Are We There Yet? Progress Review of Digital Manufacturing for Earth Construction

Mohamed Gomaa; Hamidreza Malekian; Veronica Soebarto; Alejandro Veliz Reyes

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-97818-0_4

Are We There Yet? Progress Review of Digital Manufacturing for Earth Construction

Mohamed Gomaa^*
, Hamidreza Malekian
, Veronica Soebarto
, Alejandro Veliz Reyes

^*Corresponding author for this work

Swinburne University of Technology
University of Adelaide

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

The construction industry is currently transforming under the dual imperatives of digitisation and decarbonisation. Digital Manufacturing of Earth Construction (DMEC) is emerging as a sustainable alternative to traditional building methods, offering solutions to environmental challenges while improving efficiency. This chapter provides a progress review of DMEC from 2021 to 2024, focusing on three key domains: manufacturing technologies, material and performance aspects, and research reliability and visibility. Serving as a “Checkpoint 2.0,” this chapter builds on previous review by authors, aiming to consolidate critical information to support the broader adoption of digital earth construction techniques. The review highlights significant advancements, such as the development of hybrid systems and enhanced earthen mixtures. It also examines the increasing interest from industry and government stakeholders in scaling up DMEC for industrial applications. The digital earth construction framework has evolved from initial proofs-of-concept to full-scale prototypes, marking a significant step toward commercial viability.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Springer Series in Materials Science
Publisher	Springer
Pages	57-71
Number of pages	15
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-031-97818-0
ISBN (Print)	978-3-031-97817-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-97818-0_4
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2025

Publication series

Name	Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 352))

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science

Keywords

3D printing
Additive manufacturing
Clay-based materials
Decarbonisation
Digital manufacturing
Earth construction

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-97818-0_4

Cite this

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title = "Are We There Yet? Progress Review of Digital Manufacturing for Earth Construction",

abstract = "The construction industry is currently transforming under the dual imperatives of digitisation and decarbonisation. Digital Manufacturing of Earth Construction (DMEC) is emerging as a sustainable alternative to traditional building methods, offering solutions to environmental challenges while improving efficiency. This chapter provides a progress review of DMEC from 2021 to 2024, focusing on three key domains: manufacturing technologies, material and performance aspects, and research reliability and visibility. Serving as a “Checkpoint 2.0,” this chapter builds on previous review by authors, aiming to consolidate critical information to support the broader adoption of digital earth construction techniques. The review highlights significant advancements, such as the development of hybrid systems and enhanced earthen mixtures. It also examines the increasing interest from industry and government stakeholders in scaling up DMEC for industrial applications. The digital earth construction framework has evolved from initial proofs-of-concept to full-scale prototypes, marking a significant step toward commercial viability.",

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AU - Gomaa, Mohamed

AU - Malekian, Hamidreza

AU - Soebarto, Veronica

AU - Reyes, Alejandro Veliz

PY - 2025/11/1

Y1 - 2025/11/1

N2 - The construction industry is currently transforming under the dual imperatives of digitisation and decarbonisation. Digital Manufacturing of Earth Construction (DMEC) is emerging as a sustainable alternative to traditional building methods, offering solutions to environmental challenges while improving efficiency. This chapter provides a progress review of DMEC from 2021 to 2024, focusing on three key domains: manufacturing technologies, material and performance aspects, and research reliability and visibility. Serving as a “Checkpoint 2.0,” this chapter builds on previous review by authors, aiming to consolidate critical information to support the broader adoption of digital earth construction techniques. The review highlights significant advancements, such as the development of hybrid systems and enhanced earthen mixtures. It also examines the increasing interest from industry and government stakeholders in scaling up DMEC for industrial applications. The digital earth construction framework has evolved from initial proofs-of-concept to full-scale prototypes, marking a significant step toward commercial viability.

AB - The construction industry is currently transforming under the dual imperatives of digitisation and decarbonisation. Digital Manufacturing of Earth Construction (DMEC) is emerging as a sustainable alternative to traditional building methods, offering solutions to environmental challenges while improving efficiency. This chapter provides a progress review of DMEC from 2021 to 2024, focusing on three key domains: manufacturing technologies, material and performance aspects, and research reliability and visibility. Serving as a “Checkpoint 2.0,” this chapter builds on previous review by authors, aiming to consolidate critical information to support the broader adoption of digital earth construction techniques. The review highlights significant advancements, such as the development of hybrid systems and enhanced earthen mixtures. It also examines the increasing interest from industry and government stakeholders in scaling up DMEC for industrial applications. The digital earth construction framework has evolved from initial proofs-of-concept to full-scale prototypes, marking a significant step toward commercial viability.

KW - 3D printing

KW - Additive manufacturing

KW - Clay-based materials

KW - Decarbonisation

KW - Digital manufacturing

KW - Earth construction

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BT - Springer Series in Materials Science

PB - Springer

ER -

Are We There Yet? Progress Review of Digital Manufacturing for Earth Construction

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this