Advances and Future Trajectories of 3D Concrete Printing in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-697-5_8How to use a DOI?

Keywords

3DCP; BIM; Robotics arm; precast; modular housing

Abstract

The construction industry worldwide is undergoing a significant shift, known as Construction 4.0. This change involves moving away from old methods that rely on manual labour and construction practices toward automated processes that use 3D printing and robotic arms. A key part of this change is Three-Dimensional Concrete Printing (3DCP), which replaces traditional on-site casting and layer-by-layer construction. 3DCP is a new technology that can transform construction. This paper gives a detailed literature review of the current state of 3D printing, including its different types, how it works, and new ideas in materials and mix designs. This study presents the properties of the materials used, especially how they flow, build up, and maintain their shape, which are essential for making strong structures without using forms. The paper also presents the advantages of 3DPC technology, including reducing construction waste by up to 60%, lowering labour-related costs, and speeding up projects by enabling 24/7 operations. Beyond the physical benefits, the research also examines how Building Information Modelling (BIM) can serve as a digital foundation for 3DCP, allowing smooth data transfer from design to the actual building. Even with all these advancements, significant challenges remain in scaling this technology from small-scale experiments to large-scale use. This review brings together recent studies to highlight ongoing problems: the uneven strength of structures-built layer by layer, the lack of standardized building rules, and the difficulty of verifying quality in real time. By examining the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of 3DCP, this paper outlines a research plan for the future. This plan highlights areas that need further study and suggest steps toward creating rules and standards, helping make 3DCP a key part of modern construction practices and sustainable infrastructure.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Tanmay Pandey
AU  - Shreekanth Birgonda
AU  - Ajay Kumar
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/04
TI  - Advances and Future Trajectories of 3D Concrete Printing in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review
BT  - Proceedings of the Conference on Bridging Engineering Disciplines with AI and Machine Learning (BEDAIML 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 67
EP  - 83
SN  - 1951-6851
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-697-5_8
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-697-5_8
ID  - Pandey2026
ER  -