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affordable housing crisis - the United States alone grapples with a shortage of four million homes . Second , there is a shortage of skilled labor within the industry , with a significant number of young individuals showing little interest in joining its ranks . In the United States , nearly one in four workers in this sector is over 55 years old and the deficit of construction workers exceeds half a million . This further compounds the supplyside challenges in construction . Third , the construction sector is a substantial contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions , accounting for nearly 40 percent , and it generates nearly a third of global waste , in part due to its sheer size . Fourth , construction practices have evolved slowly over the decades , often leading to simple , uninspiring , and repetitive architectural designs . Take a stroll through many suburban areas of the United States , and you will find identical house designs that are repeated extensively . This pattern is mirrored worldwide , with most buildings adhering to simplistic rectangular shapes , while more elaborate designs are typically reserved for high-end developments accompanied by high price tags .
Versatile approach
To address these challenges , 3D printing has emerged as a promising solution . This technology , with decades of application in various industries such as metalwork , dentistry , and defense , is now making significant strides in construction . Using additive manufacturing , this cutting-edge technology creates large-scale structures by transforming digital blueprints into physical structures using specialized 3D printers equipped with concrete extrusion systems that deposit concrete layer by layer , gradually forming the desired buildings or structures . In recent years , 3D printing technology by COBOD International has been used to create a wide array of structures , including 3D printed houses up to three stories ( 30 ft ),
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