3D-printed constructions express the capacity of automated technologies to elaborate buildings through additive manufacturing. These constructions require an architectural design according to their manufacturing conditions. This research reviews buildings that have been executed with these technologies in order to determine architectural characteristics. From an Internet search, a register was compiled of 112 cases of 3D-printed constructions around the globe. They include some 10,000 m2 of built surface area and were mainly erected in the last five years. The review shows that cases were built by approximately thirty executors, mostly entrepreneurs’ companies who have made different buildings as single-family dwellings constructed with gantries or robotic arms, either on-site or in factories. Most of the components printed are walls, with single or double filaments with interior voids. In some cases, they integrate reinforcements and openings. The geometry of the 3D-printed constructions varies between orthogonal layouts that replicate existing buildings and spherical shapes that reflect printing capabilities. Many of the cases are a combination of these characteristics, mixing a technological adaptation to existing architecture and new operative conditions. This review reveals the emerging development of this construction system with the progressive consolidation of some architectural attributes.

Historically, the construction industry has exhibited slow technological development when compared to other industries. However, during the last several years, investigations related to automation in construction have been conducted, such as additive manufacturing in concrete. This study aims to delve into this topic, providing effective communication between BIM-designed elements and its additive concrete manufacturing, with the help of an articulated robotic arm. Therefore, the paper addresses the preparation of computer code that allows such BIM–robot communication, checking the parameters utilized, and analyzing the results of tests with the equipment involved.

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Collaborative work in Building Information Modeling (BIM) projects is frequently understood as the interaction of modelers in an asynchronous way through modification requests or via e-mail/telephone. However, alternative work methodologies based on creating a common and synchronous environment allow solving issues instantaneously during the design process. This study aimed to analyze the behavior and performance of BIM users with different specialties who were subjected to an experimental exercise in a collaborative environment. For this purpose, a process was devised to collect, sort, and select the data from the log files generated by the BIM software. A timeline of the experiment was populated with data on the intensity and types of commands used by each specialist, which allowed determining behavioral patterns, preferred commands, indicators of their experience, further training needs, and possible strategies for improving the team’s performance. In the experiment, the mechanical designer’s performance was 49% and the rest approximately 64%, with respect to that of the architect. An average rate of 1.66 necessary or auxiliary commands for each contributory command was detected. The average performance was 200–400 commands per hour, which intensified by the end of the experiment. Further training needs were detected for the plumbing designer to reduce the use of backwards commands. Conversely, the electrical designer showed a positive evolution regarding this aspect during the experiment. The analysis methods here described become useful for the aforementioned purposes. Nevertheless, combinations with methods from existing research might improve the outcomes and therefore the specificity of recommendations.

Resumen A partir de modelos inmobiliarios vigentes, se analiza la posibilidad de construir viviendas que abastezcan demandas energéticas propias y provean energía excedente (Plus-Energy House),. Para ello se revisa un catastro de tipologías y estadísticas de consumos, seleccionando un caso representativo en el que se proponen alteraciones de diseño pasivo y se ejecutan simulaciones energéticas integrando tecnologías activas en las que se determina una producción factible frente a las demandas. Se despliegan tecnologías solares en integración arquitectónica BIPV, BISTw, BIPVTa y BIPVTw individualmente o combinadas buscando maximizar la capacidad de producción para autoconsumo, comparándose temporalmente con demandas características para identificar déficits y excedentes característicos promedios de días representativos de verano, invierno y de épocas interestacionales. Por último se obtiene el balance anual, el cual refleja un abastecimiento de aproximadamente el 174 % al desplegarse solamente tecnología BIPV y 251 % al integrar tecnologías híbridas térmicas fotovoltaicas con fluido líquido y fluido aire (BIPVTw) (BIPVTa).