Abstract
In this paper we present a comparative sustainability evaluation of a Smart Mobile Factory (SMF) and the conventional Centralized Factory (CF) for the prefabrication of components needed in linear infrastructure construction projects. The research aims to evaluate the environmental and productivity related (economic) impacts of both factory models in the context of sustainable development. The focus of the study is on comparing the logistics performance indicators and environmental sustainability aspects of both approaches. The SMF, a novel approach for distributed onsite manufacturing is compared to the traditional centralized field factory model. The assessment is based on sustainability indicators focusing on transportation cost, and carbon emissions.
To offer useful insights into how the SMF and CF techniques might be applied in actual situations, a case study of the Hyperloop Construction project in Switzerland was carried out. The systems under consideration, namely the Smart Mobile Factory (SMF) and Centralized Factory for hyperloop construction, are inherently complex and hence were conceptually modelled. Following the conceptual modelling, facility location and network optimization were carried out to further understand the flow of product units between the facilities and construction sites. The supply chain analysis was performed by using AnyLogistix software. Both approaches were compared in terms of sustainability related impacts. Transportation cost and emissions were selected as the indicators to be compared. The results showed the SMF based approach to be more cost effective and produces lesser carbon emissions than the CF based approach. In the future, the work will be extended to understand the effects of supply chain disruptions on the project progress by simulating the new scenarios.