Thomas Bock

The global construction industry faces a persistent productivity crisis, often attributing the failure of "Lean Construction" implementation to technical rather than cultural misalignments. This paper investigates the cultural dialectics of standardization and Kaizen as Lean principles move from Japan’s collectivist …

Today, due to the widening of the wealth gap, the intensification of climate change, and the acceleration of both population growth and population aging, our cities are being tested by multiple economic, environmental, and social challenges, including, but not limited to, urban sprawl, urban gentrification, marginalization, housing crisis, tent city, urban flooding, urban heat island, environmental migrants, urban slums, tent cities, urban aging, and empty nesters

Mobile robots are increasingly used to explore and inspect confined environments, often in situations that are hazardous or inaccessible to humans, highlighting the need for advanced mapping and sensing capabilities. This paper presents a novel approach for constructing a multi-dimensional map by integrating sensor data from a hexapod robot with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). The robot, equipped with a DHT22 sensor and powered by a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, was deployed in a mechanical room at the University of Alberta to collect humidity and temperature data while simultaneously mapping the environment. The Cartographer SLAM algorithm was used for mapping, and the sensor data was fused with the generated map by the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) using a bilinear interpolation algorithm. This pilot experiment serves as a demonstration of the proposed robot system, which results in a multidimensional map that combines 2D geographical map with sensory maps such as humidity and temperature. The map provides a visualization of the spatial distribution of environmental variables within the confined area. This approach has potential applications in various scenarios, including quick mapping of hazardous areas and routine inspections of areas with limited access. Future work will focus on incorporating 3D SLAM and exploring the use of machine learning techniques for automated anomaly detection within the multi-dimensional map, while addressing the current limitations related to real-time processing and visualization.

This qualitative study investigates industry professionals' perceptions of robotic inspections for confined spaces within the framework of Lean Construction 4.0 with a focus on facility maintenance. Confined space inspections are crucial for safety and asset integrity but are often associated with risks, inefficiencies, and high costs. Robotic inspections offer a potential solution, aligning with Lean Construction 4.0 principles that integrates lean principles such as eliminating waste, respect for people, along with technology as a means to an end. Through a focus group with ten experienced facility maintenance professionals, the study explored current practices, challenges, expectations, and hesitations regarding robotic inspections. Findings revealed that while participants recognized the potential of robots to enhance safety, accessibility, and data quality, they also expressed concerns about sensor reliability, data security, cost, and integration with existing workflows. These concerns resonate with previously identified barriers to sensor adoption in construction. The study highlights the need for human-centered design, robust and reliable technology, and seamless integration to successfully implement robotic inspections. Future research should focus on addressing these technological and human factors to advance Lean Construction 4.0 goals and realize the full potential of robotic inspections in creating safer, more efficient confined space inspection processes.

The transition towards a Circular Economy (CE) in the construction sector is essential to achieving sustainable, inclusive smart cities. This study examines the integration of CE principles into construction policies across four key global contexts: the European Union (focusing on Italy and Germany), the United States, and Japan. Through a comparative policy analysis, the research identifies best practices, implementation barriers, and the role of digitalization in advancing CE strategies. In Europe, CE is embedded in policy frameworks such as the Green Deal and the New Circular Economy Action Plan, driving the shift toward sustainable urban development. The United States, while in the early stages of CE adoption, is fostering circular initiatives at local levels, particularly in waste management and building deconstruction. Japan’s policy landscape integrates CE within a broader strategy for resource efficiency, emphasizing technological innovation. The findings highlight the necessity of a research-driven approach to inform policies that leverage digital tools, such as Building Information Modeling and Digital Product Passports, to enhance material traceability and urban circularity. This study contributes to the global effort of designing smart cities that are not only technologically advanced but also environmentally and socially sustainable through the adoption of CE principles in the built environment.

Prefabricated modules are being used to renovate the building envelope. However, compared to manual methods, the design and prefabricated module’s definition is time consuming. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of the prefabricated layout definition processes by incorporating automation and computational design. The purpose of this paper is to present a semi-automated definition of the layout of the prefabricated modules with the only input of the existing building facade being the Point Cloud. In this research, a novel step-by-step workflow was developed. More precisely, an algorithm was developed that processes the coordinates of each point of the cloud and generates the layout of the prefabricated modules. To validate the workflow and the algorithm, four facades were tested, considering two parameters: (a) working time and (b) output accuracy. According to the results, it was concluded that spending more time achieving an accurate laser data acquisition can be a good strategy to obtain the primary layout with sufficient precision.

Within the context of an aging global population, the demographic structure of emerging economies is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Emerging economies have a large population base and rapid economic development, but they are ill-prepared to deal with population aging. Limited resources force many older adults to face health issues such as chronic diseases and loss of physical independence, exacerbating the burden of traditional family and societal elderly care. Uncontrollable events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and regional conflicts have exacerbated the plight of older adults. Improving the quality of life and health of older adults has become a development priority in emerging economies in the face of a rapidly aging population. The development of smart cities has brought with it many available digital technologies, and the consequent development of smart aging offers endless possibilities for improving the quality of life and health of older people, making cities more inclusive of older people. Researchers from developed economies have attempted to address the health issues of older adults through a technology that combines physical exercise and digital technology called Exergame. However, existing projects are not suitable for older adults in emerging economies due to differences in national conditions. The aim of this project is therefore to propose a universal approach to designing a health-promoting Exergame system in the format of a virtual urban community to help emerging economies cope with aging populations, making cities more inclusive. To verify the feasibility of this approach, the authors designed an expandable Exergame called “Fit Islands”, using China as a case study. Based on the initial demonstration, the authors conducted functional tests. The result is that Fit Islands can meet the development objective of motivating Chinese older people to increase their physical activity, providing initial evidence of the feasibility of an Exergame system to promote healthy aging in emerging economies. The application of Fit Islands demonstrates the feasibility of the universal Exergame development method, which can, in principle, provide comprehensive and practical guidance for other countries.

The rising global energy demand has made it essential to reduce energy consumption in the residential building stock. Adding a new insulating envelope with Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) onto the existing buildings’ facade is one way to achieve zero energy consumption in residential buildings. The ENSNARE project aims to semi-automate this process by using prefabricated facade modules and developing new building data acquisition techniques. Prior to this research project, an analysis was carried out and several research gaps were identified. One of the obstacles to using prefabricated modules with RES is that the layout needs to be drawn and adjusted during different phases of the project. That is time-consuming. For this reason, this article describes two new solutions: (1) automated drafting of the optimized layout of prefabricated modules of the facade and the number of solar panels based on the existing residential building model, and (2) automated adjustment of the layout depending on the phase of the renovation project and the accuracy of the measurements in each step. The proposed semi-automated approach has the potential to significantly reduce the time used in drafting the layout of the prefabricated modules, which benefits the whole renovation process, contributing to a more sustainable future for the residential building stock.

In order to reach a Zero-Energy-consuming building stock, it is necessary to insulate and add renewable energy sources on top of existing building envelopes. Off-site prefabricated modules have been used for covering building facades, but manual on-site installation procedures are still more competitive than prefabricated ones. Renovation with prefabricated modules requires high precision in order to obtain airtight and waterproof conditions. For that, an accurate installation of the anchors on top of the facade is crucial. With current techniques, this is a time-consuming operation. One of the attempts to solve the above-mentioned issue was to place the part of the anchor on top of a building facade with high tolerances and to use an interface to correct the deviations. In previous research, this concept, named Matching Kit, was validated, but improvements needed to be made to make it more competitive. In this paper, thanks to novel algorithms and the use of Point Clouds, an improved version is presented. The results show a reduction in working time and an increase in precision. With this research, the interface is closer to being used in the construction industry.