SNUG 3rd General Assembly: Driving Sustainable Construction Forward
Great minds from the SNUG consortium gathered in the city of Fredrikstad, Norway, from May 6- 8 for their 3rd General Assembly. Hosted by our partner, Østfold University College (HiØ), this gathering marked a significant milestone, celebrating 18 months of impactful collaboration among 35 individuals representing 17 partner entities across 11 countries.
The three-day assembly was a hub of activity, focused on reflecting on the substantial progress achieved, refining our objectives, and strategically planning the path forward. The agenda provided a platform for in-depth discussions across all work packages. Partners shared their latest results, addressed challenges encountered, and outlined upcoming tasks.
Key discussions and takeaways
The initial day was dedicated to the exciting advancements in sustainable and smart thermal insulation materials. Discussions spanned the entire lifecycle, from innovative design and formulation to rigorous characterization, scalable industrialization, and thorough validation. A key highlight was the significant progress made in the pilot scale development and testing of SNUG’s groundbreaking thermal insulation solutions, including:
- Aerated eco-concrete blocks
- Self-leveling mortars incorporating Phase Change Materials (PCMs)
- High-performance aerogels
- Environmentally friendly biobased panels
Complementing these insightful discussions, our hosts at Østfold University College (HiØ) provided an invaluable behind-the-scenes tour of their cutting-edge laboratories. Consortium partners had the unique opportunity to witness firsthand various labs: concrete and mortar labs (mechanical testing, mortar development, wet rooms for curing, and thermal conductivity evaluations), chemistry labs (academic and industry purposes), where SNUG’s innovative solutions are currently undergoing rigorous development. This practical demonstration tangible insights into the rigorous testing and efficacy of SNUG’s cutting-edge technologies. The day concluded with an engaging life cycle assessment workshop and a visit to the historic Fredrikstad old town, blending collaboration with cultural immersion.
The second day built upon this momentum, with continued focus on the industrialization and validation strategies for our insulation solutions. Parallel discussions explored the exciting development of the Digital Tool Assistant (DTA). This intelligent tool, leveraging AI and digital twin technology, aims to provide ad-hoc thermal insulation solutions and facilitate optimal layout selection for construction projects. The day ended with a visit to HiØ’s impressive mockup and demo site (recently finalized), offering another invaluable opportunity for partners to directly observe the practical application and testing of SNUG’s innovative solutions in the Scandinavian region.
Day three centered on the roadmap for the project’s three key demonstrators located in Switzerland, Spain, and Norway. Partners provided detailed updates on the progress at each demo site, highlighting the specific thermal insulation technologies being implemented, the sophisticated monitoring and assessment systems in place, and the ambitious goals for the coming months. Furthermore, significant advancements in the Digital Tool Assistant were showcased, including progress in defining software requirements, streamlining data collection processes, and refining the user interface design.
Furthermore, significant advancements in the Digital Tool Assistant were showcased, including progress in defining software requirements, streamlining data collection processes, and refining the user interface design.
Mockup Twin Rooms: Insulation and mortar testing in the Hiø Green Research Hub
Demo site: Self-leveling mortar installed in the bathroom of a new apartment
In conclusion, this highly productive three-day meeting represented a significant milestone in our 18-month journey to revolutionize the construction sector with sustainable thermal insulation solutions. Beyond the strategic planning and future-oriented discussions, the invaluable tours organized by Østfold University College (HiØ) of their concrete and mortar labs, as well as their chemistry labs, provided tangible insights into the rigorous testing and efficacy of SNUG’s cutting-edge technologies. Witnessing the innovative solutions being tested firsthand on the detailed mockup floor and visiting the recently completed mockup and demo site solidified our understanding of their potential impact.
This General Assembly served as a fantastic opportunity to strengthen connections among all partners, facilitate crucial knowledge sharing, and reaffirm our collective commitment to building a greener and more sustainable future for the construction industry. A heartfelt thank you to HiØ for their warm hospitality and for their pivotal role in making this 3rd General Assembly such a resounding success!
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