Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Laboratory of Scale-reduced Models (CaminsMakers)

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Located in Building C1 of the UPC North Campus, the Laboratory of Scale-Reduced Models (CaminsMakers) is part of the Mechanics, Continuous Media & Structures section of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (DECA). It is a space for experimentation and the manufacture of teaching tools using different digital manufacturing techniques.

It mainly uses low-cost free hardware and software as well as traditional manufacturing tools. The laboratory explores the use of sensors in applications related to civil engineering.

In addition, it explores the use of various microcontrollers and computers with the ability to acquire and transmit data as well as the creation and programming of graphical user interfaces. Manufacturing includes digital tools (3D printer) and traditional construction tools. In the laboratory teaching tasks are developed with dynamic training and methodologies.

Training

The main teaching activities that are carried out are:

  • Use and exploitation of digital manufacturing tools such as 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics with hardware and free software for the development of teaching tools to bring the laboratory to the classroom:

    • Development of circuits to sensor scale-reduced models.
    • Development of software applications to visualize results.
    • Development of integrated mobile applications with sensors.
  • Development of digital manufacturing workshops for subjects at Barcelona School of Civil Engineering or for schools outside the UPC. Active participation in promotional activities for the different degrees of Barcelona School of Civil Engineering.
  • Development of experiments in various teaching areas of Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (structures, hydraulics, statistics, transport) using digital manufacturing tools.

Research

The main research activities carried out are:

  • Use and exploitation of digital manufacturing tools such as 3D printing, laser cutting, electronics with hardware and free software for the experimental analysis of structures.
  • Development of circuits to sensor scale-reduced models.
  • Development of data acquisition and visualization platforms in conjunction with CaminsTech for various uses in laboratories in the different environments of Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (SmartLab).