Book chapter
Earthen construction: Integrating robotics, biomimetic design, and vernacular knowledge.
Mauro Costa Couceiro (Couceiro, M.); Nuno Silva (Pereira da Silva, N.); Effemia Giannopoulou (Giannopoulou);
Book Title
Sociedad Iberoamericana de Gráfica Digital - SIGraDi 2025: Meta-Responsive Approaches
Year (definitive publication)
2025
Language
English
Country
Argentina
More Information
Web of Science®

This publication is not indexed in Web of Science®

Scopus

This publication is not indexed in Scopus

Google Scholar

This publication is not indexed in Google Scholar

This publication is not indexed in Overton

Abstract
Earthen construction, rooted in vernacular traditions, offers numerous sustainability‑related advantages. However, it faces challenges in contemporary adoption due to the intensity and complexity of manual labor. This research addresses the adaptation of automated construction methods to the non‑standardized nature of earthen construction. It proposes the development of frameworks where robotic automation systems — including, but not limited to, humanoid platforms — informed by bionic principles and vernacular knowledge, enable the construction of earth‑sheltered buildings and living roofs. The central hypothesis posits that while heterogeneous robotic systems can optimize for scale and force, the anthropomorphic morphology of humanoid platforms offers unique advantages in interacting with tools and techniques originally developed for human labor. As a result, the proposed methodology analyses vernacular precedents and biomimetic processes and suggests a research pipeline which evaluates a spectrum of robotic platforms and adaptive design strategies and simulation tools.
Acknowledgements
--
Keywords
Robotic Construction,Earthen Construction,Vernacular Architecture,Bionic Design,Robotic Fabrication
  • Computer and Information Sciences - Natural Sciences
  • Earth and related Environmental Sciences - Natural Sciences
  • Civil Engineering - Engineering and Technology
  • Environmental Biotechnology - Engineering and Technology
  • History and Archeology - Humanities
  • Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music) - Humanities
  • Other Humanities - Humanities
  • Anthropology - Social Sciences

With the objective to increase the research activity directed towards the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the possibility of associating scientific publications with the Sustainable Development Goals is now available in Ciência_Iscte. These are the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the author(s) for this publication. For more detailed information on the Sustainable Development Goals, click here.