Solid construction - sustainable and digital

The construction industry is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation: the way people live, work, dwell and build is being questioned and radically changed. Megatrends such as digitalization, resource scarcity and climate change, demographic changes and urbanization are increasingly influencing the development of new technologies and products in the construction sector as well.

In addition to megatrends, the overall global economic situation has a significant impact on the construction industry, such as energy security or the security of supply of building materials within the value chains. The demands of building owners in terms of costs and energy efficiency, safety, health, comfort and design solutions are also calling for new ideas in the construction sector, and here especially in solid construction. Against this background, the thematic focus of the symposium " Bau Innovativ 2023 " is set.

Europe on the road to climate neutrality

Europe is to be the first continent to become climate neutral by 2050, according to the European Green Deal presented by the European Commission in 2019. To implement this, the Taxonomy Regulation was developed in 2020 in the course of this. It classifies all economic activities in terms of their sustainability. The aim is to provide companies, investors and policymakers with information on which economic activities are considered environmentally sustainable. The ordinance stipulates that from 2023 onwards - and this also applies to the construction industry - companies must provide information on environmental objectives such as circular economy, pollution prevention, water protection and biodiversity. Specifically for the construction industry, the European Commission also launched an initiative in 2020 called the New European Construction House. It is intended to expand the European Green Deal into a European cultural project. The idea is to develop ideas and concepts and disseminate them to the public to support new ways of living in buildings that are in harmony with nature and the environment.

To learn more about the EU framework with Taxonomy Regulation and Green Deal as part of our symposium .

Building in Bavaria - Framework Conditions and Perspectives

Sustainability, aesthetics as well as inclusion - the framework conditions defined by the European Commission with Green Deal, Taxonomy Regulation and New European Bauhaus Initiative have been set. But what does this mean for Germany and Bavaria in particular? As a key sector, the construction industry employs around 6 percent of all gainfully employed persons in Germany and contributes over 10 percent to the gross national product. The Free State of Bavaria alone moves an annual construction volume of eight to nine billion euros and, as a public sector client, invests in infrastructure or public buildings, for example. At the same time, the construction and real estate sector represents the economic sector with the greatest consumption of resources. It is responsible for around 40 percent of all greenhouse gases, 35 percent of energy consumption and 60 percent of waste generation.

What are the prospects for sustainable construction here? A key contribution will be research into materials and construction methods that can reduce CO ₂ emissions. This is being promoted with state funds. Another aspect of Bavarian building culture is the resource-friendly use of land and building materials. Here, companies, planners and architects receive support from the public administration at state and municipal level. Initiatives within the framework of the Environmental Pact, such as the working aids for the Bavarian Compensation Ordinance and the Alliance for Land Saving, are worth mentioning here.  To survive in the tough national and international competition, however, creative ideas and innovations are needed above all. The future viability of the construction industry in Germany and in Bavaria will therefore also depend on how quickly it succeeds in driving innovations forward.

Digital processes in construction

93 percent of companies in the construction industry plan to continue investing in their digital transformation in the future. Companies have recognized that they must continue to digitize in order to still be economically successful tomorrow - this was revealed by the 2021/2022 Digitalization Index for SMEs. Currently, industry software is primarily used to make the actual construction processes faster, more transparent and safer. The use of intelligent software reduces errors compared to manually recorded information and is used today for construction site planning or construction documentation, for example. Especially in the area of construction logistics, much is expected from the use of digital solutions. The better supply chain management succeeds in optimizing supply chains, the better the individual process steps can be networked. In the face of very tight construction schedules, tight land, shortages of skilled workers, cost pressures and sometimes very complex ordering processes with timed delivery deadlines, there are major advantages. Schedules and resources are planned using software and can be accessed from any location. Machines and equipment can also be digitized by equipping them with GPS or other sensors.

In the future, it is hoped that further networking of construction machinery and process execution will, among other things, help to compensate for fluctuating process quality due to largely manual processes and quality control, high consumption of materials and operating resources, and high utilization of skilled labor in a forward-looking manner. To this end, the company is increasingly relying on digitization as early as the planning stage of the construction project. For example, a digital twin is used, which means that the construction project is created virtually before the actual construction. It can be used, for example, to simulate variants, plan trades, and even digitally map the entire building - with advantages in terms of risk minimization and rapid implementation, since all those involved can access the same level of information. This puts the digital twin at the heart of the digital value chain.

Building Information Modeling - Building Design in the Virtual World

In the construction industry, the advantages of Building Information Modeling (BIM) have long been recognized. The tool makes it possible to digitally map even complex building models with all relevant information throughout the entire planning process. The advantages are obvious: greater planning reliability, simplified risk management, early detection of potential errors. Topics such as environmental protection and sustainability can also be covered. The planning method Building Information Modeling (BIM) is also suitable for the renovation and modernization of existing buildings. Support for all interested parties is provided by BIM Germany. This is the national center for digitization in construction. It is jointly operated by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport and the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction and is the federal government's central public point of contact for information and activities relating to BIM. "The application of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) method requires a coordinated exchange of data between all actors in the planning, construction and operation of structures, as well as a clear definition of requirements that can be understood by all parties," writes the BIM portal on its website . How the implementation can look in practice is described in the presentation "BIM in an IPA project" by Jakob Przybylo, DT Bau, regional speaker buildingSMART. buildingSMART is the competence network for digital design, construction and operation of buildings. As a non-profit organization, it drives the digital transformation of the entire construction value chain. The goal is to make construction projects more efficient through better coordination between the parties involved.

Additive manufacturing: 3-D printing in construction

What if not only planning could run digitally with tools like BIM, but also real construction? What is meant is the additive manufacturing of components or even entire houses. Here, 3D concrete printing is emerging as a promising trend in the construction industry. On the one hand, advantages are expected from the durable and resistant construction of printed buildings. On the other hand, complex and individual shapes and structures are made possible. Other aspects that speak for 3-D printing are the optimized use of materials through automated calculations, faster production and a reduced need for employees, which of course counteracts the shortage of skilled workers.

The first projects are already being implemented in 3-D printing, such as by EIGNER Bauunternehmung GmbH from Nördlingen. You can learn more about this topic in the practical lecture "3-D printing in construction" at the symposium.

Energy-efficient and sustainable planning and construction

Construction accounts for around 40 percent of CO ₂ emissions and energy consumption. It also accounts for more than half of waste. Action is needed here through energy-efficient design and construction. An essential component of this is life cycle analysis. This involves examining a building for its ecological, energy and economic value, including materials, operation, deconstruction and recycling. Alternative construction methods and different materials are also taken into account. In this way, the person responsible for the building can get a precise picture of energy efficiency, CO ₂ emissions, possibilities for reusability, and costs, and make his decisions on this basis. The analysis can be supported by online databases such as bauteilnetz.de or restado.de. These determine the value of building materials for possible reusability and thus contribute to sustainable planning and construction. Aspects such as prefabrication, lightweight construction methods or digital manufacturing open up further potential for sustainable building.

You can find out more about this topic and why we have no choice but to build sustainably at our symposium.

Circular economy and sustainable building

Sustainable building is the order of the day in solid construction. This concerns the lowest possible consumption of resources in the construction of buildings, the lowest possible environmental impact, and economical operation during their useful life. Solid houses score points here thanks to their robustness, their very good ability to store heat and their longevity. Thus, the  criteria of sustainability are better achieved compared to houses in lightweight construction. According to a study by the Technical University of Darmstadt, a solid house leads to significantly lower environmental impact through sustainable construction than, for example, a building constructed using wood studs. Another advantage: the masonry walls, which are made of mineral materials, can be returned to the cycle after use.

How well the components of houses can be reused and recycled after the end of their useful life is a key issue for the circular economy. Is the wrecking ball coming or are there more environmentally friendly alternatives? Demolition releases numerous raw materials that could be reused. But unfortunately, this is hardly the common practice today. In most cases, construction waste is disposed of at high cost as mixed waste. The situation is different for excavated soils. These are either used in technical construction applications or as backfill for pits and quarries close to the site. Currently, up to 80 percent of mineral construction waste generated in Bavaria is recycled, and road rubble is even recycled up to more than 90 percent. The environment benefits by conserving natural soil and building material resources and landfill space can be saved.

Another theme of the circular economy, instead of the complete demolition of buildings, is the selective deconstruction of buildings in order to reuse parts. This also applies to prefabricated concrete parts, which are currently used in modular construction in addition to lightweight construction methods. Prefabricated houses now account for around 23 percent of the German market for single- and two-family homes. And the trend is rising. So there is great potential for the circular economy.

Recyclability of building materials

Building materials such as sand, gravel or crushed stone are recyclable as mineral building materials. To conserve resources, these secondary raw materials should be reused in the construction industry - also to save CO ₂ in their production. The Bavarian Industrial Association Baustoffe Steine und Erden e. V. and Baustoff Recycling Bayern e. V., among others, are working together to achieve this. The aim is to increase the use of recyclable materials. According to estimates by the Technical University of Munich, around 6.6 million tons of recycled building materials could be used in Bavarian ready-mix concrete plants alone under the current legal requirements. However, less than 100,000 tons per year are used - also due to the sometimes difficult availability of space. So here, too, there is still room for improvement.

Concrete recycling saves resources

A lot is happening at the moment, especially on the subject of concrete recycling. This already begins with the production of concrete in the plant. Here, excess fresh concrete or the so-called residual water is recycled and fed back into the production process. For this purpose, liquid and solid components are separated in the recycling plant of the concrete factory. For the solid components, recycled aggregates are used instead of gravel or chippings. This saves valuable resources. Even reclaimed concrete components or hardened precast concrete parts and products that do not meet quality requirements can be completely reused in the process. Ready-mix concrete produced from recycled material is also known as R-concrete. In terms of properties, it is basically just as strong as concrete made only with natural aggregates. Today, recycled building materials already cover almost 13 percent of the demand for aggregates in Germany. They thus replace raw materials that would otherwise have to be extracted from natural deposits. In view of the more difficult development of further deposits of natural aggregates and possibilities to landfill construction waste, the recycling of building materials will continue to gain in importance in the future, the cement and construction industry is certain.

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