Environmental and economic optimization of relocation strategies for mobile prefabrication factories in infrastructure projects
Jianxiang Ma (ETH Zürich)
Jianpeng Cao (TU Delft - Design & Construction Management, The University of Hong Kong)
Lorenzo Benedetti (EuroTube Foundation)
Andrea Revolti (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano)
Edwin Zea Escamilla (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, ETH Zürich)
Guillaume Habert (ETH Zürich)
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Abstract
Mobile off-site prefabrication can enhance complex linear infrastructure projects, yet the absence of a general and robust relocation rule limits its practical implementation in the construction industry. This research proposes an integrated model that combines Life Cycle Assessment and Geographic Information Systems to optimize a three-layer mobile supply network. A hyperloop infrastructure case study demonstrates that relocating a pneumatic mobile factory four times reduces carbon emissions by 62 % and costs by 49 % compared to a stationary facility, primarily due to shortened outbound transportation distances. Scenarios-based sensitivity analyses confirm the adaptability of mobile factories to supply diverse projects and recommend relocating the factory every 50–80 km to balance sustainability and practical feasibility. Although direct impacts from factory reconfigurations are modest, they serve as necessary constraints to prevent impractical relocation numbers. The model offers practical guidance for developing sustainable relocation strategies for mobile prefabrication factories used in large-scale infrastructure construction.
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