Irregular Rock Block Placement Using Virtual Structure Modeling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional method of constructing walls using natural rock rubble is labor-intensive, requires skilled labor, and results in high wastage and suboptimal rock placement, leading to underutilization of rough natural rock as a building material due to the lack of efficient selection and placement techniques.
Innovation Solution
A method involving scanning irregularly shaped blocks to generate scan data, creating virtual structures, processing data to determine optimal block placement, and outputting build data for precise positioning, allowing for the efficient construction of structures using randomly shaped blocks without pre-existing arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual methods are used to select and place rocks, then skilled labor can achieve reasonable wall quality, but the process is extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by scanning all available rocks and creating their virtual representations before construction begins. The software then pre-calculates the optimal placement sequence and positions of rocks in the virtual model, allowing builders to simply follow digital instructions rather than making manual selection decisions during construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates accurate digital copies (virtual models) of each physical rock through scanning. These virtual representations retain the unique geometric characteristics of the actual rocks, allowing the software to simulate and optimize the entire wall construction process digitally before physical construction begins.
2Loss of substance
If skilled stonemasons manually select rocks, then some quality control is achieved, but significant wastage occurs due to suboptimal rock choices
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the software continuously evaluates rock placement options based on multiple criteria including fit quality, structural stability, and material efficiency. The system learns from each placement decision and adjusts subsequent selections to minimize wastage while maintaining or improving wall quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the selection parameters from manual visual assessment to computerized multi-parameter optimization. The software evaluates rocks based on precise geometric measurements, structural requirements, and efficiency metrics, transforming the selection process from qualitative judgment to quantitative optimization that minimizes wastage.
3Ease of manufacture
If rough natural rock is used without pre-arrangement, then material flexibility is maintained, but the construction process becomes highly inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the manual mechanical process of rock selection and placement with an automated computerized system. The software acts as an intelligent intermediary that processes rock geometry data, determines optimal placements, and guides the construction process, substituting human cognitive and manual labor with automated computational processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for construction of structures from blocks of building material, such as quarried rocks, which includes scanning irregularly or randomly shaped blocks of building material, the blocks having no pre-existing required arrangement, to obtain scan data representing the respective size and shape of each of the blocks. Each scanned block is uniquely identified and associated with the corresponding scan data. A virtual structure is determined, representing the size and shape of the structure to be constructed. Scan data is processed according to at least one predetermined criterion to choose at least one scanned block and determine a desired orientation and position of the at least one scanned block within the virtual structure; and build data is output, representing instructions regarding the desired position of the scanned block in the structure. Build data may be used to construct the structure one block at a time, or in batches of blocks.