Bouygues Construction, Dassault Systèmes, Piveteaubois, Flovea and IMT Mines Alès join forces to transform construction

Initiated in 2023, the CRHOS SmartFabrik project, led by Bouygues Construction, Dassault Systèmes, PIVETEAUBOIS, FLOVEA and IMT Mines Alès, offers a new approach to building and renovating buildings. This approach is based on the virtualization of know-how from configurable, customizable and marketable common construction sub-assemblies called "virtual bricks" and available on an online platform. CRHOS SmartFabrik has a strong environmental ambition. Each brick developed will be the subject of an environmental impact study aimed at imagining ever more ecological solutions.

The project is based on the implementation by IMT mines Alès of an approach to characterize, virtualize and design the bricks of a building on the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform of Dassault Systèmes. Dassault Systèmes provides a marketplace hosting these virtual bricks. The objective is to create a set of configurable and eco-designed "all-trades bricks[2]". These bricks, developed by Bouygues Construction, PIVETEAUBOIS and FLOVEA, integrate their know-how and protect their intellectual property. They will then be used via a configurator, allowing optimal customization while respecting high standards of performance and durability.

These brick compositions will make it possible to create unique buildings while standardizing more than 60% of the elements, thus promoting faster, less expensive quality production with less environmental impact.

The platform will enable the virtual configuration of building subassemblies, such as floors, walls, stairwells and bathrooms, for local production in regionalized French factories. All stakeholders will have access to the virtual twin of the construction project, from design to completion. This model will therefore be scalable, thus guaranteeing the traceability and reliability of information thanks to digital continuity throughout the life of a project.

Local micro-factories[3]: a new approach to off-site construction

This innovative consortium explores new frontiers in off-site construction with local production units close to construction sites. Once the sub-assemblies are produced, the construction site becomes an assembly site, improving operational efficiency while minimizing transportation and the associated carbon footprint. These innovations simplify construction site management by optimizing storage, processing and quantities of materials, and logistics.

For Romain Vondière, director of the BRYCK project and industrialization of Bouygues Construction: "This project allows us to continue our research and development work on off-site construction via temporary factories. It is fully in line with our desire to respond to current construction challenges by providing concrete solutions adapted to the transformation of construction."

For Rémi Dornier, Vice President, Architecture, Engineering and Construction at Dassault Systèmes: "The SmartFabrik project allows us to contribute to the virtualization of knowledge and know-how by placing collaboration at the heart of interactions. Thanks to virtual twins and the scientific contribution of our 3DEXPERIENCE platform, we will be able to meet the challenges of the construction sector with a radically different approach and transform it towards a more sustainable, qualitative and competitive industrial model."

[1] CRHOS: Off-Site Construction and Renovation

[2] Digital representation of a physical element of a building encapsulating the components of this work. The assembly of the bricks constitutes the digital twin of the building. These bricks, organized by system and therefore All Trades, are the subject of a detailed study in order to integrate a maximum of added value and allow their prefabrication in the factory.

[3] Platform located on the outskirts of a built-up area, allowing off-site product assembly, packaging and consolidation of logistics flows (direct and reverse). These micro-factories also offer the transport and handling of materials and products to their point of use on the construction site.