Investigating the prospects of using 3D printing technology in South African human settlements DOI 10.17159/assaf.2021/0074. Mr Tshepang Mosiea, Director, DSI) 7. 3D PRINTING AND THE 3D WORLD FOR INNOVATION IN THE HUMAN SETTLEMENT SECTOR. The webinar entitled: Exploring the Prospects of Using 3D Printing Technology in the South African Human Settlements, was co-hosted by The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the University of Johannesburg ( UJ).
The webinar presented preliminary findings from a study conducted by UJ to explore the potential use of 3D printing technology in human settlements. In line with its mission to use evidence-based science in the service of society, the Academy collaborates with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and other academic institutions to host the Innovation for Inclusive (IID) seminar series on current topics . importance, such as 3D printing technology and its application to human settlements in South Africa.
3D PRINTING AND THE 3D WORLD FOR INNOVATION IN THE HUMAN SETTLEMENT SECTOR
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being implemented alongside 3D printing and has the potential to be used to monitor human settlements. Automation is combining with 3D printing to provide better monitoring systems for managing human settlements, making them functional and affordable. With 3D printing in the human settlement sector, the NDoHS is encouraged by the overlaps between this technology and other modern technologies.
The fact that 3D printing technology enables the simulation of innovations for settlements will contribute to this. The adoption of innovation and transformation technologies in the human settlements sector is expected to improve.
PROJECT OVERVIEW OF 3D PRINTING OF HOUSES
Exploring partnerships with the Institute of Architecture and working with architectural firms that use 3D technology to upgrade informal settlements. The department will certainly have a very systematic, more transparent, feasible and accountable approach to the construction and implementation of many of its human settlement projects. Therefore, provinces and municipalities will be clearer about specifications, procurement processes and contracting for innovation.
Research and develop materials suitable for 3D printing houses using local materials and waste materials. A number of social acceptability and SMME beneficiary surveys will be conducted before and during construction to determine whether the construction can be scaled up using 3D printing.
THE VIABILITY OF 3D CONCRETE PRINTING (3DCP) TECHNOLOGY
The most common 3DCP machines available are the Robotic Arm System and the Gantry Girder System. Some of the advantages of the Gantry Girder System are that it is relatively inexpensive compared to the Robotic Arm system and has high material flexibility. The robotic arm system is smaller in size and easier to move from one position to another, but it is relatively more expensive than the Gantry Girder System.
It has high material flexibility and limited material restrictions, but builds large buildings piecemeal as it cannot reach all areas. The materials used for 3DCP must have specific properties and a limited number of materials have been used to date. Researchers at UJ are investigating the use of multiple materials and locally produced waste materials to produce complex mixtures.
It is suggested that 3DCP has a future in South Africa as it could be a transformative technology that revolutionizes and accelerates the delivery of houses. The use of 3DCP can potentially reduce on-site health and safety risks, as well as waste materials, transport and other costs. The pilot project will produce 50 houses to demonstrate and validate some of the preliminary results of the research.
If the machines are very large, they will be difficult to assemble and disassemble on site and will therefore be more expensive. 3DCP is expected to have a disruptive effect in terms of on-site skills as it requires more high-tech skills than unskilled labour. There is huge potential for creating more efficient and interesting models for 3DCP, as it is able to construct shapes that conventional construction techniques cannot.
COST COMPARISON OF 3D PRINTED HOUSING TO CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION
It was also necessary to understand the functionality of the two 3DCP systems (robotic arm and gantry), the materials used and their local availability, as well as the printable building components of both systems and the systems approach taken by both systems in printing the house. The cost analysis looked at construction costs and local economic contribution to understand the LCC. When comparing construction costs, norms and standards for Breaking New Ground (BNG) apartments were used, which allowed for deviations in terms of painting and plastering the walls.
The costing exercise also had to consider specific functionalities of the Robotic Arm System and Gantry Girder System, such as the minimum printable area, layout speed and extrusion capacity. A comparison of the construction costs of conventional brick and mortar versus the two 3DCP systems showed that the Robotic Arm System provides a savings of 1.22% and the Gantry Girder System provides a savings of 2.13%. Material procurement: Due to the nature of the materials used, employment of labor and procurement of materials will be.
Labor: Conventional construction requires the use of low-skilled local labor for the duration of the project, while 3DCP requires two machine operators but does not necessarily reduce the number of low-skilled labor as 3DCP only produces the walls and other components of the house. be built conventionally. Depending on the system used and the thickness of the wall, printing the entire house takes up to 15 hours. The findings from the options assessment were that the Gantry Girder system is more cost viable than the robotic arm system.
The exact size of the savings depends on the type of system used and the location where it is applied. Attributing the savings in a directly comparative manner can be challenging due to the pricing structure of the 3DCP. A preliminary conclusion can be drawn that the largest contribution to the total savings is a reduction in construction time and asset maintenance costs (asset life cycle).
PRELIMINARY PERCEPTIONS ON 3D PRINTING OF HOUSES
A structured questionnaire focusing on conventional house building, 3D printing in general and 3D printing of houses was distributed online to 200 people. The responses revealed a better than expected awareness of the existence of 3D printing of houses and related technology, and that the idea of alternative building systems has been embraced. Research has shown that poor people want exactly what rich people want, and the reality is that innovative building systems elsewhere in the world are embraced more by richer people than by poorer people.
Even though the project is tailored to the BNG, the size of the house can vary between 40m2 and 50m2, depending on the municipality in question. When there is densification due to the lack of arable land, the largest population lives on the smallest piece of land. Previous research in rural areas found that people liked the rondavel (traditional hut) shape and were less enthusiastic about the square shape, and felt that brick and mortar houses did not blend in with the natural environment.
The majority of respondents believed that 3DCP houses would be easier, cheaper, faster, better and safer to build, and would like to live in such a house. Respondents seemed to be very excited about the pilot project and were eager to know more about 3D houses and see them during the project implementation phase. In general, respondents felt that 3DCP houses have more to offer than the conventionally built houses.
Dr Mahachi mentioned that a number of postgraduate students are working on the 3DCP housing project. He emphasized that much work still needs to be done and that the UJ research team is working hard to ensure that the results are produced. The launch of the first 3D printing of a house would take place in about three months.
Q&A AND DISCUSSIONS Question
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Comment
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Question
The University Alliance and we received funding in 2020 to convert plastic waste into fine filament used for 3D printing. Dr Bethuel Sehlapelo, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR The ultimate adopter of 3D printing is the private sector. There is the potential of using waste materials as an input material for 3D printing and other environmentally friendly materials.
In a pilot study, we are identifying small and medium-sized companies to be involved in 3D printing and we will train them in technology and materials. There is a company that makes extensive use of 3D printing in the construction of high-rise residential buildings on a large scale. Tshiphiri Tshivhasa, National Department of Human Settlements, NDoHS The landscape of housing provision in SA and its matrix was explored in this regard.
Tshiphiri Tshivhasa, National Department of Human Settlements, NDoHS 4IR may be widely perceived as a threat to local job creation, what would be the best approach to ensure that the 3D printing approach improves the local market, particularly through the development of local skills and availability of materials locally level, especially at the project level. Yes, that's right, I'm from SA Rebuilders and we specialize in 3D printing filament from waste. Kwena Prince Mashita, South African Association of Local Authorities, SALGA Do these 3D printing machines/technologies start from the foundation or from the slab.
Considering the housing development nature of our country, we can confidently say that permanent job creation is possible with 3D printing. However, the materials used for 3D printing are unlikely to be the same as for conventional ones. UK can help with the project by evaluating the sustainability assessment of 3D printing of SA Human Settlements.
WAY FORWARD
ANNEXURE A: LIST OF ACRONYMS
ANNEXURE B: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
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