Iowa Innovative Housing Project designed to address shortage of affordable housing
The Nemetschek Group has partnered with Iowa State University on a housing project designed to address the shortage of affordable housing in the US state.
The Iowa Innovative Housing Project is utilising 3D construction printing and other innovative approaches to lower construction risks, reduce material usage and waste, and ultimately deliver cost-effective, resilient, and sustainable housing options.
In the current pilot phase, the university is utilising Nemetschek’s dTwin solution to create a ‘dynamic and interactive’ build environment using digital twins of each planned structure, with dashboard visualisations for monitoring and data analysis.
The project’s use of dTwin will progress with the construction of a 3D-printed shed incorporating live sensors that will provide real-time data about air quality and energy consumption.
“Nemetschek’s dTwin solution has changed how we approach every new home in this project, says Pete Evans, assistant professor of industrial design at Iowa State. “We’re able to visualise every aspect of a planned structure in one seamless view.
“We can monitor air quality and energy consumption and compare this with buildings constructed traditionally, giving us incredibly valuable insights. We hope to use the dTwin platform extensively across every stage — design, construction, and property management — as we work to solve rural housing issues in an affordable and sustainable way.”
