Publications in DART Laboratory

Digital Architecture Research and Technologies (DART) is a research laboratory within the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan, founded in 2019 by Prof. Dr. Mania Aghaei Meibodi.  DART research streams focus on developing novel computational design, robotic and 3D printing construction technologies to enable creating lightweight struuctures with sustainable architecture and zero-waste construction. 

We are constantly looking into addressing pressing matters in the field of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC).  The innovations are tailored to real-world construction constraints (such as speed, cost, and scale) and advance to address environmental and socio-economic challenges such as high CO₂ emission, excess waste, material scarcity, lack of skilled labor, housing shortages, and high energy use in buildings. We particularly look into how we can (1) reduce volume of material in structures by developing design and construction methods, (2) enable efficient construction by developing future smart manufacturing methods, (3) enhance design and fabrication through artificial intelligence and computational methods that optimize structures for performance and sustainability.

DART’s research sits at the intersection of architecture, engineering, computer science, robotics, materials science, and mathematics. Through cross-disciplinary collaborations and industry partnerships, the laboratory advances optimized structures, sustainable architecture, and zero-waste construction.