Ian Fan
The concept of constructing buildings using prefabricated materials and building sections is not alien due to its significant advantagesof low cost and reduced construction time. These prefab components can alsotake advantage of upcycling, and the entire prefab implementation can utilize regenerative design, thus supporting a circular economic model. Detail-x is designed to build an architecture digital twin supporting the documentation and constructions of the reassembly process with emerging augmented reality technology.
An emerging benefit of prefabricated architecture is the possible alignment with ongoing appeals and movement toward environmental sustainability. Implementing reusing prefabs reduce wastes, pollution, and disturbances compared to on-site construction.
Modular construction is a process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time.
‘Upcycle’ means reuse of the product, material, or waste by enhancing its quality and value than its original state. The construction industry nearly accounts for 40% of the waste generated on this planet by mainly six materials; brick, concrete, steel, glass, wood, and plastic. As architects, if this waste is generated it is our responsibility to give alternatives to this downcycle.
BIM documents architectural components in terms of properties and materiality in digital format. BIM information can be reused to design for upcycling buildings.
Joint instructions are marked out on the upcycling components. Those marks can be designed into a particular pattern to support technological assistance as an opportunity.
The upcycling reassembly requires the controlled environment in manufacturing prefabs. Therefore, the use of prefab materials should be maximized through accurate designs and measurements.
Track and process deconstructed prefab components.
The most challenging task during the consturction is the interpretation from 2D drawings to 3D assembly. It's not easy for non-professionals to match one to the other accurately. However, emerging AR technology has the potentiality to convert the process from "3D BIM to 2D technical drawings to 3D assembly" to "3D BIM to 3D instruction to 3D assembly", which dramatically reduce interpretation burden.
2.png)
Architectural constuction requires efforts from all kinds of teams, including design, logistics, materials, site, management, etc. Understanding the overall construction flow helps users to position themselves and get familiar with project information.
Idealy, people with limited architecture structure knowledge can be expected to participate construction work. It will further increase social employment opportunities like what Uber and Airbnb have achieved.
Sophisticate details lay down practical fundations for buildings. AR Details helps to simplify and visualize detail consturction process step by step, minimizing user's confusion when they don't have much architecture professional knowledge.
Architecture is built up floor by floor, which means that one early mistake might be fatal to the entire project. AR Details helps workers and construction managers review the process and evaluate the assembly quality directly, securing that the construction matches results from BIM.
Just like architectural construction process, details determine success or failure. However, designing and prototyping an AR product won't let me only focus on one end for long. Product positioning impacts targeting groups who might have some specific demands, while visualization style might require specific technical supports incompatible to previous project setups.
I was thinking back and forth constantly to make sure that our time investment was worthwhile. I postponed and eventually cancelled several prototype ideas not because they were not good enough, but they are not our primary goals at the current stage. Time limitation always exists for product design, especially for AR products which require much efforts to prototype a demo version. Calculate wisely.
