26. BIM for 3D Printing in Construction

Three-dimensional printing – often known as additive manufacturing or the layered production of 3D objects – has been the focus of attention in the media at present and a subject that arouses great expectations in the construction industry. While the topic is rapidly emerging, 3D printing has the potential of simplifying key processes in the facility lifecycle, for example, by following design to production principles and reducing waste while increasing the quality of the final product. A pivotal piece in the success of 3D printing in construction is the Building Information Modeling (BIM) method. Since BIM already serves as a rich source of geometric information for commercially-existing, large scale, and automated 3D printing machines, 3D printing robots co-existing with human workers on construction sites will eventually need scheduling and assembly sequence information as well to maintain safety and productivity. As suitable 3D printing techniques and materials are still parts of wider research efforts, applications by early adopters in the construction industry demonstrate how 3D printing may benefit and at some point in the future complement existing construction methods like prefabrication or modularization.