Ioanna Mitropoulou


Last Name

Mitropoulou

First Name

Ioanna

ORCID

0000-0001-7528-6216

Organisational unit

09750 - De Wolf, Catherine / De Wolf, Catherine

Filters

2024 - 20265
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Publications1 - 5 of 5
  • Deep Neural Network-Based Design Exploration with Concrete Cutting Waste
    Item type: Journal Article
    Önalan, Beril; Triantafyllidis, Eleftherios; Mitropoulou, Ioanna; et al. (2025)
    Technology | Architecture + Design
    This paper introduces a computational approach to automate the reuse of concrete cutting waste in architectural elements during the early design phase. Prior research typically focuses on geometric matching, neglecting crucial performance objectives such as stability and environmental impact. We address this gap with a deep learning-based workflow. We used a deep neural network as a surrogate model to predict performance metrics for designs from a concrete waste inventory to facilitate performance-based design. Demonstrated through the design of a partitioning wall, our method shows high predictive accuracy, effectively predicting outcomes across diverse design scenarios while respecting material constraints. These findings underscore the potential of data-driven strategies to improve the scalability and efficiency of circular design by reducing the computational time required for performance evaluations.
  • From Robotic Scanning to XR-Guided Assembly: End-to-End Digital Workflow for the Automated Reuse of Concrete Waste
    Item type: Conference Paper
    Önalan, Beril; Mitropoulou, Ioanna; Triantafyllidis, Eleftherios; et al. (2026)
    Reusing geometrically non-standard concrete elements to reduce reliance on raw materials in new construction remains a complex and time-intensive process, limiting its cost-effective adoption. Computational design and digital fabrication tools offer a promising pathway to automate and scale this process, enabling more efficient and systematic reuse of non-standard concrete elements. This study integrates robotic 3D scanning, algorithmic design methods, and extended reality (XR) guidance into an automated digital workflow for concrete reuse. The proposed workflow consists of three stages: (1) robotic LiDAR scanning and mesh processing to capture and rationalize material stock; (2) algorithmic nesting of non-standard geometries using packing strategies; and (3) XR-based spatiotemporal guidance for precise on-site assembly. The workflow was demonstrated through physical prototypes in two workshops in which participants constructed wall segments using concrete waste, enabling the development, demonstration, and validation of the workflow. Results show high placement accuracy with 2.3% average vertical deviation, reduced manual scanning effort through 2-minute automated element capture, and successful assembly completion enabling non-expert participants to construct a 50×50cm segment in 15 minutes after brief orientation. This study provides a replicable framework to embed circularity into design and construction workflows, advancing the practical adoption of automated reuse strategies in architecture and construction.
  • Nonplanar Layered Morphologies
    Item type: Doctoral Thesis
    Mitropoulou, Ioanna (2024)
    This thesis investigates the potential of nonplanar robotic 3D printing for architectural applications and develops novel methods to design nonplanar print paths for medium to large-scale robotic FDM 3D printing. Latest developments in additive manufacturing have opened new possibilities for 3D printing objects with unprecedented geometric complexity. However, these advancements are still hindered by the inherent limitations of current printing techniques. Most 3D printing is 2.5D printing, where the accumulation of material happens in planar layers. This results in various drawbacks, such as poor surface quality on high curvature areas and a need for overhang support. In addition, 3D printing produces parts that are inherently anisotropic, with considerably higher strength along the print direction than orthogonally to it. Further research in controlling the orientation of print paths can help alleviate those issues by aligning the path directions as needed to improve surface quality, reduce the need for support, and optimize mechanical properties. With the advent of robotic printing, it is possible to print material along 3D paths with variable orientation and thickness. Consequently, paths can be customized to address the aforementioned issues. However, there is a lack of methodologies for designing robot-fabricable, nonplanar print paths. This research aims to address this gap with a focus on creating intuitive path design tools within the reach of designers and on considering fabrication constraints inherent to nonplanar robotic 3D printing. The proposed computational approach is based on defining a parametrization function over a surface and then tracing the paths as its isolines. The primary challenge then is selecting an appropriate function that fulfills the intended objectives. With that, this research draws upon the wealth of established methods for shape parametrization in computer graphics and repurposes them in the novel context of robotic 3D printing. Two methodologies are developed, namely designing a boundary-controlled and a vector-field-controlled function. The first defines the function as the interpolation of the geodesic distance from boundaries set by the user, resulting in paths always parallel to the boundaries and smoothly interpolating the space between. The second defines a function considering a tangent guiding vector field as its gradient. The user can then control the paths by applying constraints on the guiding vector field, thus having control over both orientation (always orthogonal to the vector field) and spacing (determined by the magnitude of the vector field). To further enable control of the path layouts, an intermediate discrete representation is devised, consisting of two coupled transversal strip networks overlayed into a strip-decomposable quad (SDQ) mesh. Editing operations for altering the strips' connectivity are developed to allow hands-on manipulation of the SDQ mesh structure to suit specific design requirements or aesthetic preferences. The 3D printing method selected as a case study is the robotic FDM extrusion of thermoplastics. In the early research stages, prototypes are carried out using filament extrusion, and later, the paths are adapted for pellet extrusion, which also enables the use of recycled plastics. A series of physical prototypes are produced with both printing setups demonstrating the potential and challenges of the proposed approach. The research's impact lies in design innovation and efficiency. Nonplanar paths unlock a novel design realm, enabling designers to not only shape the exterior but also manipulate the layered configuration of the printed object, fostering artistic and structural innovations and broadening the creative domain of 3D printing. From an efficiency perspective, it minimizes material waste by reducing the need for sacrificial support and enhancing surface quality.
  • Computational methods for circular design with non-standard materials: Systematic review and future directions
    Item type: Review Article
    Önalan, Beril; Mitropoulou, Ioanna; Triantafyllidis, Eleftherios; et al. (2025)
    International Journal of Architectural Computing
    Computational design and optimization methods play a crucial role in early stage design by allowing the in corporation of reclaimed components, fostering resource reuse, and minimizing waste. However, to advance the field of computer-aided material reuse and support its integration into circular construction practices, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive overview of the available methods and their applications. We address this gap by conducting a systematic review of the literature on the role of computational design in facilitating the reuse of building elements, followed by analyzing the interrelationships between optimization methods, materials, and geometric dimensions of reclaimed materials. We then synthesize the identified approaches, offering guidelines that assist stakeholders in selecting suitable computational methodologies for integrating non-standard materials into design processes. Our findings highlight current knowledge gaps in algorithm scalability, performance in tegration, and the advancement of hybrid computational methods needed to unlock the full potential of com putational design for a circular built environment.
  • Curvature-informed paths for shell 3D printing
    Item type: Journal Article
    Mitropoulou, Ioanna; Bernhard, Mathias; Dillenburger, Benjamin (2025)
    Automation in Construction
    The construction of thin, doubly-curved shells poses significant challenges, often necessitating expensive fabrication techniques and extensive formwork. Non-planar 3D printing enables precise fabrication of these geometries with reduced formwork. Curvature plays an important role in the design of non-planar print paths. Nevertheless, designing print paths informed by curvature presents a complex challenge, as there are various curvature properties to consider. Although the significance of curvature has been studied extensively in methods like grid shell construction and surface paneling, its impact on the design of print paths has been overlooked. This paper addresses this gap by examining print paths as curves embedded in doubly-curved surfaces, analyzing their normal curvature, geodesic curvature, and geodesic torsion along and orthogonal to the print direction, and evaluating their effects on printing feasibility and surface quality. The findings are applied to print a large-scale anticlastic surface, with reflections on the impact of different curvature alignments.
Publications1 - 5 of 5