051-0827-16L  Sand: an (in)finite Resource? - Engineering for Development (E4D) Summer School

SemesterAutumn Semester 2016
LecturersD. Hebel
Periodicitynon-recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish
CommentNumber of participants limited.


AbstractThe programme revolves around the depleting resource sand and the question of how to develop alternative building materials for future cities. The course is for 30 master and doctoral students from ETH Zurich and other academic institutions (from different disciplines related to the topic), joined by faculty members and external experts from fields of expertise related to the winter school topic.
ObjectiveThe E4D summer school 2016 aims to develop an integrated vision to a global challenge of today's construction industry. The programme revolves around the depleting resource sand and the question of how to develop alternative building materials for future cities. Led by different experts from around the world, students will not only learn the theoretic background of this resource but experiment with current and future technologies to transform sand and building waste. In the workshops the acquired knowledge will be tested and applied. The summer school presents three areas that could mobilise sand alternatives for construction and other applications: (i) I. Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP), (ii) Chemical Crystallization Processes and (iii) 3D printing.
ContentSand is the most commonly used raw material for the production of goods on our planet. It is found in concrete, glass, computers, detergents and toothpaste. Sand is the megastar of the industrial and digital era - our culture is literally built upon this resource. But sand is not equal to sand: the construction industry requires grain sizes and rough shapes that are only found in river beds, lakes and the oceans. Mining of aquatic sand comes at high environmental and social costs; Its growing demand cannot be met sustainably. Sand is mostly composed of quartz, a mineral form of silicon dioxide. Silicon is one of the most abundant materials on earth and also one of the strongest. These properties make it valuable to various industries. Since a few years demand for sand has risen exponentially. Alternatives for sand for construction have yet to be developed.

Sustainability is often referred to as an interaction of social, cultural, economic, and ecological aspects. In the construction industry sustainability has been perceived as the optimisation of existing material and energy uses, yet the fundamental energetic and material character of these base resources has not been questioned. The speed of consumption of these resources increases constantly due to demographic pressure and resulting construction, as seen around the world and in particular in developing and emerging countries. A fundamental understanding of metabolic processes is required to frame the question of material and energetic sustainability. At the same time the definition of resources expands to include previously undervalued materials and waste. Finally, advances in digital technology and science have opened new avenues for alternative materials and processes.
The summer school presents three areas that could mobilise sand alternatives for construction and other applications:
I. Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP): Also known as bio-cementation it is a process utilised in self-healing concrete and soil stabilisation. The application to sand will produce naturally grown structural sand bricks. This workshop will compare MICP for various sand types, building wastes and bacterial cultures.
II. Chemical Crystallization Processes: Based on material computation experiments pioneered by architect and engineer Frei Otto, this workshop combines form finding properties of sand with structural and thinking and chemical crystallization processes.
III. 3D Printing: 3D Printing with sand and building waste, finally, explores the potential of sand as a substrate within a binding agent. In combination with a robotic arm, 3D printing of sand is an in situ digitally controlled construction process. It overcomes the need for traditional form-work and transportation of material, thereby reducing the grey energy.
Prerequisites / NoticeTaking place from 4 to 22 July 2016 at the TU Delft in The Netherlands.

Costs: CHF 500, including board and accommodation. All participants are responsible for organising and financing their own domestic or international travel to Delft, The Netherlands.

The Engineering for Development (E4D) Winter School 2016 will invite 30 master and doctoral students from different disciplines related to the topic of the summer school. Applicants will be selected based on their academic record and previous work experiences. Applicants must send a one-page CV and one-page letter of motivation in PDF format stating their interest, to Ms. María Ubierna Aparicio (Link)
Deadline: 31 March 2016
Notification: 15 April 2016