{"id":4693,"date":"2023-11-13T09:26:51","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T08:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/?p=4693"},"modified":"2025-07-29T16:02:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:02:46","slug":"construction-4-0-a-technical-revolution-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/articles\/construction-4-0-a-technical-revolution-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction 4.0: A technical revolution underway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\"\"
\u00a9 Ad\u00e8le Mazurek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Romain Mesnil, structural engineer and lecturer at \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es who wrote his thesis on computer-aided design for architecture, explains, “the construction industry is faced with a complex balance between productivity and reducing its environmental impact”. Except for Western countries, demographic pressure will continue to drive demand for infrastructure and buildings until 2050 \/ 2060. “Two figures give an idea of the extent of this growth. Firstly, a city of two million inhabitants, the size of Paris, is currently being built every 10 days. Secondly, according to UN forecasts, 85% of the buildings that will exist in the world in 2060 have not even been built yet,” says Romain Mesnil. This construction fever – which the planet cannot escape – should be set against the sector\u2019s footprint: it is estimated to generate between 25% and 30% of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions, of which 8% comes from materials alone. This is three times the figure for aviation, which is around 3%. “In this context, construction 4.0, which incorporates new technologies into its processes, makes perfect sense and is gathering steam, driven by two simultaneous phenomena. On the one hand, the cost of industrial robots has plummeted – by a factor of 4 in 15 years – while their power has increased on a par with Moore’s Law in computing. Meanwhile, the cost of construction labor has risen steadily due to increasingly stringent health and safety regulations and growing labor shortages. As a result, productivity has been falling since 1965 while it has multiplied by 2.5 in the manufacturing industry,” says Romain Mesnil. The other factor driving the boom in industrial robots is their technical added value: their ability to work with the utmost precision, down to a tenth of a millimeter, and to come equipped with sensors that provide a wealth of information on the object being manufactured, helping to optimize the amount of material used in the structure. There is, however, one factor that remains underutilized. “Building a structure with the right amount of material in the right place is complex and labor-intensive. Since materials cost less than labor, builders have long favored productivity and opted for oversized buildings, but things are changing, and the true cost of construction – including its environmental cost – is being taken into account, along with the realization that the planet’s available resources are limited,” says Romain Mesnil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Build’In platform: a source of innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


Building more and better with a smaller carbon footprint: in response to these objectives, several countries \u2013 led by Germany, the UK and Switzerland (and long before them, Japan) \u2013 began investing heavily in research projects focused on robotized construction in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es, with its roots in the field of sustainable development, began to examine the matter. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build’In. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build’In. It is tasked with carrying out fundamental research, working with companies on industrial co-development and supporting laboratories in bringing their projects to maturity \u2013 including patents, where possible. “The platform’s key strength is its work on the technical, industrial and economic viability of the solutions it refines. In doing so, it combines the skills of multi-disciplinary academic and economic players as well as structural engineers and architects,” says Romain Mesnil. This approach has helped spawn numerous innovations, such as optimized reinforced concrete beam systems that use between 30% and 40% less materials and printed fiber-reinforced concrete that can reproduce complex shapes and is faster and much cheaper to produce (link to article by J.F Caron).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robotization and construction: two specific challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


The research done on the Build’In platform focuses on two major areas: first, robotics for construction sites. This is a challenge in itself. “Robotization allows for standardized mass production. Yet in the construction industry, each object is unique, linked to an architectural project, a site, a building, and so on. This means we need to develop an industrial approach capable of delivering and assembling the right parts for each project, which means completely rethinking information exchanges with robots,” says Romain Mesnil. In this respect, HAL Robotics’ contributions to the Build’In platform represent a significant step forward: they allow us to create tailor-made objects that meet specific project requirements. The other major issue in the robotization of construction tasks is the modularity of the production system. Robots must also be able to perform different tasks at different times, change tools and work autonomously – without needing to reconfigure the entire production line. This flexibility is essential when manufacturing an object and making variations on it – for example, changing the size of a beam and adding options such as lifting devices, or carrying out a succession of operations, such as renovating a facade, where you need to remove the existing facade, scan the places to be drilled, fix the bolts, and so on. “Robots’ adaptability is particularly important in a field where mass production is impossible,” says Romain Mesnil. The Build’In platform has secured funding from the \u00cele-de-France region to make progress on this crucial issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optimizing construction methods and materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


“The other main focus of the Build’In platform is the efficiency and optimization of construction methods and materials, i.e., how we can minimize the use of materials without altering the structure’s strength,” says Romain Mesnil. In terms of construction methods, the team is committed to using new technologies to revive local techniques, which offer great environmental benefits but were abandoned in the 20th century for economic reasons. The records of Ponts et Chauss\u00e9es are particularly rich in this field. Researchers and engineers delved into them to unearth, dissect and reinterpret traditional skills, with the aim of using robots to replicate the hands and motions of bricklayers, stonemasons and carpenters. For example, they used 3D printing to reproduce a formwork-free vaulting process dating back to the Persian Empire that might have less impact than reinforced concrete, which became ubiquitous in the 20th century. In another example, screwless structural assemblies \u2013 which require extremely sophisticated connection systems between beams – can now be reproduced using spindles that expose the material before being assembled by robots. “Our PhD students calculated that overconsumption of materials was in the order of 30 to 50%. The potential savings are enormous,” he says. Concrete is the main type of material studied and one of the most widely used in the world, with 14 billion m3 produced every year \u2013 the equivalent of 5 tons per human being. The work focuses on how binder can be substituted by industrial co-products and residues, such as silica fume or metakaolin, a calcined clay with three times less environmental impact than cement. “As for cement,” says Romain Mesnil, “as well as exploring alternatives, we’re working on highly optimized formulas based on monitored processes developed as part of the platform, again with substantial cost savings.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From new builds to renovations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


The Build’In platform boasts a wealth of research topics and projects, including structural optimization, robotized assembly and 3D printing. However, they are always measured against a rigorous lifecycle analysis that is a prerequisite for their operational approval. “Greenwashing is out of the question: we must take care not to just displace pollution: a technology or a robot used to solve a technical problem can have an impact on environmental costs; prefabricated components can also lead to additional transport. We also need to make sure that inventions and progress are not a free pass to allow projects to multiply. Restraint should be the rule,” says Romain Mesnil. Here, the key to success lies in preparing for change. “The trend towards accurate sizing of structures and prefabrication calls for major upheavals in our culture, professions and business models, which will need support, particularly in the form of training”. Once the platform has completed its work on new construction, it will shift its focus to the rehabilitation of existing housing and infrastructure, “where the needs are immense and the stakes crucial, particularly in France and Europe”. This points to another challenge on the horizon. “We will need to develop modular, adaptable maintenance robots that can use diagnostics to carry out effective preventive maintenance and perform successive renovation operations in outdoor, uncontrolled environments,” says Romain Mesnil. In this field, whether in terms of information technology or robot piloting and control, everything – or almost everything – remains to be invented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing (French version) : Lucie Heuz\u00e9<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Romain Mesnil, structural engineer and lecturer at \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es who wrote his thesis on computer-aided design […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_related_content_post":[],"_related_content_subject":[936],"_related_content_author":[4701],"_related_content_category":[1720],"_related_content_folder":[4730],"_excerpt":"Confronted with immense technical and environmental challenges, the construction industry, which has long remained on the sidelines of robotization and the digital revolution, has begun its transformation. Romain Mesnil, head of the Build'In construction 4.0 technology platform, explains the current state of research and progress.","_duration":6,"_manual_duration":false,"footnotes":""},"article-types":[13,27],"class_list":["post-4693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","article-types-article","article-types-folder"],"has_blocks":true,"block_data":[{"blockName":"enpc\/excerpt","attrs":{"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":""},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"id":4688,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"wide","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/bandeau_carteblanche-1024x731.jpg","alt":"","caption":"\u00a9 Ad\u00e8le Mazurek","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"wp-block-image alignwide size-large","style":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

\"\"
\u00a9 Ad\u00e8le Mazurek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n
\"\"
\u00a9 Ad\u00e8le Mazurek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n
\"\"
\u00a9 Ad\u00e8le Mazurek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Romain Mesnil, structural engineer and lecturer at \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es who wrote his thesis on computer-aided design for architecture, explains, \"the construction industry is faced with a complex balance between productivity and reducing its environmental impact\". Except for Western countries, demographic pressure will continue to drive demand for infrastructure and buildings until 2050 \/ 2060. \"Two figures give an idea of the extent of this growth. Firstly, a city of two million inhabitants, the size of Paris, is currently being built every 10 days. Secondly, according to UN forecasts, 85% of the buildings that will exist in the world in 2060 have not even been built yet,\" says Romain Mesnil. This construction fever - which the planet cannot escape - should be set against the sector\u2019s footprint: it is estimated to generate between 25% and 30% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, of which 8% comes from materials alone. This is three times the figure for aviation, which is around 3%. \"In this context, construction 4.0, which incorporates new technologies into its processes, makes perfect sense and is gathering steam, driven by two simultaneous phenomena. On the one hand, the cost of industrial robots has plummeted - by a factor of 4 in 15 years - while their power has increased on a par with Moore's Law in computing. Meanwhile, the cost of construction labor has risen steadily due to increasingly stringent health and safety regulations and growing labor shortages. As a result, productivity has been falling since 1965 while it has multiplied by 2.5 in the manufacturing industry,\" says Romain Mesnil. The other factor driving the boom in industrial robots is their technical added value: their ability to work with the utmost precision, down to a tenth of a millimeter, and to come equipped with sensors that provide a wealth of information on the object being manufactured, helping to optimize the amount of material used in the structure. There is, however, one factor that remains underutilized. \"Building a structure with the right amount of material in the right place is complex and labor-intensive. Since materials cost less than labor, builders have long favored productivity and opted for oversized buildings, but things are changing, and the true cost of construction - including its environmental cost - is being taken into account, along with the realization that the planet's available resources are limited,\" says Romain Mesnil.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Romain Mesnil, structural engineer and lecturer at \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es who wrote his thesis on computer-aided design for architecture, explains, \"the construction industry is faced with a complex balance between productivity and reducing its environmental impact\". Except for Western countries, demographic pressure will continue to drive demand for infrastructure and buildings until 2050 \/ 2060. \"Two figures give an idea of the extent of this growth. Firstly, a city of two million inhabitants, the size of Paris, is currently being built every 10 days. Secondly, according to UN forecasts, 85% of the buildings that will exist in the world in 2060 have not even been built yet,\" says Romain Mesnil. This construction fever - which the planet cannot escape - should be set against the sector\u2019s footprint: it is estimated to generate between 25% and 30% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, of which 8% comes from materials alone. This is three times the figure for aviation, which is around 3%. \"In this context, construction 4.0, which incorporates new technologies into its processes, makes perfect sense and is gathering steam, driven by two simultaneous phenomena. On the one hand, the cost of industrial robots has plummeted - by a factor of 4 in 15 years - while their power has increased on a par with Moore's Law in computing. Meanwhile, the cost of construction labor has risen steadily due to increasingly stringent health and safety regulations and growing labor shortages. As a result, productivity has been falling since 1965 while it has multiplied by 2.5 in the manufacturing industry,\" says Romain Mesnil. The other factor driving the boom in industrial robots is their technical added value: their ability to work with the utmost precision, down to a tenth of a millimeter, and to come equipped with sensors that provide a wealth of information on the object being manufactured, helping to optimize the amount of material used in the structure. There is, however, one factor that remains underutilized. \"Building a structure with the right amount of material in the right place is complex and labor-intensive. Since materials cost less than labor, builders have long favored productivity and opted for oversized buildings, but things are changing, and the true cost of construction - including its environmental cost - is being taken into account, along with the realization that the planet's available resources are limited,\" says Romain Mesnil.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Romain Mesnil, structural engineer and lecturer at \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es who wrote his thesis on computer-aided design for architecture, explains, \"the construction industry is faced with a complex balance between productivity and reducing its environmental impact\". Except for Western countries, demographic pressure will continue to drive demand for infrastructure and buildings until 2050 \/ 2060. \"Two figures give an idea of the extent of this growth. Firstly, a city of two million inhabitants, the size of Paris, is currently being built every 10 days. Secondly, according to UN forecasts, 85% of the buildings that will exist in the world in 2060 have not even been built yet,\" says Romain Mesnil. This construction fever - which the planet cannot escape - should be set against the sector\u2019s footprint: it is estimated to generate between 25% and 30% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, of which 8% comes from materials alone. This is three times the figure for aviation, which is around 3%. \"In this context, construction 4.0, which incorporates new technologies into its processes, makes perfect sense and is gathering steam, driven by two simultaneous phenomena. On the one hand, the cost of industrial robots has plummeted - by a factor of 4 in 15 years - while their power has increased on a par with Moore's Law in computing. Meanwhile, the cost of construction labor has risen steadily due to increasingly stringent health and safety regulations and growing labor shortages. As a result, productivity has been falling since 1965 while it has multiplied by 2.5 in the manufacturing industry,\" says Romain Mesnil. The other factor driving the boom in industrial robots is their technical added value: their ability to work with the utmost precision, down to a tenth of a millimeter, and to come equipped with sensors that provide a wealth of information on the object being manufactured, helping to optimize the amount of material used in the structure. There is, however, one factor that remains underutilized. \"Building a structure with the right amount of material in the right place is complex and labor-intensive. Since materials cost less than labor, builders have long favored productivity and opted for oversized buildings, but things are changing, and the true cost of construction - including its environmental cost - is being taken into account, along with the realization that the planet's available resources are limited,\" says Romain Mesnil.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Romain Mesnil, structural engineer and lecturer at \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es who wrote his thesis on computer-aided design for architecture, explains, \"the construction industry is faced with a complex balance between productivity and reducing its environmental impact\". Except for Western countries, demographic pressure will continue to drive demand for infrastructure and buildings until 2050 \/ 2060. \"Two figures give an idea of the extent of this growth. Firstly, a city of two million inhabitants, the size of Paris, is currently being built every 10 days. Secondly, according to UN forecasts, 85% of the buildings that will exist in the world in 2060 have not even been built yet,\" says Romain Mesnil. This construction fever - which the planet cannot escape - should be set against the sector\u2019s footprint: it is estimated to generate between 25% and 30% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, of which 8% comes from materials alone. This is three times the figure for aviation, which is around 3%. \"In this context, construction 4.0, which incorporates new technologies into its processes, makes perfect sense and is gathering steam, driven by two simultaneous phenomena. On the one hand, the cost of industrial robots has plummeted - by a factor of 4 in 15 years - while their power has increased on a par with Moore's Law in computing. Meanwhile, the cost of construction labor has risen steadily due to increasingly stringent health and safety regulations and growing labor shortages. As a result, productivity has been falling since 1965 while it has multiplied by 2.5 in the manufacturing industry,\" says Romain Mesnil. The other factor driving the boom in industrial robots is their technical added value: their ability to work with the utmost precision, down to a tenth of a millimeter, and to come equipped with sensors that provide a wealth of information on the object being manufactured, helping to optimize the amount of material used in the structure. There is, however, one factor that remains underutilized. \"Building a structure with the right amount of material in the right place is complex and labor-intensive. Since materials cost less than labor, builders have long favored productivity and opted for oversized buildings, but things are changing, and the true cost of construction - including its environmental cost - is being taken into account, along with the realization that the planet's available resources are limited,\" says Romain Mesnil.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"The Build'In platform: a source of innovation","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color","style":"","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

The Build'In platform: a source of innovation<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

The Build'In platform: a source of innovation<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

The Build'In platform: a source of innovation<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"Building more and better with a smaller carbon footprint: in response to these objectives, several countries \u2013 led by Germany, the UK and Switzerland (and long before them, Japan) \u2013 began investing heavily in research projects focused on robotized construction in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es, with its roots in the field of sustainable development, began to examine the matter. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. It is tasked with carrying out fundamental research, working with companies on industrial co-development and supporting laboratories in bringing their projects to maturity \u2013 including patents, where possible. \"The platform's key strength is its work on the technical, industrial and economic viability of the solutions it refines. In doing so, it combines the skills of multi-disciplinary academic and economic players as well as structural engineers and architects,\" says Romain Mesnil. This approach has helped spawn numerous innovations, such as optimized reinforced concrete beam systems that use between 30% and 40% less materials and printed fiber-reinforced concrete that can reproduce complex shapes and is faster and much cheaper to produce (link to article by J.F Caron).","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n


Building more and better with a smaller carbon footprint: in response to these objectives, several countries \u2013 led by Germany, the UK and Switzerland (and long before them, Japan) \u2013 began investing heavily in research projects focused on robotized construction in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es, with its roots in the field of sustainable development, began to examine the matter. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. It is tasked with carrying out fundamental research, working with companies on industrial co-development and supporting laboratories in bringing their projects to maturity \u2013 including patents, where possible. \"The platform's key strength is its work on the technical, industrial and economic viability of the solutions it refines. In doing so, it combines the skills of multi-disciplinary academic and economic players as well as structural engineers and architects,\" says Romain Mesnil. This approach has helped spawn numerous innovations, such as optimized reinforced concrete beam systems that use between 30% and 40% less materials and printed fiber-reinforced concrete that can reproduce complex shapes and is faster and much cheaper to produce (link to article by J.F Caron).<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n


Building more and better with a smaller carbon footprint: in response to these objectives, several countries \u2013 led by Germany, the UK and Switzerland (and long before them, Japan) \u2013 began investing heavily in research projects focused on robotized construction in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es, with its roots in the field of sustainable development, began to examine the matter. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. It is tasked with carrying out fundamental research, working with companies on industrial co-development and supporting laboratories in bringing their projects to maturity \u2013 including patents, where possible. \"The platform's key strength is its work on the technical, industrial and economic viability of the solutions it refines. In doing so, it combines the skills of multi-disciplinary academic and economic players as well as structural engineers and architects,\" says Romain Mesnil. This approach has helped spawn numerous innovations, such as optimized reinforced concrete beam systems that use between 30% and 40% less materials and printed fiber-reinforced concrete that can reproduce complex shapes and is faster and much cheaper to produce (link to article by J.F Caron).<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n


Building more and better with a smaller carbon footprint: in response to these objectives, several countries \u2013 led by Germany, the UK and Switzerland (and long before them, Japan) \u2013 began investing heavily in research projects focused on robotized construction in the mid-2010s. Meanwhile, \u00c9cole nationale des ponts et chauss\u00e9es, with its roots in the field of sustainable development, began to examine the matter. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. Its studies, conducted in conjunction with the Navier laboratory, led to the design and launch in 2017 of an experimental research platform dedicated entirely to digital construction 4.0, named Build'In. It is tasked with carrying out fundamental research, working with companies on industrial co-development and supporting laboratories in bringing their projects to maturity \u2013 including patents, where possible. \"The platform's key strength is its work on the technical, industrial and economic viability of the solutions it refines. In doing so, it combines the skills of multi-disciplinary academic and economic players as well as structural engineers and architects,\" says Romain Mesnil. This approach has helped spawn numerous innovations, such as optimized reinforced concrete beam systems that use between 30% and 40% less materials and printed fiber-reinforced concrete that can reproduce complex shapes and is faster and much cheaper to produce (link to article by J.F Caron).<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Robotization and construction: two specific challenges","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color","style":"","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Robotization and construction: two specific challenges<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Robotization and construction: two specific challenges<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Robotization and construction: two specific challenges<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"The research done on the Build'In platform focuses on two major areas: first, robotics for construction sites. This is a challenge in itself. \"Robotization allows for standardized mass production. Yet in the construction industry, each object is unique, linked to an architectural project, a site, a building, and so on. This means we need to develop an industrial approach capable of delivering and assembling the right parts for each project, which means completely rethinking information exchanges with robots,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this respect, HAL Robotics' contributions to the Build'In platform represent a significant step forward: they allow us to create tailor-made objects that meet specific project requirements. The other major issue in the robotization of construction tasks is the modularity of the production system. Robots must also be able to perform different tasks at different times, change tools and work autonomously - without needing to reconfigure the entire production line. This flexibility is essential when manufacturing an object and making variations on it - for example, changing the size of a beam and adding options such as lifting devices, or carrying out a succession of operations, such as renovating a facade, where you need to remove the existing facade, scan the places to be drilled, fix the bolts, and so on. \"Robots' adaptability is particularly important in a field where mass production is impossible,\" says Romain Mesnil. The Build'In platform has secured funding from the \u00cele-de-France region to make progress on this crucial issue.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n


The research done on the Build'In platform focuses on two major areas: first, robotics for construction sites. This is a challenge in itself. \"Robotization allows for standardized mass production. Yet in the construction industry, each object is unique, linked to an architectural project, a site, a building, and so on. This means we need to develop an industrial approach capable of delivering and assembling the right parts for each project, which means completely rethinking information exchanges with robots,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this respect, HAL Robotics' contributions to the Build'In platform represent a significant step forward: they allow us to create tailor-made objects that meet specific project requirements. The other major issue in the robotization of construction tasks is the modularity of the production system. Robots must also be able to perform different tasks at different times, change tools and work autonomously - without needing to reconfigure the entire production line. This flexibility is essential when manufacturing an object and making variations on it - for example, changing the size of a beam and adding options such as lifting devices, or carrying out a succession of operations, such as renovating a facade, where you need to remove the existing facade, scan the places to be drilled, fix the bolts, and so on. \"Robots' adaptability is particularly important in a field where mass production is impossible,\" says Romain Mesnil. The Build'In platform has secured funding from the \u00cele-de-France region to make progress on this crucial issue.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n


The research done on the Build'In platform focuses on two major areas: first, robotics for construction sites. This is a challenge in itself. \"Robotization allows for standardized mass production. Yet in the construction industry, each object is unique, linked to an architectural project, a site, a building, and so on. This means we need to develop an industrial approach capable of delivering and assembling the right parts for each project, which means completely rethinking information exchanges with robots,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this respect, HAL Robotics' contributions to the Build'In platform represent a significant step forward: they allow us to create tailor-made objects that meet specific project requirements. The other major issue in the robotization of construction tasks is the modularity of the production system. Robots must also be able to perform different tasks at different times, change tools and work autonomously - without needing to reconfigure the entire production line. This flexibility is essential when manufacturing an object and making variations on it - for example, changing the size of a beam and adding options such as lifting devices, or carrying out a succession of operations, such as renovating a facade, where you need to remove the existing facade, scan the places to be drilled, fix the bolts, and so on. \"Robots' adaptability is particularly important in a field where mass production is impossible,\" says Romain Mesnil. The Build'In platform has secured funding from the \u00cele-de-France region to make progress on this crucial issue.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n


The research done on the Build'In platform focuses on two major areas: first, robotics for construction sites. This is a challenge in itself. \"Robotization allows for standardized mass production. Yet in the construction industry, each object is unique, linked to an architectural project, a site, a building, and so on. This means we need to develop an industrial approach capable of delivering and assembling the right parts for each project, which means completely rethinking information exchanges with robots,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this respect, HAL Robotics' contributions to the Build'In platform represent a significant step forward: they allow us to create tailor-made objects that meet specific project requirements. The other major issue in the robotization of construction tasks is the modularity of the production system. Robots must also be able to perform different tasks at different times, change tools and work autonomously - without needing to reconfigure the entire production line. This flexibility is essential when manufacturing an object and making variations on it - for example, changing the size of a beam and adding options such as lifting devices, or carrying out a succession of operations, such as renovating a facade, where you need to remove the existing facade, scan the places to be drilled, fix the bolts, and so on. \"Robots' adaptability is particularly important in a field where mass production is impossible,\" says Romain Mesnil. The Build'In platform has secured funding from the \u00cele-de-France region to make progress on this crucial issue.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"Optimizing construction methods and materials","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color","style":"","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Optimizing construction methods and materials<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

Optimizing construction methods and materials<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Optimizing construction methods and materials<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"\"The other main focus of the Build'In platform is the efficiency and optimization of construction methods and materials, i.e., how we can minimize the use of materials without altering the structure's strength,\" says Romain Mesnil. In terms of construction methods, the team is committed to using new technologies to revive local techniques, which offer great environmental benefits but were abandoned in the 20th century for economic reasons. The records of Ponts et Chauss\u00e9es are particularly rich in this field. Researchers and engineers delved into them to unearth, dissect and reinterpret traditional skills, with the aim of using robots to replicate the hands and motions of bricklayers, stonemasons and carpenters. For example, they used 3D printing to reproduce a formwork-free vaulting process dating back to the Persian Empire that might have less impact than reinforced concrete, which became ubiquitous in the 20th century. In another example, screwless structural assemblies \u2013 which require extremely sophisticated connection systems between beams - can now be reproduced using spindles that expose the material before being assembled by robots. \"Our PhD students calculated that overconsumption of materials was in the order of 30 to 50%. The potential savings are enormous,\" he says. Concrete is the main type of material studied and one of the most widely used in the world, with 14 billion m3 produced every year \u2013 the equivalent of 5 tons per human being. The work focuses on how binder can be substituted by industrial co-products and residues, such as silica fume or metakaolin, a calcined clay with three times less environmental impact than cement. \"As for cement,\" says Romain Mesnil, \"as well as exploring alternatives, we're working on highly optimized formulas based on monitored processes developed as part of the platform, again with substantial cost savings.\"","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n


\"The other main focus of the Build'In platform is the efficiency and optimization of construction methods and materials, i.e., how we can minimize the use of materials without altering the structure's strength,\" says Romain Mesnil. In terms of construction methods, the team is committed to using new technologies to revive local techniques, which offer great environmental benefits but were abandoned in the 20th century for economic reasons. The records of Ponts et Chauss\u00e9es are particularly rich in this field. Researchers and engineers delved into them to unearth, dissect and reinterpret traditional skills, with the aim of using robots to replicate the hands and motions of bricklayers, stonemasons and carpenters. For example, they used 3D printing to reproduce a formwork-free vaulting process dating back to the Persian Empire that might have less impact than reinforced concrete, which became ubiquitous in the 20th century. In another example, screwless structural assemblies \u2013 which require extremely sophisticated connection systems between beams - can now be reproduced using spindles that expose the material before being assembled by robots. \"Our PhD students calculated that overconsumption of materials was in the order of 30 to 50%. The potential savings are enormous,\" he says. Concrete is the main type of material studied and one of the most widely used in the world, with 14 billion m3 produced every year \u2013 the equivalent of 5 tons per human being. The work focuses on how binder can be substituted by industrial co-products and residues, such as silica fume or metakaolin, a calcined clay with three times less environmental impact than cement. \"As for cement,\" says Romain Mesnil, \"as well as exploring alternatives, we're working on highly optimized formulas based on monitored processes developed as part of the platform, again with substantial cost savings.\"<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n


\"The other main focus of the Build'In platform is the efficiency and optimization of construction methods and materials, i.e., how we can minimize the use of materials without altering the structure's strength,\" says Romain Mesnil. In terms of construction methods, the team is committed to using new technologies to revive local techniques, which offer great environmental benefits but were abandoned in the 20th century for economic reasons. The records of Ponts et Chauss\u00e9es are particularly rich in this field. Researchers and engineers delved into them to unearth, dissect and reinterpret traditional skills, with the aim of using robots to replicate the hands and motions of bricklayers, stonemasons and carpenters. For example, they used 3D printing to reproduce a formwork-free vaulting process dating back to the Persian Empire that might have less impact than reinforced concrete, which became ubiquitous in the 20th century. In another example, screwless structural assemblies \u2013 which require extremely sophisticated connection systems between beams - can now be reproduced using spindles that expose the material before being assembled by robots. \"Our PhD students calculated that overconsumption of materials was in the order of 30 to 50%. The potential savings are enormous,\" he says. Concrete is the main type of material studied and one of the most widely used in the world, with 14 billion m3 produced every year \u2013 the equivalent of 5 tons per human being. The work focuses on how binder can be substituted by industrial co-products and residues, such as silica fume or metakaolin, a calcined clay with three times less environmental impact than cement. \"As for cement,\" says Romain Mesnil, \"as well as exploring alternatives, we're working on highly optimized formulas based on monitored processes developed as part of the platform, again with substantial cost savings.\"<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n


\"The other main focus of the Build'In platform is the efficiency and optimization of construction methods and materials, i.e., how we can minimize the use of materials without altering the structure's strength,\" says Romain Mesnil. In terms of construction methods, the team is committed to using new technologies to revive local techniques, which offer great environmental benefits but were abandoned in the 20th century for economic reasons. The records of Ponts et Chauss\u00e9es are particularly rich in this field. Researchers and engineers delved into them to unearth, dissect and reinterpret traditional skills, with the aim of using robots to replicate the hands and motions of bricklayers, stonemasons and carpenters. For example, they used 3D printing to reproduce a formwork-free vaulting process dating back to the Persian Empire that might have less impact than reinforced concrete, which became ubiquitous in the 20th century. In another example, screwless structural assemblies \u2013 which require extremely sophisticated connection systems between beams - can now be reproduced using spindles that expose the material before being assembled by robots. \"Our PhD students calculated that overconsumption of materials was in the order of 30 to 50%. The potential savings are enormous,\" he says. Concrete is the main type of material studied and one of the most widely used in the world, with 14 billion m3 produced every year \u2013 the equivalent of 5 tons per human being. The work focuses on how binder can be substituted by industrial co-products and residues, such as silica fume or metakaolin, a calcined clay with three times less environmental impact than cement. \"As for cement,\" says Romain Mesnil, \"as well as exploring alternatives, we're working on highly optimized formulas based on monitored processes developed as part of the platform, again with substantial cost savings.\"<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/heading","attrs":{"textColor":"red","textAlign":"","content":"From new builds to renovations","level":2,"levelOptions":[],"placeholder":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","className":"wp-block-heading has-red-color has-text-color","style":"","backgroundColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

From new builds to renovations<\/h2>\n","innerContent":["\n

From new builds to renovations<\/h2>\n"],"rendered":"\n

From new builds to renovations<\/h2>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"align":"","content":"The Build'In platform boasts a wealth of research topics and projects, including structural optimization, robotized assembly and 3D printing. However, they are always measured against a rigorous lifecycle analysis that is a prerequisite for their operational approval. \"Greenwashing is out of the question: we must take care not to just displace pollution: a technology or a robot used to solve a technical problem can have an impact on environmental costs; prefabricated components can also lead to additional transport. We also need to make sure that inventions and progress are not a free pass to allow projects to multiply. Restraint should be the rule,\" says Romain Mesnil. Here, the key to success lies in preparing for change. \"The trend towards accurate sizing of structures and prefabrication calls for major upheavals in our culture, professions and business models, which will need support, particularly in the form of training\". Once the platform has completed its work on new construction, it will shift its focus to the rehabilitation of existing housing and infrastructure, \"where the needs are immense and the stakes crucial, particularly in France and Europe\". This points to another challenge on the horizon. \"We will need to develop modular, adaptable maintenance robots that can use diagnostics to carry out effective preventive maintenance and perform successive renovation operations in outdoor, uncontrolled environments,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this field, whether in terms of information technology or robot piloting and control, everything - or almost everything - remains to be invented.","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n


The Build'In platform boasts a wealth of research topics and projects, including structural optimization, robotized assembly and 3D printing. However, they are always measured against a rigorous lifecycle analysis that is a prerequisite for their operational approval. \"Greenwashing is out of the question: we must take care not to just displace pollution: a technology or a robot used to solve a technical problem can have an impact on environmental costs; prefabricated components can also lead to additional transport. We also need to make sure that inventions and progress are not a free pass to allow projects to multiply. Restraint should be the rule,\" says Romain Mesnil. Here, the key to success lies in preparing for change. \"The trend towards accurate sizing of structures and prefabrication calls for major upheavals in our culture, professions and business models, which will need support, particularly in the form of training\". Once the platform has completed its work on new construction, it will shift its focus to the rehabilitation of existing housing and infrastructure, \"where the needs are immense and the stakes crucial, particularly in France and Europe\". This points to another challenge on the horizon. \"We will need to develop modular, adaptable maintenance robots that can use diagnostics to carry out effective preventive maintenance and perform successive renovation operations in outdoor, uncontrolled environments,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this field, whether in terms of information technology or robot piloting and control, everything - or almost everything - remains to be invented.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n


The Build'In platform boasts a wealth of research topics and projects, including structural optimization, robotized assembly and 3D printing. However, they are always measured against a rigorous lifecycle analysis that is a prerequisite for their operational approval. \"Greenwashing is out of the question: we must take care not to just displace pollution: a technology or a robot used to solve a technical problem can have an impact on environmental costs; prefabricated components can also lead to additional transport. We also need to make sure that inventions and progress are not a free pass to allow projects to multiply. Restraint should be the rule,\" says Romain Mesnil. Here, the key to success lies in preparing for change. \"The trend towards accurate sizing of structures and prefabrication calls for major upheavals in our culture, professions and business models, which will need support, particularly in the form of training\". Once the platform has completed its work on new construction, it will shift its focus to the rehabilitation of existing housing and infrastructure, \"where the needs are immense and the stakes crucial, particularly in France and Europe\". This points to another challenge on the horizon. \"We will need to develop modular, adaptable maintenance robots that can use diagnostics to carry out effective preventive maintenance and perform successive renovation operations in outdoor, uncontrolled environments,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this field, whether in terms of information technology or robot piloting and control, everything - or almost everything - remains to be invented.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n


The Build'In platform boasts a wealth of research topics and projects, including structural optimization, robotized assembly and 3D printing. However, they are always measured against a rigorous lifecycle analysis that is a prerequisite for their operational approval. \"Greenwashing is out of the question: we must take care not to just displace pollution: a technology or a robot used to solve a technical problem can have an impact on environmental costs; prefabricated components can also lead to additional transport. We also need to make sure that inventions and progress are not a free pass to allow projects to multiply. Restraint should be the rule,\" says Romain Mesnil. Here, the key to success lies in preparing for change. \"The trend towards accurate sizing of structures and prefabrication calls for major upheavals in our culture, professions and business models, which will need support, particularly in the form of training\". Once the platform has completed its work on new construction, it will shift its focus to the rehabilitation of existing housing and infrastructure, \"where the needs are immense and the stakes crucial, particularly in France and Europe\". This points to another challenge on the horizon. \"We will need to develop modular, adaptable maintenance robots that can use diagnostics to carry out effective preventive maintenance and perform successive renovation operations in outdoor, uncontrolled environments,\" says Romain Mesnil. In this field, whether in terms of information technology or robot piloting and control, everything - or almost everything - remains to be invented.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/paragraph","attrs":{"fontSize":"small","align":"","content":"Writing (French version) : Lucie Heuz\u00e9","dropCap":false,"placeholder":"","direction":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"has-small-font-size","style":"","backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n

Writing (French version) : Lucie Heuz\u00e9<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n

Writing (French version) : Lucie Heuz\u00e9<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n

Writing (French version) : Lucie Heuz\u00e9<\/p>\n"}],"seo":{"title":"Construction 4.0: A technical revolution underway"},"media":{"img":"\"\"","src":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/bandeau_carteblanche-scaled.jpg"},"url":"\/en\/articles\/construction-4-0-a-technical-revolution-underway\/","related":{"post":[],"author":[{"title":"Romain Mesnil","url":"\/en\/authors\/romain-mesnil\/","id":"4701","media":"\"\"","slug":"romain-mesnil"}],"subject":[{"title":"Cities, Urban planning & Construction","url":"\/en\/subjects\/cities-urban-planning-construction\/","id":"936","media":"\"\"","slug":"cities-urban-planning-construction"}],"category":[{"title":"Article collection","url":"\/en\/articles\/category\/dossier\/","id":"1720","media":"","slug":"dossier","_related_post_type":"folder"}],"folder":[{"title":"Construction 4.0","url":"\/en\/folders\/construction-4-0\/","id":"4730","media":"\"\"","slug":"construction-4-0"}]},"translated":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/articles\/la-construction-4-0-une-revolution-technique-amorcee\/","icon":"icon-article","duration":"6","custom_excerpt":"Confronted with immense technical and environmental challenges, the construction industry, which has long remained on the sidelines of robotization and the digital revolution, has begun its transformation. Romain Mesnil, head of the Build'In construction 4.0 technology platform, explains the current state of research and progress.","duration_type":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4693"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8978,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4693\/revisions\/8978"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ingenius.ecoledesponts.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-types?post=4693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}