Defining Demonstrator Projects for Digital Fabrication (Dfab) Adoption in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC)

Abstract: Digital Fabrication (DFAB) proposes to increase productivity and digitalisation in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC). Demonstrator projects are used to showcase novel DFAB innovations to disseminate knowledge, learning, and attract future investment to support their transfer from research to commercialisation. Currently, no unified definition of what constitutes a DFAB demonstrator in AEC exists, thus, this paper aims to provide one. This offers distinction to the phenomenon reflecting its real-world context, subsequently effecting how humans think and act on it. A definition is proposed based on analysis from literature and interviews to inform future studies on DFAB demonstrator projects in AEC.