The machines will assemble the framing members into framed wall panels in a matter of minutes, with more precision and less material waste than traditional onsite framing, says Mohamed Al-Hussein, a member of the university’s department of civil and environmental engineering.
As well as being more predictable, the machines will reduce the environmental footprint on a per-unit basis due to the reductions in material and process waste, he says. Those challenges include adverse weather conditions, the potential of building material theft and the need for expensive onsite heating during the winter, says the professor, who is a strong proponent of industrialized building construction.
“They collaborated closely in an open-plan setting, conducted daily meetings, and engaged in a lot of hands-on work in the lab.”