Welding is as much an art as a science, but knowing where MIG and TIG processes perform best is key to success.

Metal inert gas (MIG) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding have their advantages and disadvantages, but how do you pick the process that's right for your next manufacturing or repair project?

MIG vs TIG welding: Picking the right process for joining metals

<p id="isPasted">Replacing today&rsquo;s cement is one of the hardest challenges on the journey to a safe climate with zero emissions. There are many options to make cement with reduced emissions, mainly based on mixing new reactive cement (clinker) with other supplementary materials. However, until now, it has not been possible to make the reactive component of cement without emissions. The new invention achieves this for the first time within the parameters of established industrial processes.</p><p>The inspiration for Cambridge Electric Cement struck inventor Cyrille Dunant, when he noticed that the chemistry of used cement is virtually identical to that of the lime-flux used in conventional steel recycling processes. The new cement is therefore made in a virtuous recycling loop, that not only eliminates the emissions of cement production, but also saves raw materials, and even reduces the emissions required in making lime-flux.</p><p>The new process begins with concrete waste from demolition of old buildings. This is crushed, to separate the stones and sand that form concrete from the mixture of cement powder and water that bind them together. The old cement powder is then used instead of lime-flux in steel recycling. As the steel melts, the flux forms a slag that floats on the liquid steel, to protect it from oxygen in the air. After the recycled steel is tapped off, the liquid slag is cooled rapidly in air, and ground up into a powder which is virtually identical to the clinker which is the basis of new Portland cement. In pilot-scale trials of the new process, the Cambridge team have demonstrated this combined recycling process, and the results show that it has the chemical composition of a clinker made with today&#39;s process.</p><p>The new cement was invented as part of the large multi-university <a href="http://www.ukfires.org/" target="_blank">UK FIRES</a> programme led by Professor Allwood, which aims to enable a rapid transition to zero emissions based on using today&rsquo;s technologies differently, rather than waiting for the new energy technologies of hydrogen and carbon storage. Invention of the cement has been rewarded with a new research grant of &pound;1.7m from EPSRC, to allow the inventors to collaborate with Dr Zushu Li at Warwick University and Dr Rupert Myers at Imperial College, to reveal the underlying science behind the new process. The new grant will fund an additional team of researchers, to probe the range of concrete wastes that can be processed into Cambridge Electric Cement, evaluate how the process interacts with steel making, and confirm the performance of the resulting material.</p><p>Professor Allwood said &lsquo;If Cambridge Electric Cement lives up to the promise it has shown in early laboratory trials, it could be a turning point in the journey to a safe future climate. Combining steel and cement recycling in a single process powered by renewable electricity, this could secure the supply of the basic materials of construction to support the infrastructure of a zero emissions world and to enable economic development where it is most needed.&rsquo;</p>

Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel recycling process. For the Cambridge Electric Cement process this material will be cooled to make Portland Cement clinker. Credit: UKFIRES

Three Cambridge engineers, Dr Cyrille Dunant, Dr Pippa Horton and Professor Julian Allwood, have filed a patent and been awarded new research funding for their invention of the world’s first ever zero-emissions cement.

Engineers invent world's first zero emissions cement

<p>In this green infrastructure episode, we talk about how a novel approach for wind turbine design could alleviate the supply chain bottleneck while maintaining or increasing energy output followed by the initiatives to reduce construction related emissions while focusing on increasing structural longevity. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/d40f7b1d-3887-4e14-9029-8d1afa604b8b?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe></span></p><hr><p>This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www2.mouser.com/" id="isPasted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjUzMzg4MDE3MzI3LU1vdXNlci1zcG9uc29yLTEtYS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><hr><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3><p>(0:53) -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-future-of-wind-energy-is-modular" target="_blank">Modular Wind Energy</a></p><p>(16:15) - Net Zero Construction</p><hr><p id="isPasted">About the podcast:</p><p>Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;</p><p>To learn more about this show, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.</p><p>Be sure to give us a follow and review on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!</p><p>Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2&nbsp;</a>if you do it and send us proof, we&rsquo;ll give you a shoutout on the show.</p>

In this episode, we talk about how a novel approach for wind turbine design could alleviate the supply chain bottleneck while maintaining or increasing energy output followed by the initiatives to reduce construction related emissions while focusing on increasing structural longevity. 

Podcast: Green Infrastructure For A More Efficient Future

<p id="isPasted"><em>This is the fifth article in a </em><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/challenges-and-trends-in-connectivity-technologies-for-smart-manufacturing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>6-part series</em></a><em> featuring the connectivity technologies that are enabling the Industrial IoT revolution. The series introduces and explains the applications of wired and wireless connectivity technologies in various industries. This series is sponsored by </em><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/mouser.electronics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Mouser Electronics.</em></a><em> Through its sponsorship, Mouser Electronics shares its passion for technologies that enable the continued sustainable growth of Industrial IoT.</em></p><h2>Introduction</h2><p>Connectivity technologies such as the ethernet, optic fiber, cellular networks, and wireless radio have made their way to almost all industries today, and construction is no exception. By embracing this digital transformation, it can be ensured that construction-related activities can take place safely, rapidly, efficiently, and reliably.</p><p>This article focuses on the applications of connectivity technologies in the construction industry. We explain what these technologies are and how they can be leveraged on-site for carrying out the construction seamlessly. But before we get to that, let’s take a look at a real-life example explaining how connectivity technologies at construction can save the day.</p><h2>Connectivity on the construction site</h2><p>Consider a situation where a 2.7 metric ton Air Conditioning (AC) unit needs to be placed on the roof of a one-story building with the help of a crane.</p><p>During this operation, the crane operator sitting in a climate-controlled cab watches a flat-screen monitor tracking critical data, such as load on the boom and its extension. Suddenly, the concrete under the crane’s left front outrigger cracks while the AC is suspended over the roof. The monitor shows 77 metric tons of load on that outrigger. But someone verifies that the outrigger is not sinking into the ground. </p><p>Even without a direct line of sight to the rooftop area where the load will rest, the crane operator can see the landing zone through a video feed from a boom-mounted camera. The crane is equipped with fail-safe switches that prevent the operator from moving the load in any direction that is beyond the crane’s operational limits. </p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQyNDM1NTI4MjM4LWxpZWJoZXJyLWxyLTE1MDAtY3Jhd2xlci1jcmFuZS1zdGFnZS0wMS0xOTIwLTEwODAuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width:300px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" /><span class="fr-inner">Figure 1: Connectivity on the construction site makes it possible to operate even without a direct line of sight. Image credit: Liebherr.</span></p></span></span><p id="isPasted">These switches are controlled by an onboard computer that continuously recalculates limits based on changing load and position sensor data. The operator remains in constant radio contact with a crew on the roof. Other than a crack in the concrete, the AC installation goes forward without a hitch.</p><p>This is just one example of how modern construction operations depend on different types of data collected and processed in real-time. Data is rapidly becoming the lifeblood of greater safety, efficiency, and precision at the connected construction site.</p><h2>Applications of connectivity technologies in connected construction</h2><p>When it comes to applications of connectivity technologies, imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have. Out of the numerous possible applications of connectivity at the construction site, here are some of the most prominent ones.</p><h3>Precision guidance and operation of construction equipment</h3><p>Bulldozers have sensors built into their buckets to detect their horizontal and vertical positions. These sensors, combined with highly accurate Global Positioning System (GPS) data, are used for precision earth movement and grading on a construction site. </p><p>These systems significantly improve efficiency and accuracy by enabling operators to see their location in real-time and set limits on how much of the earth is moved within the site. Similar controls are found in other kinds of excavation equipment. </p><p>Even passive equipment, such as dumpsters for construction debris, come equipped with sensors that detect and signal when the bin is full so that it can be hauled off and replaced without interrupting construction operations. </p><h3>Drones</h3><p>Before the introduction of drones and other Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) in construction, data was collected manually on foot at the site. This was the only way to monitor and track the progress of the construction. Things have improved a lot since then.</p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQyNDM1NjQwODg3LW1vdXNlciA1IGJvZHkuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width:300px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" /><span class="fr-inner">Figure 2: Drones and remote surveillance makes it possible to visit tough-to-reach areas or areas with limited visibility.</span></p></span></span><p id="isPasted">Radio Controlled (RC) drones are used to survey sites and inspect structural elements that would be difficult or dangerous for human inspectors to reach. They operate reliably in a variety of different climatic conditions and stream live video feeds for carrying out observations.</p><h3>Autonomous vehicles</h3><p>Some construction sites deploy autonomous vehicles, such as driverless excavation equipment, that can be pre-programmed or remotely operated to perform precision work with fewer human operators. These devices are controlled through cloud-based applications and depend on internet connectivity, GPS data, location data from sensors, and proximity data from cameras. The data coming from all these sources is processed in real-time for collision avoidance and to prevent the equipment from injuring people. </p><h3>Asset tracking</h3><p>Inexpensive Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, which communicate with receivers on a mesh network, help identify and track employees and equipment on a construction site. Receivers log RFID tags every time they pass through specific locations equipped with tag readers, enabling site managers to track tools and monitor the locations of trucks and other construction equipment. </p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQyNDM1ODA2ODIyLWRlbGFwLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width:300px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" /><span class="fr-inner">Figure 3: RFID tagging is an effective solution to track the movement of people/equipment. Image credit: Delap.</span></p></span></span><p id="isPasted">RFID is also used to monitor and schedule the movements of equipment, such as dump trucks loading and unloading between different locations. RFID tag data is captured each time a truck drives by an RFID receiver, and that data is tracked in a database. The technology also helps keep people safe—for example, by triggering alarms if anyone goes near a hazard, such as an open elevator shaft. </p><h3>Equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance</h3><p>Control modules continuously read data from various sensors within vehicles. Limits and triggers can be set to notify operators automatically of potential issues. These sensors also enable operators to perform preventative maintenance without impeding construction progress.</p><h2>Ensuring signal integrity in connected construction</h2><p>Connected construction uses data for greater safety and efficiency in construction operations. Without that data, employees could be at greater risk, equipment might not operate effectively, and contractors incur increased maintenance costs and even work stoppages. Connected machinery and asset tracking are major factors that enable construction operations to continue round the clock in all but the most extreme weather conditions.</p><p>The key to data-intensive operations such as connected construction is reliable data connectivity. If data and signal connectivity are lost, construction stops. Construction sites are harsh environments, however, and that is the challenge for engineers who design electronic construction equipment or control systems that go into construction machinery. Construction sites are unfriendly to electronic components, computers and controllers, radio transmitters and receivers, network gear, surveying and monitoring devices, and all the data-intensive equipment widely used in today’s construction operations.</p><p>To ensure data integrity and uninterrupted communications, equipment must be designed with the right connectors for the application. In harsh construction environments, poor connections are the primary cause of communications and data interruptions—the types of interruptions that can halt an operation. Connectivity technologies should come with the following features for smooth operation:</p><h3>Support for high bandwidth</h3><p>High bandwidth is important because connected machinery generates enormous amounts of data that real-time control systems must receive, process, and act on. The crane moving a three-ton AC unit to a roof collects and processes data from dozens of sensors critical for precision control of its heavy load while at the same time streaming multiple video feeds. Drones, too, stream video while receiving command and control signals. RF and data connectors used in construction equipment must support high-bandwidth and low-latency connections, especially where timing is critical.</p><h3>Ruggedized connections and Ingress Protection rating</h3><p>Construction sites subject electronic components to dust, water, oil, and mechanical stress. To assure data integrity in these environments, connectors should be made with stainless steel or single-piece brass, with appropriate plating for the application. Single-piece connectors can withstand a higher degree of abuse and are a lot less likely to break if they are run over by some construction equipment.</p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQyMDg2OTIzNzY1LUFydGljbGUgNC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width:300px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" /><span class="fr-inner">Figure 4: Sealed and ruggedized connectors by Amphenol are the perfect fit for challenging environments. Source: Mouser/Amphenol</span></p></span></span><p id="isPasted">Sealed connections offer protection against dust, moisture, chemicals and prevent foreign materials from shorting or damaging sensitive electronic components. Connectors used in construction should at least be rated with IngressProtection  67 (IP67). Special plating on brass connectors might be required in certain applications, such as connectors on equipment used in marine environments.</p><h3>Compatibility with widely used standards</h3><p>Controllers and devices used for precision control of heavy equipment and autonomous vehicles should be ruggedized, with high-bandwidth connections that conform to Fachkreis Automobil (FAKRA) automotive standards. This ensures that they remain compatible with other vehicular systems while maintaining a high degree of protection.</p><h3>Lightweight and compact</h3><p>Connectors for RFID receivers, laptop computers, remote measuring equipment, and handheld portable devices should be lightweight, low profile, and weatherproof. Weight is a particular challenge in drones. Connectors for drones should be in miniature and ultra-miniature formats; they should be weatherproof and conform to at least the IP67 standard.</p><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>Connected construction only works with good connectivity. The most successful device designs for construction environments use components that ensure consistent, reliable communications. By staying connected, construction operations can maximize personal safety and operational efficiency. </p><p><em>This article was initially published by Mouser and Amphenol in an <a href="https://www.mouser.com/news/Amphenol-iiot-revolution/amphenol-Industrial-Iot-ebook.html" target="_blank">e-magazine</a>. It has been substantially edited by the Wevolver team and Electrical Engineer <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/ravi.rao" target="_blank">Ravi Y Rao</a>. It's the fifth article of a 6-part series that covers the connectivity technologies used in construction. Future articles will introduce readers to some more connectivity technologies enabling the IIoT revolution in various industries.</em></p><p id="isPasted"><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/improved-electrical-interconnects-for-data-centers-with-higher-power-delivery-and-smaller-footprint" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Article one</em></a><em> explained how electrical interconnects are engineered in data centers to d</em><em>eliver high power in a small footprint. </em></p><p><em><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/improving-hvacr-and-iaq-control-systems-with-innovative-iiot-sensors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Article two</a> was about the sensing technologies used in Building Automation Systems</em></p><p><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/challenges-and-trends-in-connectivity-technologies-for-smart-manufacturing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Article three</em></a> <em>analyzed the key trends and challenges for connectivity technologies used in smart manufacturing.</em></p><p><em><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/engineering-interconnects-for-harsh-environments" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Article four</a> provided an overview of electrical interconnects for harsh environments.</em></p><p><em><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/assuring-signal-integrity-in-a-connected-construction-environment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Article five</a> explored the connectivity technologies used at construction sites.</em></p><p><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/applications-and-performance-parameters-of-antennas-in-iiot/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Article six</em></a> examined the applications and performance parameters of antennas that enable wireless communication.</p><h2><em>About the sponsor: Mouser</em></h2><p><em><a href="https://eu.mouser.com/" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> is a worldwide leading authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,100 manufacturer brands. They specialize in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies for design engineers and buyers. Their extensive product offering includes semiconductors, sensors, interconnects, passives, and electromechanical components.</em></p><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQyMDg2OTY2MDM0LWV5SmlkV05yWlhRaU9pSjNaWFp2YkhabGNpMXdjbTlxWldOMExXbHRZV2RsY3lJc0ltdGxlU0k2SW1aeWIyRnNZUzh4TmpReU1EQXhOekEwTkRVeUxXbHRZV2RsTnk1d2JtY2lMQ0psWkdsMGN5STZleUp5WlhOcGVtVWlPbnNpZDJsa2RHZ2lPamsxTUN3aVptbDBJam9pWTI5MlpYSWlmWDE5LndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width:300px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" /></p><p><br /></p>

Article #5 of our Industrial IoT Revolution Series: The most successful device designs for connected construction use components that ensure reliable communications with people and machinery. 

Assuring Signal Integrity in a Connected Construction Environment

<p id="isPasted">A smart building uses technology to obtain data. The data is then used to enable automatic, efficient, and economical use of resources while maintaining a safe and pleasant environment for occupants.&nbsp;</p><p>Typically, a smart building is a “new build”, but the term can also apply to legacy buildings retrofitted with smart technology. In either case, Internet of Things (IoT), building management systems, and artificial intelligence are used to control and optimize the performance of the building. This includes:</p><ul><li>Energy efficiency and sustainability</li><li>Occupancy utilization</li><li>Environmental optimization</li><li>Security</li><li>Health and Safety compliance</li></ul><p>In this article, we showcase 5 smart buildings that use technology in different ways to the same end: sustainability, productivity, and wellbeing.</p><h2>#1 - The Crystal, London</h2><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1639917600033-The+Crystal.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p id="isPasted"><a href="https://www.thecrystal.org/" target="_blank">The Crystal</a> is located in London's Green Enterprise District and became the first building to achieve&nbsp;<a href="https://www.breeam.com/" target="_blank">BREEAM</a> Outstanding and Platinum LEED sustainability rankings when it opened in 2012.</p><p>The building generates around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gazprom-energy.co.uk/blog/how-smart-buildings-work-a-complete-guide-with-examples/" target="_blank">70% less CO2</a> than similar buildings through a combination of rainwater harvesting, black water treatment, solar heating, and automated building management systems.</p><p>Key features of the building include:</p><ul><li>It is a 100% electric building, around 20% of which is generated by the 1580 m2 of solar photovoltaic roof panels that cover two-thirds of the roof</li><li>Ground source heat pumps that supply virtually all of the building's heating and most of its cooling. By using 100% natural heat sources, the building receives no heating bill.</li><li>A sophisticated building management system that monitors every all electricity usage</li><li>Self-shading facades that use high-performance solar glass to allow around 70% of visible light through each window but only about 30% of the solar energy</li><li>A lighting control system that manages all lamps for optimized electricity consumption</li><li>A window control system to allow air in from outside during hot weather, which automatically closes windows and puts an interior ventilation system during extreme weather.</li></ul><h2>#2 - DPR Construction Net-Zero Energy San Francisco Regional Office</h2><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1639917680977-DPR.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p id="isPasted">When the DPR regional office in San Francisco was being designed, its goal was “<a href="https://www.resonai.com/blog/4-best-intelligent-buildings" target="_blank">to incorporate cost-saving and environmentally-friendly features</a>” that would achieve net-zero energy certification and serve as a ‘living lab’ to test the newest and most intelligent energy-efficient products on the market.</p><p>As a result, it uses many smart features, including:</p><ul><li>Net-Zero Building (NZEB) Certification. NZEB means that the total amount of energy used yearly by a building is equal to or less than the amount of energy created onsite through the use of innovative technologies and renewable power generation</li><li>300 photovoltaic panels to generate renewable energy</li><li>Rooftop solar thermal water heating system</li><li>Electrochromic windows</li><li>8 solar-powered, automated skylights over an atrium</li><li>Ultra-energy efficient ceiling fans</li><li>3 living walls and a living wine bar</li><li>Use of reclaimed redwood and Douglas fir</li><li>Ultra-low flow and flush plumbing fixtures</li></ul><h2>#3 - The Edge, Amsterdam</h2><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1639917697995-The+edge.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p id="isPasted"><a href="https://edge.tech/developments/the-edge" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Edge</a>, in the Zuidas business district in Amsterdam, has been described by many as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2015-the-edge-the-worlds-greenest-building/" target="_blank">the smartest building in the world</a>.</p><p>It has perhaps the world's largest deployment of IoT sensors in a single location (28,000), with the collected data used to adapt the building to meet real-time requirements. For example, areas can automatically be shut down or closed when no one is present, thereby saving energy.</p><p>Other smart features in The Edge include:</p><ul><li>Sensor data for motion, light, temperature, and humidity</li><li>Solar panel roof</li><li>Energy reuse – excess ventilation air from offices is reused to air-condition the atrium space</li><li>Rainwater reuse – collected rainwater is used to flush toilets and irrigate the green terraces in the atrium and other garden areas surrounding the building</li><li>Thermal energy storage – Two 129m deep wells reach down to an aquifer, allowing thermal energy differentials to be stored deep underground.</li><li>An employee app, combined with data from sensors, provides:<ul><li>personalized schedules</li><li>access control around the building</li><li>assistance finding a workspace or parking place</li></ul></li><li>Adjust the office temperature has 98.4% sustainability rating from&nbsp;BREEAM</li></ul><h2>#4 - Allianz Arena, Munich</h2><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1639917715477-Allianz.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p id="isPasted">The&nbsp;<a href="https://allianz-arena.com/en" target="_blank">Allianz Arena</a> located in Munich, Germany is a football stadium with a capacity of 70,000 spectators.</p><p>It is nicknamed the Inflatable Boat (Schlauchboot) and has a unique lighting feature. The arena’s exterior, through the control of 3,000,000 lights, can change color e.g. have rainbow colors during Pride month.</p><p>Internally, the stadium uses the latest smart technology to provide a pleasant and safe environment for both the football club and its supporters. For example:</p><ul><li>sensors and cloud-based analytics to monitor the health of the grass on the pitch if the temperature is too cold the grass will be heated and if the ground is too dry it will be watered.</li><li>acoustic cameras with sound mapping software are used to study how fans respond throughout the game</li></ul><p>The external lighting system is energy efficient and saves approximately&nbsp;<a href="https://naylor.iotm2mcouncil.org/bayall" target="_blank">60 percent on electricity and 362 tons of CO2 per year</a> compared to other similar facilities.</p><h2>#5 - Leadenhall Building, London</h2><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1639917740585-5.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p id="isPasted">The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theleadenhallbuilding.com/" target="_blank">Leadenhall Building</a> is London’s second-tallest building.</p><p>Known as the “cheesegrater”, owing to its shape, extensive use of IoT technology was made during its construction. RFID-based data tags helped builders and construction companies to track the location of components and installation.</p><p>This enabled around 83% of the construction to be completed off-site, streamlining the building process, improving project management and control of the building works.</p><p>The 48-story building includes many smart features, including:</p><ul><li>293 energy meters on-site to monitor the use of lighting</li><li>Intelligent and state of the art lifts that can go from the ground floor to the top floor in 30 seconds</li><li>low-flow water fixtures and fittings</li><li>external glazing which includes vents every seventh floor to let air circulate freely, reducing the need for AC systems</li></ul><h2>Conclusion</h2><p>These five examples demonstrate how buildings can integrate IoT and smart building technology in many different ways.</p><p>From the initial design and construction, where RFID tagging was used to track building components through renewable energy production and sustainability, to intelligent working and sporting environments, energy savings, recycling of air and water, and access control smart buildings are now on the rise.</p><p>As the world&nbsp;<a href="https://www.disruptive-technologies.com/blog/is-this-our-last-chance-to-control-climate-change" target="_blank">continues to fight against climate change</a> and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a greater need for buildings to become more energy-efficient and to lower their CO2 footprint. In addition, after millions of employees successfully adapted to working from home, the office workspace needs to be more wellness-aware in order to attract workers back.</p><p>Intelligent buildings are here to stay.</p>

A smart building uses technology to obtain data. The data is then used to enable automatic, efficient, and economical use of resources while maintaining a safe and pleasant environment for occupants. 

5 Smart Buildings You Have Not Heard About

<p>In this episode, we talk about the research effort aiming to understand how concrete cures in space and how the James Webb telescope will provide insight regarding the origins of our universe. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/fb0d785e-6039-4d07-9158-593e9e69a97c?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe></span><br></p><hr><p>This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www2.mouser.com/" id="isPasted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>.</p><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMzNDI2ODQ5NDAzLU1vdXNlci1zcG9uc29yLTEtYS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><hr><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3><p>(1:05) - NASA Grant To Enable Explorations Of Concrete Behavior In Moon-Like Gravity:&nbsp;</p><p>Colonizing Mars and setting up a base on the lunar surface for deep space exploration has been a hot topic for a while, but there is still a major unanswered question: how are we going to build structures in space? Concrete seems to be a pretty solid answer.&nbsp;</p><p>Unfortunately, the microgravity conditions in space pose a challenge for concrete cures which can result in mechanical defects in the end product; however, Professor Yamamoto at Penn State has recently received a grant to study these defects and investigate methods to avoid them which means concrete villas on Mars might not be a far fetched reality in the near future.</p><p>(12:17) - Learn About The Universe With The James Webb Space Telescope:<br>The observable universe is about to get much bigger and we owe it all to the James Webb telescope. It will be the first to detect the light from the galaxies that were formed shortly after the Big Bang - approximately 13.5 billion years ago - and it is able to accomplish this using the new infrared sensing equipment that it’s predecessor (the Hubble telescope) didn’t have.</p><p>But what does this mean for us? Aside from the cool new high definition images of the cosmos, we’re likely going to find answers for some lingering questions but more importantly, stumble onto even more questions than we had before.</p><p>Episode 38 was brought to you by Mouser Electronics, Farbod &amp; Daniel’s favorite electronics distributor :)&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knD3s52Dw4k" target="_blank">This</a> is the video of the space challenge hosted by Mouser Electronics that was discussed in this episode.</p><hr><p id="isPasted">About the podcast:</p><p>Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;</p><p>To learn more about this show, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.</p><p>Be sure to give us a follow and review on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!</p><p>Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a></p><p>if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.</p>

In this episode, we talk about the research effort aiming to understand how concrete cures in space and how the James Webb telescope will provide insight regarding the origins of our universe.

Podcast: Time Traveling With The James Webb Telescope

<p>In this episode, we talk about how collaborative robotics can reinvent the construction industry and how software can be used to hack your brain. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/b8317b85-c754-419a-9618-cd428daeff87?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe></span><br></p><hr><p>This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www2.mouser.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>.</p><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMyNzU5MTYxNjM1LU1vdXNlci1zcG9uc29yLTEtYS5wbmciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><hr><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3><p>(0:55) - Reinventing The Construction Industry:&nbsp;</p><p>There are 150,000 accidents on construction sites every year and there have been little technological advances to mitigate these risks - until now. University of Michigan is leading research efforts to develop a collaborative robot that can handle all the physically strenuous, and dangerous, tasks on the job site with instructions from seasoned construction workers.&nbsp;</p><p>(11:46) - Software To Increase Mental Strength:<br>Have you ever struggled to focus when you really need to? Or worse, find your brain to be incredibly active when you are trying to sleep? Well, ETH Zurich researchers have designed a software program to analyze and display brain activity on a spectrum - MyFlow - to make your life a little easier. MyFlow does this via retinal image analysis and can provide activities to train your brain in a manner that best suits you.&nbsp;</p><hr><p><strong>About the podcast:</strong></p><p>Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;</p><p>To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.</p><p>Be sure to give us a follow and review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!</p><p>Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a></p><p>if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.</p>

In this episode, we talk about how collaborative robotics can reinvent the construction industry and how software can be used to hack your brain.

Podcast: How To Reinvent Construction Using Robotics

<p>In this episode, we talk about a company that is upcycling chewed and unwanted gum to create polymer based products, a software solution to reduce embodied carbon in construction projects, and a Boston based startup that is planning to change the way consumers think about coastal transportation. &nbsp;As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/e981a00c-2a12-49e9-9230-2060643d56eb?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe></span>&nbsp;</p><h3>EPISODE NOTES</h3><p>Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps!&nbsp;<a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a> if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.</p><p>(1:25) - From Unwanted Gum To Sought After Shoes:&nbsp;</p><p>Gumdrop collects used gum from bins placed strategically around cities along with unwanted gum from manufacturers like wrigley and upcycles them to make desirable products like the iconic Adidas Stan Smith shoes.&nbsp;</p><p>(8:40) - PANDA Will Reduce Embodied Carbon By 40% For Construction:&nbsp;</p><p>PANDA is a software solution developed by Price &amp; Myers to address the ever rigorous legislation being passed which urges corporations to be more environmentally conscious. The software’s Monte Carlo algorithm will determine the least carbon intensive and affordable configurations based on a builders input promising embodied carbon savings of up to 40%.</p><p>(16:30) - Is it a boat? Is it a plane? It’s a ground effect vehicle!:&nbsp;</p><p>REGENT is making waves in the transportation industry by introducing a ground effect vehicle fully powered by electric propulsion that can transport people 6x faster than ferries within a 180 mile range at a maximum speed of 180 miles per hour while offering the same level of safety as an aircraft.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">--</p><p dir="ltr">About the podcast:</p><p dir="ltr">Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.</p><p dir="ltr">Be sure to give us a follow and review on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!</p>

Concept art for the REGENT craft (source: REGENT)

In this episode, we talk about a company that is upcycling chewed and unwanted gum to create polymer based products, a software solution to reduce embodied carbon in construction projects, and a Boston based startup that is planning to change the way consumers think about coastal transportation. 

Podcast: How to Turn Gum into Shoes, Reducing CO2 in Construction by 40 percent, High-Speed Flying Boats

<p>In this episode, we talk about the next-gen lunar rover built by Lockheed and GM for NASA’s Artemis mission, how a frustrated tech CEO made a rock-picking robot, and an initiative from University of Manchester to reduce global CO2 emissions by 2% using graphene-enhanced concrete. As always, you can find these and other interesting &amp; impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/b5add957-dddc-4c76-afd3-be64df45c069?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></p><h3>EPISODE NOTES</h3><p>Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps! <a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2</a> if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.</p><p>(0:41) - <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-electric-lunar-buggy" target="_blank">NASA's New Moon Buggy</a>:&nbsp;</p><p>Lockheed Martin and GM have been chosen to develop the next iteration of lunar rovers for NASA’s Artemis missions. GM was a key partner in the development of the first Lunar Rovers and this time around, they hope to incorporate some autonomous driving features from their Cruise self-driving platform.</p><p>(8:50) - <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/terraclear-the-autonomous-rock-picking-solution" target="_blank">Rock Picking Robot</a>:&nbsp;</p><p>Brent Frei is a tech CEO with a proven record who recently raised a large round of funding for his robotic rock picking startup, TerraClear. As someone who grew up working on a farm, Frei knows the frustration of removing rocks from farmland. Naturally, he built a robot to address the problem.</p><p>(19:10) - <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/meet-the-new-concrete-concretene" target="_blank">Super Strong Graphene Concrete</a>:&nbsp;</p><p>The University of Manchester has been at the forefront of graphene research since they won the Nobel prize for graphene synthesis in 2010. Their collaboration with Nationwide Engineering aims to reduce CO2 emissions associated with concrete by making a stronger graphene-enhanced alternative.</p><p dir="ltr">--</p><p dir="ltr">About the podcast:</p><p dir="ltr">Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.</p><p dir="ltr">Be sure to give us a follow and review on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!</p>

In this episode, we talk about the next-gen lunar rover built by Lockheed and GM for NASA’s Artemis mission, how a frustrated tech CEO made a rock-picking robot, and an initiative from University of Manchester to reduce global CO2 emissions by 2% using graphene-enhanced concrete.

Podcast: NASA's New Moon Buggy, Rock Picking Robot, Super-Strong Concrete

<p>This article was discussed in our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte&source=gmail&ust=1640817319915000&usg=AOvVaw2nPRdRwJrXSYYeM9RCFu5x" href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/b5add957-dddc-4c76-afd3-be64df45c069?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></p><p>The full article will continue below.</p><hr><h2>The Idea</h2><p>The University of Manchester developed a new material–concretene–which uses a graphene additive to achieve higher strength than traditional concrete. They recently started testing the material for use in building foundations through a partnership with Nationwide Engineering.</p><h2>The Innovation</h2><p>Concretene is very similar to concrete except that during the cement-mixing process, a small amount of graphene (&lt;0.5% by weight) is added. Graphene is a two-dimensional carbon material which possesses extreme mechanical strength. Its incorporation during the mixing process enables stronger binding at the molecular level, leading to an end product that is 30% stronger than traditional concrete. &nbsp;</p><h2>The Motivation</h2><p>Stronger concrete is simply the means to an end because the real goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with concrete production and transportation. Concrete is the most widely used building material and it accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions. For context, if concrete were a country, it would be the third biggest CO2 emitter worldwide, behind only China and the United States. &nbsp;</p><p><br></p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 316px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIyNDg0MzUxODI5LUNoYXJ0Mi5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner">Image 1. Carbon dioxide emissions by business sector (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecori.org/climate-change/2019/10/4/global-warming-has-a-co2ncrete-problem" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ecori.org)</a></span></span></span><h2 class="fr-img-space-wrap2">The Impact</h2></div><p dir="ltr">Because concretene is stronger than traditional concrete, a builders using it needs less material to build the same structure. This results in a decrease in both concrete production and transportation. A global supply chain analyst noted that if every builder in the world were to adopt concretene use, the carbon dioxide emissions associated with concrete would drop ~25% (from 8% to 6% of the global share).</p><p dir="ltr">The best part is that concretene is non-disruptive: construction crews won’t need any special training or equipment to make it. They simply incorporate the graphene additive during the cement-mixing stage and the rest of the process is the same as using traditional concrete.</p><p dir="ltr">It’s important to note that concretene costs ~5% more than traditional concrete per unit mass, but since less total concretene material is necessary, the concrete-associated costs of most construction projects can be reduced by 10-20% when using concretene.</p><h2 dir="ltr">The Adaptation</h2><p>Nationwide Engineering poured the first concretene foundation for a gym in Amesbury, Wiltshire, UK this past month. Wide-scale implementation will take time but the clear financial advantage and increasing pressures to reduce CO2 emissions may act as a catalyst for accelerated adoption of concretene technology.</p><p><br></p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 529px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIyNDgzNjMyNDA3LWdlaWN0ZWFtb25zaXRlYXRhbWVzYnVyeWNyb3AuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 529px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner">Image 2. The team laying the foundation for the gym in Amesbury, Wiltshire (Source: University of Manchester)</span></span></span><p class="fr-img-space-wrap2">&nbsp;</p></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br></p>

The team laying the foundation for the gym in Amesbury, Wiltshire (Source: University of Manchester)

Researchers at Manchester University have developed a stronger form of concrete capable of driving down construction costs while substantially decreasing its environmental impact

Meet The New Concrete: Concretene

<section><p><strong>Eindhoven leads the way: <a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/our-university/departments/mathematics-and-computer-science/the-department/news/news-overview/29-04-2021-first-resident-of-3d-printed-concrete-house-in-eindhoven-receives-key/" target="_blank">for the first time, Dutch residents are moving into a 3D-printed concrete home.</a> Professor Theo Salet of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is the driving force behind Project Milestone, which is more relevant than ever before due to the housing crisis. An interview with an impassioned man: “We are facing an unprecedented challenge.”</strong></p></section><section tabindex="-1"><p>It sometimes seems as if freshly printed concrete has a will of its own. The mixture constantly reacts to changes in temperature during curing and tends to collapse like a plum pudding when there is insufficient stiffness. To complicate matters further, the printing process needs to account for inclined walls and the changing weight of the structure.</p><p>With a little imagination, you can compare concrete printing to walking on a very thin tightrope: you must not print too quickly (the structure then becomes unstable) but also not too slowly (the printed layers will no longer adhere). It’s no small feat.</p><h2><style type="text/css"></style><style type="text/css"></style><span data-sheets-formula="=PROPER(R[-1]C[0])" data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":3,"12":0}' data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Customization On A Large Scale"}'>Customization On A Large Scale</span> </h2><p>Under these difficult conditions, Theo Salet and his team have spent years looking for ways to develop safe, rigid structures through which unique homes with a distinctive character can roll out of the concrete printer. Customization on a large scale instead of standardization.</p></section><section tabindex="-1"><p>The project caused him some headaches. Salet is a professor and dean of the Department of the Built Environment at TU/e and the driving force behind the Project Milestone, a collaboration between TU/e, Eindhoven municipality, construction company Van Wijnen, building materials manufacturer Saint Gobain Weber Beamix, engineering firm Witteveen + Bos and housing investor Vesteda.</p><p>For years, Salet worked with PhD students Rob Wolfs and Zeeshan Ahmend and various master’s students and third parties on the construction of the first completely 3D-printed house that meets all building requirements. He regularly had to swallow disappointments, such as during the search for the right combination of concrete and insulation material for the sandwich walls, but these were just as often followed by the realization that his team was making progress.</p></section><section tabindex="-1"><p>“The fact that we’ve already come this far makes me a proud man,” Salet says as he strolls the grounds near the 3D-printed home in Eindhoven’s Meerhoven district this morning. He is also proud of how the knowledge developed has found its way to industry so quickly. Printing a wall is one thing, but producing a complete house is a different kettle of fish. This can only be done with the right industrial partners, emphasizes the professor.</p><p>“What’s nice is that there’s still so much to be gained just by learning from this experience,” he explains as his eye travels across the structure. The shape of the house is inspired by that of a boulder, a polished version of the housing that used to be featured in the Flintstones cartoon, with a sleek and modern interior.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/suDusQKvzu8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 444px;"></iframe></span><em>The shape of the house is inspired by that of a boulder. The video shows the outside of the house in more detail. Foto: Bart van OverbeekePhoto: Bart van Overbeeke</em></p><h2><style type="text/css"></style><style type="text/css"></style><span data-sheets-formula="=PROPER(R[-1]C[0])" data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":3,"12":0}' data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"First Occupant Of 3D Concrete Printed House In Eindhoven Receives The Key"}'>First Occupant Of 3D Concrete Printed House In Eindhoven Receives The Key</span></h2><p>The first tenant of the first Dutch home made of 3D-printed concrete will receive the key today, April 30. The house in Eindhoven, the first of five from Project Milestone, fully complies with all strict Dutch building requirements.</p><p>The house is a detached single-story home with 94 square meters of net floor area, a generous living room and two bedrooms. It is located in the Eindhoven neighborhood of Bosrijk. The home consists of 24 printed concrete elements, which were printed layer by layer at the print factory in Eindhoven. The elements were transported by trucks to the building site where they were placed on a foundation.</p><section tabindex="-1"><h2><style type="text/css"></style><style type="text/css"></style><span data-sheets-formula="=PROPER(R[-1]C[0])" data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":3,"12":0}' data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Real Necessity"}'>Real Necessity</span></h2><p>There’s a reason Salet is putting his heart and soul into this project. The urgency is profound, he stresses several times this morning. “This is not about the ambition of some scientist, it’s about the rock-hard necessity of making major changes to the way we build,” Salet says, referring to the ever-expanding housing shortage and the pressing climate issue, among other things. “Understand that we need to build in the Netherlands alone a million homes in 10 years and make 7.5 million homes drastically more sustainable in 30 years. In addition, infrastructure from the 1960s and 1970s is heading towards the end of its design life. We are facing an unprecedented challenge.”</p><p>Unprecedented challenges call for rigorous measures. In fact, the professor argues, you need to turn the entire chain upside down. The construction sector must be more focused on the demands of society and, at the same time, more productive and sustainable. People, profit, planet, to put it briefly. According to Salet, this is the path along which we must pursue the transition. Close collaboration between academia, industry and the government is of great importance – the triple helix model. Salet: “Make that the quadruple helix model. You have to involve the public as well. Isn’t it crazy that residents barely have a say in their own built environment?”</p><p>In order to break the chain, the need must first be felt by all parties involved. Salet: “Take the government, which must realize that the housing shortage is an issue for which it does not have an answer, simply because no one has the answer. The academic world can stimulate innovation, but there has to be a concrete question on the table. Industry must also be given the opportunity to make the transition to high-quality manufacturing. The municipality of Eindhoven understood this in the Milestone project and dared to take on this unique challenge.”</p><p>Indeed, the government can create the conditions that foster partnerships which accelerate innovation. “Create pilot projects to experiment with and then scale them up. In tenders, look not only at price but also whether the construction project scores highly in areas such as circularity or innovation in the construction and manufacturing industries. If the urgency is felt, parties will seek each other out.” The professor points to Eindhoven-based VDL, for example, which will be working with Van Wijnen in Heerenveen.</p></section><section tabindex="-1"><h2><style type="text/css"></style><style type="text/css"></style><span data-sheets-formula="=PROPER(R[-1]C[0])" data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":3,"12":0}' data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Industrial Customization"}'>Industrial Customization</span></h2><p>In the media, Salet regularly reads that standardization should become the new norm. Modular construction is gathering more and more attention, but he dismisses this idea. “We’ll then start delivering mass production and, in a while, the same houses will line every street. That would be extremely monotonous; no one is waiting for that and it isn’t necessary either. You have to digitize the entire process from design to construction. A robot doesn’t care what shape it has to print, so you then get industrial customization with variation. Let’s make that step in one go, as challenging as it may be.”</p><p>If the construction industry can make a dramatic shift, as Salet says it can, the benefits of industrial customization will be huge. Productivity will skyrocket. Additionally, you will need less high-quality craftsmanship in a market with a desperate shortage of skilled workers. The heavy work will disappear. This will make more room for women in the sector while the health of employees will also improve; a bad back or worn knees will be a thing of the past.</p><p>The biggest gains, however, will be in the areas of sustainability and circularity. “The amount of material we currently use in construction is unprecedented. We need to cut down.” Concrete, for example, is one of the largest emitters of CO<sub>2</sub> worldwide. By both adjusting the composition and reducing the user quantity, giant leaps can be made. The reuse of materials and elements of a 3D-printed house should also become possible in the future. “We’re currently working hard on that.” Salet is hopeful and sets his sights high: “It’s absolutely possible to use 50 percent fewer raw materials and increase construction speed by 35 percent.”</p></section><section tabindex="-1"><h2><style type="text/css"></style><style type="text/css"></style><span data-sheets-formula="=PROPER(R[-1]C[0])" data-sheets-userformat='{"2":769,"3":{"1":0},"11":3,"12":0}' data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Second Floor"}'>Second Floor</span></h2><p>For this reason, the professor would prefer to continue developing the printing method as quickly as possible. The momentum is there. In addition to the first home, he wants to realize a second house in the near future which will be a step further along than its predecessor: a second floor. In total, Project Milestone covers five concrete-printed homes. Salet: “I now want to work from industrial product to design instead of the other way around. For the first house we first created a design without an estimate of whether the printer can produce certain shapes, so we tried to force the printer. The question should be: which products can the printer handle? From there, we can create a variety of designs. Artificial intelligence is going to help with this and will become necessary in order to keep the quality of the printed work consistent, especially if we’re going to print a home on site.”</p><p>Meanwhile, research into 3D concrete printing is gaining popularity around the world. “We’ve set the tone,” says Salet. “In terms of technological development, we’re at the forefront. Printing layers and building a wall can be done by others. But producing an entire house that meets the strict requirements of a building permit and is also inhabited, that’s truly unique. We can be very proud of that. We’re increasingly understanding the will of printed concrete.”</p><hr><p>This article was first published here: <a href="https://www.tue.nl/en/our-university/departments/mathematics-and-computer-science/the-department/news/news-overview/30-04-2021-printing-our-way-out-of-the-housing-crisis-it-is-desperately-needed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tue.nl/en/our-university/departments/mathematics-and-computer-science/the-department/news/news-overview/30-04-2021-printing-our-way-out-of-the-housing-crisis-it-is-desperately-needed/</a></p></section></section>

Concrete printing can drastically reduce raw material consumption and greatly increase construction speed in the future.

Printing our way out of the housing crisis: 'it is desperately needed'

<p>This article was discussed in our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte&source=gmail&ust=1640817319915000&usg=AOvVaw2nPRdRwJrXSYYeM9RCFu5x" href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/ef727514-e071-4310-94c3-ab0d48d9b24d?dark=false" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></p><p>The full article will continue below.</p><style type="text/css">
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</style><hr><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.zillow.com/homes/34-Millbrook-Ln-Riverhead,-NY,-11901_rb/2075583035_zpid/" target="_blank">https://www.zillow.com/homes/34-Millbrook-Ln-Riverhead,-NY,-11901_rb/2075583035_zpid/</a></p><style type="text/css">
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</style><p>SQ4D has developed their own concrete 3D printer. As you can see in the my first video at one of their builds, their printer is a collapsible gantry system on rails. It is very unique because of its ability to mechanically collapse itself for ease of transport and disassembly. They do not publicly disclose whether or not this printer is for sale but they have boldly become the first company to publicly list a 3D printed house for sale. They were able to do so because the permits for the building have been granted by the local municipality. The biggest accomplishment will be an Occupancy Certificate that will be granted after all of the inspections have been passed during the construction process. There are a few companies actively pursing the first Occupancy Certificate for a 3D printed house so the race is on to see who is able to complete construction with a passing grade first.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEWzGXzEAbQ?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;ab_channel=JarettGross&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></p><p>Almost a year ago I was able to find the location of an experimental 3D printed house that was under construction by SQ4D. That 1,900 sqft home evidently only cost them $6000 in materials &nbsp; according to their website <a href="http://sq4d.com" target="_blank">sq4d.com</a> which seems incredibly affordable. It is very possible that they have gone back to the drawing board since that build to make improvements to the material which could potentially drive up the price by multiples. Overall 41% of the construction was done by the ARCS 3D Printer they developed which led to an overall savings of 30%. Generally speaking a new product should be at least 25% better than the incumbent solution so this 30% reduced cost prediction bodes very well for the future of the industry.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NaDbJuqmdUM?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;ab_channel=JarettGross&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></p><p>I’ve visited this project a few times as they made progress on the build. The concrete walls were done before I got there, it was the manual labor (Roof, Windows, Doors, Gutter, Siding) that took the longest. Last time I was inside I saw that some of the walls had been smoothed out with concrete to give the interior a flat finish. For many people, the ability to hide the fact that the home was printed makes it much more appealing although personally I appreciate the raw nature of the exposed concrete.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SJpCiHjfbS4?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;ab_channel=JarettGross&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></p><p>Their newest project to be constructed is a 1,500 sqft 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house. SQ4D is offering a 50 year limited warrantee on the build which is incredible considering that it is the first time a 3D printed house has ever been listed for sale. It is certainly understandable for a buyer to be wary of a new technology so this warrantee is a very important demonstration of SQ4D taking accountability for their work which helps the pioneering buyer be more confident in their decision. The home will also feature a 750 sqft 3D printed garage to match.&nbsp;</p><p>List price has been set to $299,000. According to zillow the average home in this neighborhood is worth $394,000 so it is very likely the house will sell over list price especially in the current housing market where the supply has been low and prices have been increasing.&nbsp;</p><p>It will be very interesting to follow along this project as SQ4D makes history. 0 to 1 is the hardest step in an emerging industry, it is a sure sign of some very exciting builds to come. It is very challenging for people to get out there and be the first in anything but after the first bushwhacking pioneers make it through the rough patches early adopters start to pour in. As exposure and footprint of this technology increases so will its capabilities. Economies of scale will make this already cost saving technique vastly more efficient as competition increases on all fronts, hardware, software and material. If you’d like to stay up to date on what I learn about this industry, subscribe on YouTube or the email list on <a href="http://www.automate.construction" target="_blank">www.automate.construction</a>.&nbsp;</p>

SQ4D List First 3d Printed Home

First Ever 3D Printed House for Sale Listed on Zillow for 299,000 USD

<p>This is the one of the most cost effective and affordable solutions for autonomous construction. Mud and straw has been used as a construction material for thousands of years but never like this. Could this be an early iteration of affordable housing that has 0 emissions? Creators Ronald Real and Virginia San Fratello said ‘On the 40th anniversary of the Smithsonian Magazine, they announced the 40 things you need to know about the next 40 years.&nbsp;</p><p>Number one on that list was: “Sophisticated buildings will be made of mud”. Emerging Objects explores these frontiers of technology and material using traditional materials (clay, water, and wheat straw), to push the boundaries of sustainable and ecological construction in a two phase project that explores traditional clay craft at the scale of architecture and pottery.&nbsp;</p><p>The end goal of this endeavor is to demonstrate that low-cost and low-labor construction that is accessible, economical and safe is possible. The project began in the contemporary borderlands along the Rio Grande watershed beginning in El Paso and Juarez and ended near the headwaters of the Rio Grande in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, which was the edge of the historic border between the U.S. and Mexico prior to 1848.&nbsp;</p><p>The entire region has employed traditional pottery and earthen construction traditions for centuries.’</p>

An Adobe Mixture of Dirt and Straw

3D Printed Hyper-sustainable Shelter called the Mud Frontiers Project by Emerging Objects

<p>Recently I got the chance to speak with Dmitri Julius and Alexander Le Roux from Icon. If you haven’t heard, Icon is a startup that raise $35 Million A round led by Moderne Ventures to continue their progress developing the equipment and methodology for 3D printing buildings at scale. Maybe you've seen this Wevolver <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/is.the.building.of.the.future.3dprinted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">article</a> discussing 3D printed construction.&nbsp;</p><p>Our initial scheduling got rained out. &nbsp;According to the head of communications at Icon, Brooke Baguess (who was instrumental in organizing our interview) filming after the rain is somewhat of an unintentional tradition for Icon. Also unintentionally, the day we had to reschedule for was 9/11. Coincidentally, Dmitri Julius had served in the US Marine Corps for 8 years earning the rank of sergeant starting in Feb 2003 only a year after the attack on the twin towers. I felt compelled to thank him and the rest of the troops/first responders for their service.&nbsp;</p><p>Dmitri still has the chance to interact with the US Marine Corps in his role as Vice President of Operations at Icon. In California, a project was completed to 3D print a ‘Vehicle Hide Structure’ that could serve to conceal a cargo or weaponized vehicle. Icon has an ongoing relationship with the military that should prove mutually beneficial for years to come.&nbsp;</p><p>Mobile Loaves and Fishes is the non-profit organization that Icon 3D printed these homes in Austin, TX. They’ve built a growing community of tiny homes that features an ICON made building as the welcome center. Homelessness is a rising issue in Austin, America, and around the world. ICON is poised to combat that with their technology. Dmitri mentioned that as Mobile Loaves and Fishes expands, ICON has stepped up to the plate and hopes to print many more homes for them in the future.&nbsp;</p><p>I asked Dmitri how his role at ICON changed pre and post funding. Dmitri expressed that at their startup no task is ‘beneath’ them and the team is willing to get their hands dirty on the job site when it’s needed.</p><p>Icon is on a bit of a hiring spree post funding and as they begin to fill those positions and the company expands the real changes will start to manifest. A big fundraise is huge for a startup but the effects are not fully realized until the money gets spent.&nbsp;</p><p>Next I spoke with Alexander Le Roux, a Co-Founder of Icon and also the CTO. Alex started his first 3D printed construction company in college called Vesta printers. He achieved a rudimentary design that demonstrated the ability to print concrete vertically high enough for a wall of a home.&nbsp;</p><p>After college he met Jason Ballard and Evan Loomis. Together the three of them founded Icon to take the technology to the next level.&nbsp;</p><p>Icon has developed a signature formula to print with that they call Lavacrete. It has a strength of 6000psi and as you can see in the building behind me (not even the latest version) it prints very smoothly. We constantly use the term ‘print’ to describe the automated pouring of concrete without any formwork, I can’t help but consider that in the mature stage of this presently niche industry companies may emulate the business model of paper printing companies and sell the printer at a loss to profit long term on the ink.&nbsp;</p><p>Alex and I talked a bit about the future of this technology. He mentioned how people tend to overestimate what can be done in a day but underestimate what can be done in 10 years. I wanted to know about projects on the horizon for Icon especially now that they have the funding to pursue bigger things and Alex said he can’t talk about it but I could tell he is very excited for what’s to come. If you have a project in mind that you’d like to do with Icon, Alex says to go to their website <a href="http://www.iconbuild.com/" target="_blank">www.iconbuild.com</a> and use their contact form. They won’t accept just any project but if it is a good fit they may be willing to work with you.</p><p>After our discussions I checked out one of the homes they built, I could only go in the living room at the time but it was very nice. It certainly had a tiny home vibe, the room actually featured a full kitchen as well. The space is well utilized and it doesn’t feel cheap like it would if it had been built with cinderblocks.&nbsp;</p>

Interview with Alex Le Roux and Dmitri Julius 

construction

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