Additive Manufacturing as A Solution For Sustainable Emergency Housing

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate the potential of additive manufacturing processes as a sustainable solution to emergency housing and the shelter and displacement problem. The research, which took the MENA region as a theoretical example, being the region with the most displacement, begins with a thorough review of the current shelter and displacement situation in affected regions, examining the roles played by local governments, markets, and citizens. Through the use of SWOT matrices, this study analyzes how additive manufacturing can provide viable and sustainable solutions for emergency housing in the affected areas. Furthermore, the research includes a shelter simulation, featuring time and cost analysis for three different construction methods and materials, facilitating a comprehensive comparison, of how Additive Manufacturing offers advantages on waste and labor cost reduction compared to conventional methods. Additionally, four case studies are presented, highlighting the application of additive manufacturing technology and its comparison to traditional sheltering methods. These case studies serve as evidence of the gradual availability of additive manufacturing capabilities to the general public. The investigation concludes that concrete printing technologies hold potential as a reliable sheltering solution for the MENA region. However, further testing and field application of this technology in the region is necessary to establish it as a viable alternative to address the complexities of the shelter and displacement issue, despite the considerable potential offered by advanced technologies.