Yes, you can, and it is being done more and more. The special study course in new building construction enlightens and points the way to the future. The popularity of the training has exceeded all expectations.
Text: Sari Okko
Photo: Petri Juntunen
The auditorium of Virastotalo in Helsinki's Pasila is full of students who are thirsty for information. The special study course on new construction, which started in the fall of 2017, has progressed to the fourth day of face-to-face teaching. Today we will learn about environmental sustainability and its research, as well as side streams of the forest industry.
The study course is based on the UUMA2 program, where it was noticed that there would be a demand for more solid expertise in new building construction. There was a will to use recycled materials, but there was a lack of information, which turned out to be the biggest obstacle to using recycled materials based on the survey.
"We decided to respond to the demand, which was so great that study places were taken out of hand", project manager Pirjo kula from Tampere University of Technology and professor of geotechnics Leena Korkiala-Tanttu They tell about Aalto University.
Something completely new
The special study course in new construction was aimed at both students and professionals in the field. Of the approximately one hundred participants, there are approximately 30 students and approximately 70 professionals. In addition, approximately 60 authorities are participating remotely.
The training consists of six days, which are held alternately in Helsinki and Tampere, as well as group assignments, exercises and exams. In addition to universities and other experts, material producers and other operators and companies participate in the production of the training content. Education is free for degree students, paid for other participants.
"The joint training of so many actors is something completely new; nothing similar has been done to this extent before. The interest in training shows that more information is needed about recycled materials in order to be able to and dare to use them more widely and systematically", Kuula and Korkiala-Tanttu state.
Awake and alert
According to Korkiala-Tantu, tens of millions of tons of recycled materials suitable for land construction are produced every year in Finland, which could replace the use of natural aggregates - and at the same time reduce the amount of waste.
"The use of recycled materials in land construction is an effective means of promoting material efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of the construction project. Recycled materials are already being used, but the amounts are still small compared to the total volumes of materials used in earthworks. Use can be increased by increasing know-how, but also by productizing new materials," Korkiala-Tanttu reflects.
The trend of new home construction comes from the EU, climate goals and circular economy thinking.
According to Kuula, Finland may not be at the top of the list when it comes to new housing construction, but we are on the right track.
"If about one hundred million tons of natural stone materials are used in Finnish land construction per year, new materials will not replace this amount very quickly. However, we move forward with small steps. As awareness grows, recycled materials will be used in a more planned manner in the future."
Kivi will have competitors
Recycled materials used in earth construction are obtained, for example, from surplus soils, industrial by-products and waste, slightly polluted soils and materials from old earth structures. They can be used either as such or as components to replace virgin aggregates or to improve their properties.
"Recycled materials are now used around one million tons per year. The use is variable, but for example, all slag from the metal industry is reused," says Kuula.
Produced and used materials are represented by various crushed stone, foam glass, blast furnace sand and tire grit. A lot of expectations have now been loaded into, for example, the slag and ashes of energy production.
"In the future, new house construction will be normal construction and everyday life.
When we now ask what aggregates are available, in the future we will ask what recycled materials are available," sums up Kuula.
Second course in autumn
The first ever new construction special study period ends in April. A sequel is already planned.
"We are looking at the end of this training, collecting feedback and learning from it with a view to further development. A new special study course related to the theme will start in the fall, but the content is still being worked on," says Korkiala-Tanttu.
"The current Study Course has a lot of designers and consultants, but for the autumn course we hope to get contractors from the field involved as well. The aim is to emphasize the content of the future training in such a way that it speaks better to them as well", adds Kuula.
Read what UKI's students of the New Construction special study course say about the training >
The story was previously published in Infra magazine 1/2018
The magazine is a member benefit of INFRA members >