Kestävän rakentamisen edistäminen teknologian avulla

Perinteisestä rakentamisesta digitaaliseen ekorakentamiseen

Construction is generally a very energy- and labor-intensive activity, generating significant pollution. It is still primarily an “offline” activity, with little digitalization compared to other economic activities.

Tieteellinen artikkeli, julkaistu Sustainable Futures¹, tarkastelee, miten tekoälyn, lohkoketjuteknologian, digitaalisen valmistuksen ja kestävyystrendin nousu voivat vaikuttaa tähän alaan.

Yhdessä digitaaliset teknologiat ja ekomateriaalit voivat merkittävästi nopeuttaa ekorakentamisteknologioita ja vähentää rakennusalan ympäristövaikutuksia.

The study was done by Malaysian researchers at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) and the National University of Malaysia (UKM), published under the title “Digital integration in eco-construction 2.0: Advancing sustainability through technology”.

Uudet tuotantomenetelmät

Materials in construction have been historically mass-produced in standardized forms, and any assembly required skilled human labor. New technologies are likely to change this status quo in the near future.

The first ones are production methods beyond factory mass production with computer numerical control (CNC) machining, laser cutting, and 3D printing. Each has its own advantages and weaknesses, and should be picked depending on the requirements of a given task.

Lähde: Sustainable Futures

These methods significantly reduce the amount of material lost during the processing of raw material into finished goods for construction.

They also allow a much higher level of flexibility over the final design, making custom design more accessible.

Lastly, they can be manufactured at a much smaller scale and more locally, potentially leading to a drastic reduction of the footprint of transport of material from raw materials to the factory to construction sites.

“Tämä menetelmä ei ainoastaan edistä ekomateriaalien käyttöä, vaan se on myös tiiviisti linjassa lean-rakentamisen periaatteiden ja net-zero -tavoitteiden kanssa sen luontaisesti alhaisen jätteen profiilin vuoksi.“

All these new production methods benefit greatly from the improvement and democratization of computer-aided design (CAD) and the widespread adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). CAD and BIM form today the digital backbone of most construction projects.

Ekomaateriaalit

Another change affecting the construction industry is the shift to more environmentally friendly materials.

A major driver of change is 3D printers capable of using materials such as recycled plastics, biodegradable polymers, and composite materials that incorporate natural fibers

In particular, geopolymeerit voidaan käyttää 3D-tulostuksessa. Geopolymeerit ovat epäorgaanisia, tyypillisesti keramiikkamaisia materiaaleja, jotka voidaan valmistaa teollisuuden sivutuotteista, kuten lentotuhkasta tai kuonasta, jotka muuten ovat voimalaitosten ja terästehtaiden jätevirtoja. Niitä voidaan valmistaa paikallisesti hankituista materiaaleista.

By doing so, it puts the construction industry in a position to recycle industrial waste instead of consuming resources.

The development of large-scale 3D printers has enabled the construction of entire building structures directly on-site, reducing transportation costs and associated carbon emissions.

However, the cost of 3D printers and their relatively low speed should be noted as still serious limitations of this technology and slowing down its deployment at scale.

Renewable ecomaterials, like massipuuta, jota käytetään puukorkeakorkeiden rakennusten rakentamiseen, could also help reduce the carbon emissions and resource consumption of the construction industry.

Uudet suunnittelut

3D printed buildings can also adopt more complex custom shapes than buildings made from mass-produced elements.

As a result, it can facilitate the integration of natural and ergonomic forms into buildings, which can enhance energy efficiency through better thermal dynamics and light distribution.

The integration of natural isolation forms, such as honeycomb structures, enhances isolation while reducing material costs and can also increase the value of 3D printing in construction.

3D printing also enables the creation of “gradient materials,” where material properties vary across a single object to meet specific functional requirements without excess material use.

Lohkoketju kestävien rakennusketjujen hallinnassa

Another recurring challenge of the construction industry is probably tracking the source of the materials used and their ESG profile.

This is a field where the efficient records allowed by blockchain technology can help.

By automating and securing transactions across the supply chain, blockchain not only enhances operational efficiencies but also builds trust among stakeholders by providing a clear and immutable record of material origins, processing, and transportation.

Blockchain can also be used to enable smart contracts, making execution of contracts smoother, putting the technology potentially at every step of the construction process, from sourcing materials to verification and certification of the finished building.

Lähde: Sustainable Futures

By helping track and prove the sourcing of materials used in construction, blockchain can help match the requirements of advanced sustainability benchmarks such as LEED, BREEAM, or ISO 21930, proving they comply with environmental regulations, labor protections, and carbon reduction mandates.

The largest limitation to the deployment of this technology is not so much technical as cultural, with the construction industry generally reluctant to modernize its practices.

“The construction sector exhibits structural resistance to digital transparency, particularly in procurement and subcontracting practices that rely on legacy workflows, informal relationships, and fragmented documentation systems.”

Most notably, this can impact existing power structures and black or gray market practices endemic in the industry, especially in some countries or regions.

“For many stakeholders, the decentralized and immutable nature of blockchain is perceived not as a facilitator but as a disruptive force that threatens existing operational norms.”

Most likely, deployment of blockchains and other digital tracking tools will happen quickly in critical infrastructure projects, where traceability is not merely a regulatory requirement but a condition for liability management and quality assurance.

Tekoäly kestävissä rakennuksissa: Sovellukset ja rajoitukset

Sovellukset

As AIs become more versatile, they can now be deployed to improve construction projects.

One application is the integration of AI in environmental impact assessment (EIA) workflows. It allows for accurate prediction from voluminous and heterogeneous datasets, including site-specific environmental indicators, historical project data, and regulatory parameters.

Apua oikeudellisten asiakirjojen ja säädösten kanssa can have a major impact as well.

“Luonnollisen kielen prosessoinnin (NLP) tekniikat poimivat rakenteellista tietoa säädösteksteistä ja historiallisesta EIA-dokumentaatiosta, nopeuttaen vaatimustenmukaisuuden arviointia ja virtaviivaistaen tarkastusjaksoja.”

Lähde: Sustainable Futures

Another application of AI is predicting material performances, for criteria as varied as structural integrity, isolation, water resistance, or durability to various stresses (moisture, chloride ingress, freeze-thaw cycles, thermal gradients, etc.).

Rajoitukset

A limit to AI deployment will, however, be the generally low quality of data for input in the industry, reducing the capacity of models and their accuracy.

As more projects become increasingly digitalized, this limitation is expected to fade over time. The same applies to the growing body of data about diverse materials’ performances in real-world conditions over several decades.

Another potential issue is if models are trained on datasets that reflect historical inequities or fail to represent sensitive ecological zones. This can be extra-problematic with AI models whose internal workings can be hard to understand, making it a sort of “black box”.

“Tekoälyn tarjoama tehokkuus ja analyyttinen syvyys on siis tasapainotettava näiden riskien kanssa toteuttamalla läpinäkyviä, auditoitavia ja kontekstisidonnaisia mallinnuskehyksiä.”

Ekomaateriaalien, lohkoketjun ja tekoälyn synergian

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Each of these innovations in construction interlocks with the others, making them more useful than if deployed separately.

As more projects integrate blockchain technology for traceability, the amount of high-quality data usable by AI increases.

As digitalization of construction projects increases, it facilitates the integration of CAD and 3D printing technology into actual construction.

Using more eco-friendly materials and implementing better recycling techniques reduces the ecological impact of construction and demolition, thereby increasing the value of high-quality data that can be used to acquire valuable environmental certifications and set new standards for the industry.

Lähde: Sustainable Futures

Examples of such synergies are already observable in real-world projects. For example, Singapore used many new technologies for the construction of eco-friendly public housing:

• Edistyneet tekoälyjärjestelmät, jotka analysoivat ympäristötietoja, kuten auringonvalon altistumista, tuulisuuksia ja kaupunkialueen lämpösaarekeilmiöitä, optimoiden rakennuksen suuntausta ja materiaalivalintaa.
• Kestävät materiaalit, kuten kierrätetty betoni ja kestävästi hankittu puu. Nämä materiaalit sijoitetaan strategisesti rakennuksen rakenteeseen maksimoimaan luonnollinen ilmanvaihto ja valon määrä.
• Korkean suorituskyvyn eristys ja ikkunat sekä aurinkopaneelit ja vihreät katot yhdistetään tekoälyjärjestelmiin, jotka jatkuvasti seuraavat ja säätävät energian käyttöä reaaliaikaisten ympäristöolosuhteiden perusteella.

Käytännön esimerkit

The study also presents real-world early adopters of these technologies to demonstrate that we are now firmly in the implementation stage of the technology cycle.

One example is the use of blockchain to solve payment disputes with contractors and suppliers.

“Dubaissa toteutettu lippulaivainfrastruktuurihanke otti käyttöön lohkoketjun sopimushallinnan virtaviivaistamiseksi ja vaihepohjaisten maksujen toteuttamiseksi, mikä johti mitattaviin parannuksiin hallinnollisessa tehokkuudessa ja pienempiin taloudellisiin kustannuksiin.”

Blockchain also helped the tracking of materials’ environmental footprint.

“Alankomaissa lohkoketjua on kokeiltu seuraamaan teräksen ja betonin kaltaisten keskimateriaaleiden reaaliaikaista laatua, toimitusta ja ympäristöjalanjälkeä, varmistaen, että sekä materiaalin tekniset vaatimukset että kestävyyskynnykset täyttyvät ilman manuaalisia tarkastuspullonkauloja.”

A use case of IA was demonstrated in Sweden, where architects and engineers selected advanced insulating materials that optimized energy retention during the winter and minimized heat intake during the summer.

“Näiden optimoitujen materiaalien käyttöönotto johti energian kulutuksen vähenemiseen jopa 25 % uusissa asuinrakennuksissa, mikä merkittävästi alensi näiden asuntojen hiilijalanjälkeä.”

AI was also deployed in Japan to automate the recycling of construction waste.

AI-powered sorting systems equipped with advanced imaging and sensor technologies accurately identified and categorized different types of construction waste.

“Pilottihankkeessa, joka toteutettiin purkualueella, tekoälyjärjestelmä nosti kierrätysasteen 30 % perinteisiin manuaalisiin lajittelumenetelmiin verrattuna.

Lajittelun tehokkuus myös vähensi kokonaisaikaa ja työvoimakustannuksia, jotka liittyvät jätehuoltoon, tehden kierrätysprosessista taloudellisemman ja kestävämmän.”

Sääntelyhaasteet kestävissä rakennuksissa

Paradoxically, while most regulations in construction are oriented toward improving safety and environmental profiles, they might also be a hindrance to the deployment of these technologies.

A large part of the potential problems stems from the decline in standardization in construction methods. Custom design might improve the energetic and environmental profile, but they are also hard to fit into the rigid categories and assessment methods mandated by regulations.

One element that can help is the so-called “regulatory sandbox”, allowing for pilot projects to prove their value with less overbearing control.

“These frameworks allow construction firms to pilot digital methods without full regulatory exposure, facilitating innovation while preserving oversight.”

Another improvement can be embedding digital construction requirements within public tendering protocols. This way, governments are not only adapting to, but actively steering the transition toward a digitally-enabled &  environmentally-responsible construction sector.

These regulatory changes will need to be managed at the local, national, and international levels.

Lähde: Sustainable Futures

They also need to move quickly enough to adapt to technological improvements. Otherwise, this could slow down the adoption of innovative technologies like AI and 3D printing in construction, as companies may be reluctant to invest heavily in technologies that might not comply with future regulations.

Tulevaisuuden rakennusteknologiat

Even more impressive materials might one day be integrated into construction projects. For example, nanoteknologia in material science offers the potential to create ultra-strong, lightweight construction materials that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Another option is älymateriaalit that can adapt to environmental changes, such as temperature-responsive polymers that adjust their insulating properties based on weather conditions.

These materials could dramatically increase energy efficiency and comfort in buildings without additional mechanical intervention.

Digitaaliset valmistusteknologiat could also become even more sophisticated, likely incorporating real-time quality control systems, like advanced sensors and AI algorithms to adjust printing parameters on the fly, ensuring optimal material properties and structural integrity.

Robotiikka could also have a major impact, with, for example, robots performing bricklaying or complex installations of pipes and cables, improving speed and precision while reducing human error and labor costs.

Lastly, Tekoäly could have a major impact on research into new materials, from a digital twin of a building observing the evolution of parameters over time to boosting the discovery of new materials, improving material lifespans, and enhancing the understanding of environmental impact throughout a building’s entire life cycle.

Yhteenveto

Construction has been historically a relatively “low-tech” industry, only integrating new materials slowly and keeping construction methods relatively unchanged.

The simultaneous maturation of CNC, 3D printing, CAD, digital footprint, and AI might change that soon. Especially when combined with a push for lower environmental impact, more traceability, more energy efficiency, and less material consumption.

However, contrary to many other economic sectors, it is unlikely that this will push much human labor out of the construction industry.

Instead, it will improve productivity, safety, and green profiles of new buildings, while enabling better designs and lower resource consumption, all under the supervision of humans still directly handling the messy and changing conditions of a construction site.

3D‑tulostusyritys

(Besides the companies discussed below, you can read about others in our article “Top 10 Additive Manufacturing And 3D Printing Stock to Watch”)

Nano Dimension

Useimmat lisävalmistusyritykset keskittyvät metalliin ja muoviin, tavoitteena monimutkaiset mekaaniset osat. Nano Dimension (NNDM ) sen sijaan keskittyi 3D‑tulostettuun elektroniikkaan. Tämä sisältää erittäin erikoistuneita teknologioita, kuten johtavia tai dielektrisiä musteita ja keramiikkaa. Näitä voidaan esimerkiksi käyttää optisten tai radiokomponenttien rakentamiseen.

Tämä on yksi mahdollinen 3D‑tulostuksen sovellus nanoskaalassa, jota tarkastelimme tarkemmin artikkelissa “Nanoscale 3D Printing Looks Primed for Commercialization”.

Nano Dimension on kasvanut yhdistelmällä yritysostoja ja sisäistä T&K:ta.

Lähde: Nano Dimensions

This strategy changed with the acquisition of Desktop Metal, announced in 2024 and finalized in 2025. Together, the 2 companies will have a much stronger position in metal and ceramics 3D printing at all scales, from electronics to large industrial equipment and aerospace, with a strong move into industrial production.

This also creates economies of scale by merging the customer base that includes SpaceX (SPCX ), Tesla (TSLA ), GE, Honeywell, Emerson, Raytheon, NASA, Medtronics, etc.

Lastly, the two companies were mostly active in different geographic areas, with Nano Dimension in Europe and Desktop Metal in the US, allowing for synergy by merging their sales teams.

Lähde: Nano Dimension

The company claims it can reduce the ecological footprint of manufacturing, with a reduction of 94% in CO2 emissions, 100% in water, 98% in materials, and 82% in chemicals. Overall, we can expect Nano Dimension to emerge as a leader in technology.

Lähde: Nano Dimensions

The merged companies are well-positioned to leverage new discoveries in 3D printing and develop stronger aluminum alloys, with these innovations likely to expand the addressable market.

However, investors need to be aware that both per-acquisition Nano Dimension and per-acquisition Desktop Metal were cash flow negative, so the resulting company will need to cut costs or grow sufficiently to turn a profit in the future.

(Voit lukea syvällisemmän analyysin Nano Dimensionista omassa sijoitusraportissamme)

Uusimmat Nano Dimension (NNDM) osakeuutiset ja kehitykset