The cost calculation method of construction 3D printing aligned with internet of things

Abstract

It is controversial that the cost of construction 3D printing is lower than the conventional construction in academic field. The reason is that some scholars have confused attributes between construction 3D printing and traditional construction. The cost calculation of construction 3D printing cannot follow the rules in conventional construction because construction 3D printing was identified as both industrial product and construction product. This paper proposed a new approach to cost calculation of construction 3D printing concerning both the properties of industrial and construction product. The cost elements and calculation methods of onsite and offsite 3D printing were discussed and concluded. The comparison of cost composition among conventional construction, onsite construction 3D printing, and offsite construction 3D printing was presented as well. The paper put forward the idea of cost calculation about industrialized construction, and it solved the problems of cost calculation among different construction technologies. © 2018, The Author(s).