Impact of 3D Printing Technology on Meeting Construction 5.0 Criteria

Abstract

In parallel to Construction 4.0, a new concept is also emerging, known as Construction 5.0. It combines the digital benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with the Sustainable Development Goals, resilience and human welfare. Meanwhile, the adoption of 3D printing technology in construction projects can bring many benefits, such as reduced on-site labor, more reliable management of project deadlines and budgets, and more effective waste management. The question therefore arises as to whether 3D printing technology meets the characteristics of the Construction 5.0 paradigm and what the effects of 3D printing technology that meet the criteria of Construction 5.0 are. This study developed a taxonomy to assess how 3D printing technology meets the criteria of Construction 5.0. The model incorporates four main impact dimensions: Environmental Sustainability, Construction Safety, Compatibility Technology, and Resilience, to which 24 factors are assigned. Four case studies were evaluated using this modeled taxonomy. In view of these initial observations, it can be stated that 3D printing technology fulfills the Construction 5.0 criterion. 3D printing technology was found to be superior or at least slightly better than conventional construction methods in almost every respect, which is particularly evident in the impact dimension “Increased environmental sustainability (ES)”. Using the prism of the human-centered approach and human-robot collaboration, humans could maximize their creative and inventive potential, while robots would take over dry, repetitive and very complicated tasks by means of automation.