THE REDUCTION OF CARBON EMISSION BY CONSTRUCTION 3D PRINTING METHOD

Abstract

Researchers have point to two innovations to reduce the carbon footprint for building construction – innovations to address external needs and innovations adopted from other industry. This study presents Construction 3D Printing as an innovation adopted from other industry to solve environmental, cost and productivity issues in the construction industry. Although diverse studies has been done to examine the technological feasibility, preliminary cost benefit analysis and usage, there is a lack in quantifying studies done on C3DP’s project performance impact. Therefore resulting in the delay in policies implementation to support its physical application in the industry. This research study not only quantify the impact of C3DP on environment, but it also compares the performance between other two familiar construction methods – conventional formwork system construction method and prefabrication construction method. Findings indicates that C3DP construction method has the best performance as it has the lowest carbon emission. It also reveals that the continuous improvement in the C3DP technology may potentially reduce its carbon emission further. A total of 9 findings and 6 principles is generated.