Quality as Driver for Sustainable Construction—Holistic Quality Model and Assessment

Abstract

Facing rising building demands due to a fast-growing world population and significant environmental challenges at the same time, the building sector urgently requires innovation. The Cluster of Excellence Integrative Computational Design and Construction for Architecture at the University of Stuttgart tackles these challenges through a Co-Design approach for integrating computational design and engineering and robotic construction. Within this research framework, a Holistic Quality Model is developed to ensure the technical, environmental, and social quality of Co-Design processes and products. Up to now, quality models that consider and integrate all these three aspects throughout the life cycle of buildings are still missing. The article outlines the concept of holistic quality assessment based on a Holistic Quality Model for sustainable construction. A key mechanism for sustainable quality assessment in the Holistic Quality Model is the definition of control and decision points in the construction process where critical decisions are made that will affect the quality of the building throughout its entire life-cycle. Firstly, subject-specific quality concepts are defined and their interrelations are conceptualized. Subsequently, these interrelations and their effects on the overall Co-Design construction processes and products are explained using the example of the semi-robotic production of concrete slabs. Examples for control and decision points are given as well. The outline presented here serves as a basis for further advancing and concretizing the Holistic Quality Model and its applications in Co-Design for a functioning, liveable, and sustainable high-quality construction and building culture.

Integratives computerbasiertes Planen und Bauen: Architektur digital neu denken

“…In diesem Bereich wird bspw. ein ganzheitliches Qualitätsmodell entwickelt, um die technische, ökologische und soziale Qualität von Co‐Design‐Prozessen und ‐Produkten sicherzustellen [8]. Ebenso werden architekturhistorische Querbezüge zu den Ansätzen des industriellen und seriellen Bauens der 1960er und 1970er untersucht und reflektiert, um ein Lernen aus der Geschichte von Beginn an zu ermöglichen.…”

“…So soll die Qualität verbessert, die Arbeit auf der Baustelle minimiert und die Zeit‐ und Kostenkontrolle verbessert werden. Zugleich werden Kontrollpunkte definiert, um die Überwachung und Koordination von qualitäts‐ und sicherheitsbezogenen sowie regulativen Kriterien zu gewährleisten [8]. Dies ist auch relevant, um eine nahtlose Zusammenarbeit zwischen Fachkräften und Robotern in der Vorfertigung zu unterstützen – von der Entwicklung geeigneter Schnittstellen und Visualisierungswerkzeuge bis hin zu notwendigen Fachkompetenzen [16].…”

Toward Life Cycle Sustainability in Infrastructure: The Role of Automation and Robotics in PPP Projects

“…Computerized feedback loops and control and decision points enable not only the assessment of quality at a certain point, but also predict the impact of the decision throughout the life cycle to enable sustainable decision making [56]. Linked to artificial intelligence, project management analyses beyond humans processing abilities can generate valuable decision-making insights in much shorter time, greater speed and higher accuracy.…”

“…Managed successfully, the transition to more off-site construction and less manual work can then enhance technical quality and reliability, process resilience and timeliness. Shorter production times also allow energy savings to reduce the environmental impact of the project [56].…”

Integrative computational design and construction: Rethinking architecture digitally

“…In this way, quality will be improved, work on the construction site will be minimized and time and cost control advanced. At the same time, control points are defined to ensure the monitoring and coordination of quality, safety and regulatory criteria 8 . This is also relevant to support seamless collaboration between skilled workers and robots in prefabrication—from the development of suitable interfaces and visualization tools to necessary expertise 16 .…”