Structural Fab

Soon we will be making buildings more efficiently and sustainably using computer controlled manufacturing and as-needed supply strategies. This article in MIT's Technology Review discusses bringing the FabLab and RepRap processes to the construction industry.

I particularly like the biomimicry aspects of making load bearing members in a building structurally resemble bones. Now if we just add some sensors as well, our buildings could tell us when they are breaking.

I suspect this will mean the replacement of many labor intensive construction jobs, but the building industry shouldn't expect to avoid the same technology-driven disruptions that the automotive, aeronautic, electronics and even shipping industries have endured.