Cyber-Physical Construction and Computational Manufacturing

The diffusion of computational means in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector has impacted multiple actors and phases of the construction value chain, offering possibilities for increased efficiency and productivity. Among all, the area of construction manufacturing has been challenged by the involvement of computational means. On one hand, the introduction of digital fabrication machinery has questioned the typical distinction between design and construction. On the other hand, digital manufacturing required the rethinking of design, toward the idea of “design for manufacturing”. Cyber-physical is about linking design, manufacturing, and construction into a seamless process, which is data-driven (1); automated (2); and adaptive through feedback loops (3). In this light, the chapter has a dual scope. Firstly, it discusses the concept of Construction 4.0—which is a contextualization of a more generalized Industry 4.0 paradigm into the specificities of the field. Secondly, it provides an overview of digital manufacturing—with a particular focus on state-of-the-art research and transfer toward practice. The focus is on emerging applications in architectural and construction robotics, mainly referring to the opportunity for off-site manufacturing and digital prefabrication. A discussion on the technology and workflows for enabling Construction 4.0 is presented, to inspire a future research agenda capable of unfolding the full potential of such an approach to design and construction.