SMF4INFRA seeks to transform the execution of complex infrastructure projects. Such projects necessitate a shift towards more dynamic and technologically integrated manufacturing processes, diverging from traditional methods prevalent in the supply chain. The enhancement of cost control, time efficiency, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions stand at the forefront of this transition. The primary aim of the ongoing research is to ideate and construct both a physical and a digital model of a Smart Mobile Factory (SMF). This factory model will incorporate cutting-edge logistics capable of real-time monitoring and analytics, which will facilitate advanced planning and on-the-spot production capabilities.
A smart factory creates a digital twin of the physical manufacturing systems, establishing a seamless bi-directional data exchange. This interconnectedness is pivotal for enabling comprehensive advanced planning, realistic simulation, and efficient on-demand production processes.
A mobile factory can be described as a distributed production facility composed of reconfigurable and mobile production systems that facilitate the adjustment of production capacity and functionality according to on-site conditions.
The development of the SMF will include a comprehensive, real-time life cycle assessment to ensure sustainability is woven into its core. This dynamic evaluation will track and optimize the environmental impact throughout the SMF's life cycle.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Patrick Dallasega participated as speaker at the International Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems (APMS), Chemnitz, Germany from 08-12 September 2024.
PhD student Jianxiang Ma from the Chair of Sustainable Construction in Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zurich, attended the Net-Zero Future 2024 conference in Oslo, Norway, from June 19th to 21st. The event featured eight keynote talks and over 200 presentations.
Assistant professor Daniel Hall and Postdoctoral Researcher Jianpeng Cao, from the Section of Design & Construction Management, Department of Management in the Built Environment at TU Delft's Faculty of Architecture, attended the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC) 2024. The conference took place in Lille, France, from June 3rd to 5th and featured six keynote talks and over 200 presentations.
On April 26, 2024, researchers Andrea Revolti, Jianxiang Ma, and Jianpeng Cao met at ETH Zürich. The gathering focused on updating the progress of the Hyperloop construction and selecting advanced sensors for integration into a physical factory prototype. Additionally, the potential use cases of digital twin applications are discussed.
On 07.03.2024, researchers Irfan Čustović, Ishaan Kaushal and Andrea Revolti met in the Smart Mini Factory lab at the Free University of Bolzano. The meeting targeted to jointly discuss potential sensors to be installed in a physical factory prototype, ensuring its efficiency and accuracy. Additionally, the in-person meeting was a great opportunity to review the alignment of the developments of our digital twin platform on Unity, simultaneously considering the objectives of work packages 1, 2, and 3.
On September 4th & 5th, 2023, Bolzano, Italy played host to a workshop that brought together a diverse group of interdisciplinary researchers, including civil engineers, architects, computer scientists, and industrial engineers. The primary focus of this gathering was the Smart Mobile Factory for Infrastructure (SMF4INFRA) Project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing infrastructure construction.
