To advance sustainable construction projects in Colombia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) plans to use modern 3D printing equipment from WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project).
The organization will use the Crane WASP, a large-format 3D printer that can print directly using natural resources such as agricultural waste and soil from the surrounding area and does not require concrete, a media outlet reported.
The equipment is versatile and mobile, making it ideal for use in difficult terrain where large, stationary machines cannot be used. Its low energy consumption makes it suitable for remote areas, including deserts.
UNDP hopes the technology will play a key role in solving Colombia’s housing shortage, particularly in rural areas such as forests, deserts and mountains.
Adaptive building system
Crane WASP is a modular collaborative 3D printing system that reinvents traditional construction cranes using digital manufacturing techniques.
The potter wasp, which builds its nests from natural materials, served as the inspiration for the development of Crane WASP, which began in 2012. The goal was to develop a large-scale 3D printing technology that would enable the construction of buildings from locally sourced, natural materials.
It consists of a main printing unit that can be combined in different ways depending on the printing area and therefore the dimensions of the architectural structure that must be calculated in three dimensions. The single module has a printing area of 8.2 meters in diameter and 3 meters in height.
The single module works independently and can print different materials such as cement, bio-cement and natural dough. It can be expanded by adding traverses and printer arms, creating a limitless digital manufacturing system.
It is not necessary to cover the entire construction site with the pressure range of the WASP crane. The cranes are reconfigurable and can adapt to the construction progress.
According to the company, multiple WASP cranes working together create a virtually unlimited pressure range that can be customized by on-site operators to suit the evolving architectural design.
Smart housing approach
From 2023 onwards, Colombia will face a significant housing problem: 3.7 million households – over a quarter of all households in the country – will suffer from a housing deficit.
According to the World Bank, two-thirds of these families also need structural improvements to their homes. The severity of the problem has prompted the Colombian government to address it in the 2023-2026 National Development Plan, which aims to improve access to housing for low-income households, reports 3D Natives.
UNDP is also contributing to these efforts, as highlighted by the recent purchase of a Crane WASP 3D printer for building construction and building services.
In a press release, WASP stressed that UNDP’s purchase of the Crane WASP is in line with the project’s original vision: to create technologies that provide significant benefits to humanity through innovation and research.
The company also expressed hope that widespread use of these 3D printers will help overcome geographic barriers and promote more sustainable construction practices.
As 3D printing becomes increasingly popular in construction, the UNDP may consider using this technology in other countries, according to a report by 3D Natives.
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ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Jijo Malay Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. He holds a BA in History (with distinction) from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University and a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi and has worked for news agencies, national newspapers and automotive magazines. In his free time, he enjoys off-roading, participating in political discussions, travelling and teaching languages.
