Honeybees Offer New Ideas on Materials Use, Structure Strength Via 4D Time-Lapse Imaging

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Purdue University engineers and entomologists are making some sweet discoveries about how honeybees build and structure their honeycombs, which could lead to new fabrication techniques taken from the buzzing builders. Purdue’s Ransburg Professor of Materials Engineering Nikhilesh Chawla is one of the first to utilize 4D imaging to delve further into the complexities of the honeycomb. The imaging allows a time-lapse view of the bees’ work without cutting into their home. The innovative view of the bees’ construction found techniques that could eventually translate into new concepts for structural materials or additive manufacturing for the construction industry. Chawla said some … Read more

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First 3D-Printed Multi-Story Building Erected in North America

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The completion of a two-story building in Ontario, Canada marks the building as the first multi-story 3D-printed building in North America. While the U.S. and Canada have seen several 3D-printed buildings in recent years, until now all of these have been single-story buildings. Now, Canadian 3D construction printing company nidus3D, is proving there is much more to 3D construction printing than just smaller, one-story homes. Nidus3D used the BOD2 printer from COBOD, a 3D construction printing solutions company whose technology has been utilized in several countries, as well as used to 3D print the first two- and three-story buildings in … Read more

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Three-Quarters of Contractors Believe Advanced Technologies may Alleviate Workforce Challenges, Improve Productivity

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Q4 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index recently released indicates that, despite staunch concerns over labor shortages and skilled workers, three-quarters of contractors believe advanced technologies may improve labor productivity on jobsites. According to the Q4 report, while just over half of contractors currently use technologies like drones, equipment tagging, wearable technology and augmented/virtual reality for their projects, 74 percent anticipate adopting such technologies over the next three years. Moreover, 58 percent of contractors also reported difficulty finding skilled workers – the highest level reported in 2018 – suggesting that as builders look for … Read more

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