climate adaptation strategies and sustainable development. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), experimental tests, Smart sensors (IoT) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCA).

Fields of Research

• Governance of major projects
• Construction & facility management
• Industrialization of construction
• Circular economy in construction
• Regenerative construction
• Sustainability assessment
• Systems thinking and design
• 3D Construction Printing 3DCP
• HVAC installations
• Structural engineering
• Nature Based Solutions
• Water climate adaption

Collaboration

We cooperate with all parties in building and construction projects. Builders, architects, consulting engineers, contractors and suppliers of building materials.