Case study analysis for development strategies of construction 3D printing

Abstract

At present, the application of 3D printing technology in the construction industry is still in its early stages. As such, several problems occur when using construction 3D printing techniques, such as the limitation of printer size and lack of printing materials. Therefore, research on construction 3D printing is becoming a trend because it marks the continuous progress of civil engineering toward automation and modernization. This study aims to analyze the application of 3D printing technology in the construction industry and explore development strategies for popularizing construction 3D printing. A critical literature review was provided as a clear introduction of background information and transition of the developing process. Practical cases were compared to identify the main characteristics of this particular technology. Consequently, development prospects were investigated by external and internal factor analyses using expert grading method. Finally, with the help of SWOT analysis, development strategies of 3D printing in the construction industry were put forward.