CONSTRUCTION 4.0 @ SAIE 2020

BIM, Off-Site, Digital Twin

A project by INDEXLAB - Politecnico di Milano - and SENAF, supported by EXGINEERING, ARBLOC, ABB, CARMON@CARBON, ARCADDITIVE, GTECH3D, LEAP, MASTER BUILDERS SOLUTIONS, AERCEM, UNIVERSAL ROBOTS, LAFOCA, SNAGR-SOLSTICE.

In recent years the construction industry has faced a number of challenges: climate change, sustainability, lagging productivity, and financial pressure. Different construction professionals have proposed individual solutions or insights, but they are still looking for a comprehensive response to these trends. Meanwhile, universities, research centers, start-ups, and forward-looking companies, have proposed various solutions to address critical issues that could simultaneously create significant business opportunities for the construction industry.

INDEXLAB, in the context of SAIE 2020, presents its research in collaboration with partner companies, coordinating the "CONSTRUCTION 4.0" demonstration area. The projects presented contribute to define new paradigms of "digital construction" from an industry 4.0 perspective, through prototypes that promote cloud-based integrated architectural design, prefabrication processes, monitoring and maintenance of buildings.

Trends that shape the construction industry

Cloud Data Management

Cloud-based solutions for collecting and sharing information; digital testing and validation processes; data analysis and processing using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms; blockchain technology implementation for payment processing and validation, through traceability and "smart" contracts.

Cloud-based integration

AI/ML data processing

Blockchain-based solutions

Design +
Planning

Software and methodologies for multi-dimensional design, ranging from parametric three-dimensional modeling to production planning; virtual and augmented reality technologies for new design methods and representation systems; computational design methodologies for product optimization in advanced production settings.

CAD + BIM modeling
3D - 4D - 5D - 6D - 7D

SaaS, 3D visualization +
VR-enabled collaborative design

Computational design

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)

Off-Site + 
Supply Chain

“Off-site” digital manufacturing systems and innovative solutions developed for a flexible supply chain management. Lean production systems: from raw to composite materials, from semi-finished products to high-tech sub-components. Modular prefabrication systems, automated assembly, additive manufacturing and robotic processing and machining.

Flexible supply chain
and leaner production

Advanced materials +
additive manufacturing

Innovative sub-components + semi-finished products

Prefabrication +
modular construction

On-Site Digital Construction

Prototypes of innovative construction solutions with high technological and performance standards. Construction site support systems, managing building components, from their installation planning to their assembly. Monitoring of on-site activities and progress validation through “mixed reality” systems, robots, drones and digital platforms for remote interaction.

Robotics + remote control for digital manufacturing

Site integration platforms

360° photo capture + MR + 3D scan for site monitoring

Smart sensing technology + IoT

Operation + Maintenance

Technological solutions for automated building maintenance, from cable-robots for façades cleaning to service robots for interior space maintenance and management. Solutions for product life cycle analysis. Digital tools for the security and operational management of buildings, that meet users’ needs.

Drones + robotics for automated maintenance

Digital twinning +
predictive maintenance

Product lifecycle management

Digital tools for safety and operative services

INDEXLAB
Pierpaolo Ruttico
Carlo Beltracchi
Salvatore Urso
Marco Caso

SENAF
Elisa Grigolli

POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Scientific committee
Manuela Grecchi
Francesco Braghin
Scientific support
Giuliana Iannaccone
Matteo Colombo
Fabio Roncoroni
Luigi Barazzetti
Gabriele Viscardi
Administration, logistics and communication
Manuela Ghielmetti
Raffaella Scalco
Francesca Tommaselli
Eleonora Della Rosa
Monica Pozzi
Cristian Ferretti
Sergio Brambilla
Flavio Losa
Giorgio Iovino
Antonello Cuomo
Andrea Stefanoni
Valentina Brunetti
Laura Losapio
Alessia Vergata

POLITECNICO DI TORINO
Giuseppe Andrea Ferro
Luciana Restuccia
Devid Falliano
Daniel Suarez Riera
Silvia Parmigiani

UNIVERSITA’ DI MESSINA
Giuseppe Ricciardi

G.GUGLIANDOLO SRL
Ernesto Gugliandolo

AERCEM
Ernesto Gugliandolo
Devid Falliano

MASTER BUILDERS
Sandro Moro

UNIVERSAL ROBOTS
Alessio Cocchi

EXGINEERING
Simone Maccagnan
Tiziano Capelletti
Gianpiero Bianchi
Chiara Castiglioni
Gimac
Clariant
Ravago
Lati
Marubeni
Radici

ARBLOC
Giorgio Piovesan
Luca Bragato
Luca Dassiè

ABB
Giulia Vismara
Oscar Ferrato
Massimo Fontana
Luca Lorenzo
Giulio Zaccaria

CARMON@CARBON
Federico Carmona
Ramon Carmona

ARCADDITIVE GTECH3D
GTech3D
Massimo Guidetti
Waldemar Mogilski
Christian Zagagnoni
Roberto Branchini

LAFOCA
Giacomo Oggero
Mauro Oggero

SOLSTICE
Davide Lentini

LEAP FACTORY
Stefano Testa
Luca Gentilcore

SPECIAL THANKS
Emilio Pizzi
Pietro Pizzi
Claudio Saibene
Michele Dotti
Sara Mangialardo
Francesco Perego
Alessandro Tassinari
D3Wood
SAM Carpenterie

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