Architectural 3D-Printed Structures Created Using Artificial Intelligence: A Review of Techniques and Applications

Abstract

Featured Application: A review of Artificial Intelligence-driven approaches to 3D printing of large-scale architectural structures can provide practitioners and academic researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the current state of the field, reinforce innovative design, inform material and fabrication method choices, support sustainability goals, and provide practical insights through the review of different cases. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D printing (3DP) play considerable roles in what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, by developing data- and machine-intelligence-based integrated production technologies. In architecture, this shift was induced by increasingly complex design requirements, posing important challenges for real-world design implementation, large-scale structure fabrication, and production quality standardization. The study systematically reviews the application of AI techniques in all stages of creating 3D-printed architectural structures and provides a comprehensive image of the development in the field. The research goals are to (1) offer a comprehensive critical analysis of the body of literature; (2) identify and categorize approaches to integrating AI in the production of 3D-printed structures; (3) identify and discuss challenges and opportunities of AI integration in architectural production of 3D-printed structures; and (4) identify research gaps and provide recommendations for future research. The findings indicate that AI is an emerging addition to the 3DP process, mainly transforming it through the real-time adjustment of the design or printing parameters, enhanced printing quality control, or prediction and optimization of key design features. However, the potential of the application of AI in large-scale architectural 3D printing still needs to be explored. Lastly, the study emphasizes the necessity of redefining traditional field boundaries, opening new opportunities for intelligent architectural production.