An analysis of the sustainability of an emerging new technology - building houses using 3D printers with robot technology

In the extant literature, sustainability is typically seen as a dichotomic issue. Any new technology is seen either as sustainable or as unsustainable. In contrast to this widespread view, sustainability should be understood as a continuum. A technology should be analysed in-depth and relevant characteristics of the technology should be identified so that the sustainability effect of each characteristics can be assessed. The sustainability of a technology is the net-effect of the sustainability of its various characteristics. Thus, sustainability is a continuum of different shades of grey between black or white. The implication is that sustainability is dependent on the context. The relative contribution of various characteristics of a technology is different in different contexts. In this study, an emerging new technology - building houses using 3D printers with robot technology - was analysed from the sustainability point of view. Relevant characteristics of this technology were identified and analysed indepth.