Dr Iris Rivero, second from left, with the recently installed COBD BOD3 3D concrete printer. (Image: UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering)

The large unit from Denmark-based COBOD, a 3D construction printing technology company, arrived from overseas last September, and final installations were expected to finish in February.

An initial demonstration of the gantry-based system is scheduled on-campus in May.

The technology, housed within the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, is expected to enable cutting-edge research into automated construction, material science and structural integrity.

While 3D-printing technology is a common tool at American colleges, UF鈥檚 purchase of the COBOD machine and the school鈥檚 plans to conduct large-scale research building projects, is unique for its commitment and scale.

Construction Briefing caught up with UF鈥檚 Dr Iris Rivero, who explained more about the school鈥檚 plans for 3DCP.

De-risking the industry for future construction professionals

The COBOD BOD3 is offloaded at the University of Florida. (Image: UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering)

Dr Rivero, chair of UF鈥檚 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, said the printer could be a transformative tool for the industry. She envisages it playing a vital role in helping students learn about new tech, but also the industry at large.

鈥淚 always thought that universities are the place where you can come to de-risk your technology,鈥� Rivero said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not here for profits 鈥� we鈥檙e here to learn about a process and then, with companies, take it to the next level.鈥�

Rivero has a background in smart manufacturing and quality control, and she鈥檚 establishing a research approach to her department鈥檚 use of 3DCP. One of her team鈥檚 primary goals is to improve quality assurance in large-scale additive construction.

鈥淲hat we intend to do with this 3D printer is come up with non-destructive methods to assess the quality of concrete layer by layer, or every few layers, to understand how that structure is going to perform once completed,鈥� Rivero explained. 鈥淥ne of the biggest questions in 3D concrete printing is: how do you validate that you鈥檝e built something structurally sound before it鈥檚 too late?

鈥淲e need to develop real-time, non-destructive methods to assess the deposition process and detect any weaknesses as they occur, not after the fact.鈥�

Major US 3D concrete printer confirms round of layoffs A major player in US 3D concrete printing has announced layoffs

By embedding sensors and real-time monitoring tools, Rivero said UF researchers aim to track how the material behaves during printing, identifying potential flaws before they compromise the structure.

Concrete鈥檚 curing time and deposition rate present challenges in 3DCP, as defects may not become apparent until weeks after printing. 鈥淚t takes 28 to 30 days for concrete to be fully solidified,鈥� Rivero said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big risk that companies are taking, and a huge amount of profit on the line if the parameters aren鈥檛 correct five feet into construction.鈥�

Another research focus is material formulation and environmental adaptability. Different climates, from humid coastal areas to dry, arid regions, require different concrete compositions. Rivero said UF鈥檚 interdisciplinary teams are working on regionalised concrete mixtures that optimise performance based on location.

鈥淐ivil engineering teams here are looking at how to tailor concrete recipes for different climates,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e in Florida, you need something that withstands humidity and hurricanes. If you鈥檙e in Arizona, you need a mix that performs well in extreme heat with minimal water use.鈥�

Climate-change construction applications for 3DCP

The COBOD BOD3 at the University of Florida鈥檚 Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (Image: University of Florida)

Beyond vertical construction, Rivero believes 3DCP can transform horizontal infrastructure, including road repair and coastal resilience projects. The technology could provide solutions to hurricane recovery efforts, erosion control, and remote infrastructure repairs 鈥� areas where traditional construction methods struggle.

鈥淵ou see a little bit of this in pavement repair, but not much in concrete,鈥� Rivero noted. 鈥淲e can experiment with different types of cracks and material deposition techniques in a controlled lab environment and then take that technology to real-world applications.鈥�

A key advantage of UF鈥檚 research environment is its ability to simulate extreme conditions, providing essential data on how 3D-printed structures hold up under environmental stress. 鈥淲e can test structures in UF鈥檚 hurricane centre under real environmental conditions,鈥� Rivero explained. 鈥淚f we can develop seawalls and urban infrastructure that merge functionality with architectural design, we can enhance climate resilience.鈥�

Rivero envisions a future where automated concrete deposition methods 鈥� potentially incorporating mobile robotics and drones 鈥� could assist in difficult-to-access areas, such as coastal zones, bridges, or highways. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e on an overpass, and it鈥檚 difficult to access the structure for repairs, how do we do that efficiently?鈥� she asked. 鈥淲e can start in the lab, fine-tune our methods, and then take the technology into the field. Maybe we won鈥檛 always use gantry-based systems 鈥� maybe future solutions involve drones or mobile robotics instead.鈥�

Heavy weather: Climate change drives demand for storm-resistant, bullet-proof cabins Virginia-based off-site construction company VFP specialises in producing bullet-proof concrete cabins which can withstand tornadoes with a rating of EF5 

By refining automated repair techniques, UF researchers hope to minimise disruptions to transportation infrastructure while reducing costs and material waste. Rivero said one potential long-term goal is to develop mobile, on-site 3D printing solutions that could repair roads and bridges without requiring lane closures for extended periods.

Creating labour of love with new construction technology

Dr Iris Rivero during arrival of the COBD BOD3 printer at the University of Florida. (Image: UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering)

In addition to technological advancements, UF is using the printer to train the next generation of construction professionals. The BOD3 printer will be integrated into coursework across engineering, construction, and materials science programs, with support from industry partners such as Autodesk.

鈥淎utodesk has been a great partner in helping us explore how to train future construction workers,鈥� Rivero said. 鈥淲e need to make the construction industry more attractive to new generations and introduce technologies that make it safer and more efficient.鈥�

Rivero said UF鈥檚 3DCP program could be a critical step in addressing labour shortages in the construction industry, which has struggled to attract younger workers.

By integrating robotics, automation, and AI-driven workflows into construction education, UF hopes to modernise traditional building trades and offer students hands-on experience with emerging technologies. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about getting students interested in construction 鈥� it鈥檚 about showing them a different way of working with the built environment,鈥� Rivero explained.

Now, the printer is in preparation for a full-scale test building on campus. The research team is also working with architects to explore new structural forms and surface finishes that blend aesthetics with functionality.

鈥淢aybe we can actually make a building that is greener,鈥� Rivero suggested. 鈥淢aybe we can actually make it both structurally resilient and visually dynamic.鈥�

For Rivero, the project represents more than just an advancement in 3D printing, it is as a blueprint for the future of infrastructure.

鈥淭his is infrastructure 5.0, with a flavour of manufacturing,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e need to integrate AI, robotics, and automation into the process 鈥� not just for efficiency, but to completely rethink how we build.鈥�

Concrete printing partners complete another project for Walmart A 3D concrete printing firm finished another build for retail giant Walmart