Assessing the environmental impact of building houses in remote areas: 3D printing vs. traditional construction techniques

The building sector holds a pivotal position in influencing our artificial landscape, emphasizing the pressing need to embrace green and inventive approaches, equipment, and instruments to mitigate its ecological impacts. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of environmental burdens associated with construction methods in the remote area of Attawapiskat, a First Nation community located in northern Ontario, Canada, is carried out. The study includes a detailed comparison of the sustainability between 3D printing technology and conventional construction approaches. Six distinct scenarios for comparing 3D printing technology and conventional construction in Attawapiskat were identified. Subsequently, a cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis (LCA) was conducted for each scenario, facilitated by SimaPro software. The environmental impact across various categories was then compared. Ultimately, sensitivity analyses were employed to interpret the results, assessing the influence of variations on our findings. Our study highlights a substantial environmental improvement when using Geo-polymer concrete in 3D printing in construction compared to conventional methods. To boost 3D printing's eco-friendliness further, we advocate local material sourcing to cut transportation emissions and reduce the carbon footprint, ultimately advancing sustainability in construction. • Comprehensive evaluation of environmental burdens associated with construction methods in remote area of Attawapiskat. • Comparison of the sustainability between 3D printing technology and conventional construction approaches. • Analyze six distinct scenarios for comparing 3D printing technology and conventional construction in Attawapiskat. • Explore the benefit of using Geo-polymer concrete in 3D printing in construction compared to conventional methods. • Provide suggestions to reduce transportation emissions and carbon footprint to boost 3D printing's eco-friendliness.