Construction Industry and Space Race

Space Civil Engineering sounds a new term but, this term has not been used widely in the world. Space industry is working on the principles and laws of engineering. These laws and principles are based on the scope of different industries and fields. Civil Engineering is contributing to Space exploration but, it has not yet cleared to the world that in which capacity it is contributing to the space. Presently, contribution of this field has not yet more clear because there is no direct relation of it with Space exploration. Since the past 2–3 years the construction companies have started using civil engineering technology to build something that is related to Space directly in its scope.

An American company step into this field and construct a habitat for Mars. AI SpaceFactory is a construction company which used Artificial intelligence and 3D printing technology for construction of habitat called MARSHA.

Marsha was made with a bioplastic material Basalt which proved to be a barrier against high cosmic rays in space. Use of 3D printing technology for construction in Space is an innovative and futuristic technology. NASA and SpaceX are working with AI SpaceFactory to improve the model for Mars habitat. They got a breakthrough for the material to be used for construction in outer space. Rocks found on the Martian surface would be used for building these structures.

3D printing is a new and unique technology in construction sector. Some, local construction industries in US are using AI and 3D printing technology to build houses for living. Although, this technology is new for the industry but, it can be used for future civil engineering projects. This would lower our cost for construction projects. We would require less time and machinery for construction as we only need to design a structure on software and a 3D robot to build. The accuracy of those build structure would be better and less time taking. Less labor force would be required at the construction site. There would be less chances for any type of mishap and accident at the site through the use of this technology.

We need to consider the use of 3D printing technology for our projects as it is also being used in Space Civil Engineering. Every field of science develop with the help of other field and such is the case of civil engineering. Considering, the use of technology being used in space sector to use in other fields would bring development and innovation into them. The future of technology is much based on Artificial Intelligence and 3D printing. In near future companies may get to realize that this technology would benefit them a lot. Civil engineering and Space has a bigger scope together.

Economic Impacts

• According to US Space Economy Data, 2012–2018 the US Space Economy Gross Output by Industry, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis the US Space Economy had $576 Million worth of Construction Industry output by the year 2018 and this number was $938 Million in 2017.
• According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics; 966 Construction Managers jobs, 422 Civil Engineers jobs, 7,710 Construction and extraction occupation jobs, 1,902 Construction laborers jobs, 359 Construction Operator jobs, 737 Supervisors for Construction Trade jobs, 116 Construction and building inspectors jobs were reported for the year 2020.
• According to Report Linker the Pakistan’s construction industry had total revenues of $19 Billion in 2019, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% between 2015 and 2019.
• The non-residential segment was the industry’s most lucrative in 2019, with total revenues of $13.1 Billion, equivalent to 68.9% of the industry’s overall value.
• The construction sector has contributed between 2.3% and 2.85% in the last five fiscal years to Pakistan’s GDP (it was valued at PRs 316 billion in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2019–20), most economists estimate its value to stand between 10 and 12% of the total GDP. This is because it provides stimulus to over 42 ancillary sectors including aluminum, brick, cables, cement, fixtures, glass, kitchen and bathroom fittings, marble, paint, steel, tiles, transportation, warehousing and wood. Therefore, it has a far-reaching impact on the overall economy as it employs eight percent of the total labor force.

Summary

Space exploration is a trending topic these days. The industries related to space are vast in number. Space Civil Engineering might be new but it’s an interesting and developing field nonetheless. Use of Artificial intelligence and 3D printing robots is a new and innovative idea to start construction of habitat in space. AI SpaceFactory is the only company working on this idea with NASA. Space Civil engineering is an emerging field which has yet to be revolutionized in the Space race, it will surely bring innovation to the Space Industry which will benefit humanity to reach other planets in space and beyond.