Technology and engineering are evolving at a faster rate than at any other time in history to help the construction industry meet new challenges, presenting new ways of creating homes and other types of buildings quickly, efficiently and cost effectively. Robot construction workers, nanomaterials, and technologies influenced by nature: these are just some of the innovations that are starting to demonstrate their potential in construction, and all of them and more will feature at Vision London, taking place at London’s Olympia on 7/8 June.
Here are four of the areas of innovation that will be featuring in the Future Materials and Systems educational stream at Vision.
- Nanoparticles: Nanoparticles added to construction materials, such as cement, concrete and steel are promising to deliver significant improvements, including greater strength, and are bringing new properties like self-healing and self-cleaning. In his presentation on 7 June, Dr Bojan Boskovic will consider how the use of carbon nanomaterials can open up new possibilities for sustainable design strategies, improve the nature of building structures and provide a new array of functions that can improve interaction between buildings and their occupants.
- Innovating from nature: Sustainable design approaches have brought us organic forms in architecture and innovation in the use of natural materials, like timber. Some are developing bolder visions, with research exploring how nature could more radically shape our city, and help the built environment to withstand potential environmental challenges in the future. Leading visionaries and future-gazers, Melissa Sterry and Rachel Armstrong, will both be sharing their ideas in presentations at Vision London on 7 June.
- Circular economy: There is a growing focus within industry generally on the circular economy – the principle of using resources wisely by ensuring products and materials are designed at the outset for durability and recycling. On the first day of Vision London a team from the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products’ (ASBP) Reusable Buildings Network will give an update on two innovative projects on steel reuse within construction.
- Robotics: Manpower has been replaced by machine in many areas of construction, and the advance of technology looks set to continue. Robotic fabrication WILL change the way we build, is the title of a technology talk at Vision London on 8 June by Sebastian Andraos and Federico Rossi.
Vision London takes place on 7/8 June 2016 at Olympia London. To register for your free of charge pass go to www.visionlondon.com/register