Q.

What is the importance of sustainability in construction industry?

A.

Construction has among the higest level of emissions of any industry globally. Approximately 40% of annual global carbon emissions are due to construciton process. Of this about 11% of emissions are during the construction process, with the rest during a building's operations, mainly for energy. Heavy emitters in construction include the manufacture of steel, cement and glass.

Q.

Is 3D printing construction sustainable?

A.

The level of sustainability on a 3D printed project depends on the materials used and where the print is done. Many 3D printing projects use concrete. However, some companies are now investigating cleaner materials than standard concrete that have lower overall emissions in their manufacture. Some prints are done on location, and others offsite, with the finished parts transported to site for final assemly. The distanced travelled to site will have imnplications on the level of emissions.

Q.

What is a common data environment in the AEC industry?

A.

A common data environment (CDE) is a cloud-based space that stores data from a construction project, and is made accessible to the organisations working on a project within the AEC industry.

Q.

Does Saudi Arabia have a green buildling code?

A.

The Saudi Building Code (SBC) is a set of legal, administrative and technical regulations that outline minimum required standards for building design and construction in the kingdom. It is designed to make sure the built environment minimises its impact on the environment. In early 2020, Saudi Arabia released a new green building code called Mostadam. The rating system runs alongside the SBC and is applied to residential buildings, communities and commercial buildings. Mostadam covers two elements - Design and Construction, and Operational and Existing. It was developed to address the long-term sustainability of residential buildings.

Q.

What is the role of BIM in construction?

A.

BIM assists architects, engineers, and constructors visualize what is to be built in a 3D constrcution environment tand asses design, construction, or operational issues.
BIM represents a new archetype within AEC, that promotes the integration of the roles of all stakeholders on a construction project.

Q.

How is IOT used in construction?

A.

IoT devices allow aquire data on various changes in construction materials or environment conditions; tracking separate parts, details, or items; and updating BIM models in real-time.

Q.

Is 3D printing technology the future of construction?

A.

There are a number of modern methods of construction being used in today's construction industry, including 3D printing. Others include modular construction and offsite construction.