Top 5 construction innovations

New materials and energy, design approaches, as well as advances in digital technology, are creating a wave of innovation in the construction industry. Here are 5 of the most exciting developments.

1. SELF-HEALING CONCRETE

Fig. 33. Self-healing Concrete

Cement is one of the most widely used materials in construction, but also one of the largest contributors to harmful carbon emissions, said to be responsible for around 7% of annual global emissions. Cracking is a major problem in construction, usually caused by exposure to water and chemicals. Researchers at Bath University have developed self-healing concrete using a mix containing bacteria within microcapsules, which will germinate when water enters a crack in the concrete to produce limestone, covering the crack before water and oxygen has a chance to corrode the steel reinforcement.

2. THERMAL BRIDGING

Fig. 34. Thermal Bridging

Efficient insulation material is becoming very important in the construction industry. Heat transmission through walls passes directly through the building envelope, masonry, block or stud frame to the internal cladding such as drywall. This process is known as “thermal bridging”. Aerogel is considered one of the most effective thermal insulation materials. This can be used to insulate studs, which can increase overall wall R-value (a measure of thermal resistance) by more than 40 %.

3. PHOTOVOLTAIC GLAZING

Fig. 35. Photovoltaic glazing

Photovoltaic glazing can help buildings generate their own electricity by turning the whole building envelope into a solar panel. Companies provide transparent photovoltaic glass as a structural building material forming windows, façades and roofs. This technology is efficient at producing energy even on north-facing, vertical walls. As well as saving on energy bills, its cost is only a little higher in comparison with traditional glass, since construction costs remain, while cladding costs are replaced.

4. KINETIC FOOTFALL

There is a technology that enables flooring to harness the energy of footsteps. It can be used indoors or outdoors in high traffic areas, and generates electricity from pedestrian footfall. It has already been used in a football pitch in Rio de Janeiro to help power the floodlights around the pitch.

Fig. 36. Kinetic Footfall

5. MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

Modular construction is very popular where a building is constructed off-site using the same materials and designed to the same standards as traditional on-site construction. It limits environmental damage delivering components as and when needed. It also has strong sustainability benefits, from fewer vehicle movements to less waste. With up to 70 % of a building produced as components, it allows a move towards “just in time” manufacturing and delivery. In the United States and UK, Chinese developer Broad Sustainable Building recently completed a 57-storey skyscraper in 19 working days using this method.