Date of Defense
19-11-2024 2:30 PM
Location
F1-1124
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Architectural Engineering
College
COE
Department
Architectural Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Mahmoud Haggag
Keywords
Modular Construction, Affordable Housing, Construction Automation, Prefabrication.
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters worldwide, resulting in loss of life, displacement, and extensive property damage. According to the UNHCR's report, 89.3 million individuals were displaced in 2021, highlighting that the speed and volume of displacement exceeds the availability of solutions for those affected. To address the urgent need for affordable housing solutions, modular construction is preferred over traditional construction methods as it tackles limitations such as long project durations, high costs, and safety and environmental concerns. Integrating advanced technologies in modular construction can further enhance its benefits and address design, manufacturing, and assembly challenges. Although researchers studied automation integration in construction, research on the effectiveness of such integration in the context of modular affordable housing is limited. This study examines the impact of automation on the time efficiency and cost of the modular construction manufacturing process, ultimately enhancing affordable housing production. The research follows a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data will first be collected through a literature review to investigate the current state of automation technology integration in modular construction, and second, simulation tools will be used to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating automation in modular affordable housing construction. The 3D simulation will compare automated and manual assembly processes, focusing on resource utilization, time savings, and cost implications. Results indicated that automated processes outperformed manual methods in terms of speed, leading to significant time reductions of about 37% and long-term cost savings, estimated at 535,000 USD annually, despite the higher upfront investment, which could be returned in about 6 months. By conducting a detailed analysis, this research provides insights into optimizing the construction process by integrating automation into modular construction manufacturing. Also, it addresses the gap by quantitatively comparing manual and automated modular construction manufacturing processes using 3D simulation.
Included in
AUTOMATING MODULAR CONSTRUCTION MANUFACTURING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
F1-1124
In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters worldwide, resulting in loss of life, displacement, and extensive property damage. According to the UNHCR's report, 89.3 million individuals were displaced in 2021, highlighting that the speed and volume of displacement exceeds the availability of solutions for those affected. To address the urgent need for affordable housing solutions, modular construction is preferred over traditional construction methods as it tackles limitations such as long project durations, high costs, and safety and environmental concerns. Integrating advanced technologies in modular construction can further enhance its benefits and address design, manufacturing, and assembly challenges. Although researchers studied automation integration in construction, research on the effectiveness of such integration in the context of modular affordable housing is limited. This study examines the impact of automation on the time efficiency and cost of the modular construction manufacturing process, ultimately enhancing affordable housing production. The research follows a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data will first be collected through a literature review to investigate the current state of automation technology integration in modular construction, and second, simulation tools will be used to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating automation in modular affordable housing construction. The 3D simulation will compare automated and manual assembly processes, focusing on resource utilization, time savings, and cost implications. Results indicated that automated processes outperformed manual methods in terms of speed, leading to significant time reductions of about 37% and long-term cost savings, estimated at 535,000 USD annually, despite the higher upfront investment, which could be returned in about 6 months. By conducting a detailed analysis, this research provides insights into optimizing the construction process by integrating automation into modular construction manufacturing. Also, it addresses the gap by quantitatively comparing manual and automated modular construction manufacturing processes using 3D simulation.