Advancement in application

It is not just the field of engineering that is enhanced, but so is the technology for materials used.

Dr Tang Fu Ee, associate dean of learning and teaching at the Faculty of Engineering and Science at Curtin Malaysia, explains, “Because of the lack of development and technology in the past, there were not a lot of choices in regard to building material.

“Building projects now make use of advanced materials and technology from all over the world. This includes novel building materials, such as lightweight or foam concrete and concrete made from recycled materials, as well as technological advancements such as modelling.”

In addition, Australian architecture and design company Hames Sharley published an article titled From clay to self-healing concrete – the evolution of building materials that explored how humans went from mud and clay to revolutionary materials such as:

Self-healing concrete – Resolves the issue of cracking concrete

Sweating rooftops – Synthetic roof mats absorb and release water to regulate building temperature

Carbon-fibre balsa – A synthetic version of the lightweight and versatile balsa wood

Super wood – Engineered timber with the potential to substitute concrete and metal in the construction of high-rise buildings