digitalBau

Trade Fair / March 24, 2026 - March 26, 2026

Fraunhofer at digitalBau 2026

Digital Process Chains for the Construction of the Future

From March 24 to 26, 2026, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will showcase at digitalBau in Cologne how digital technologies can make the construction industry more efficient, more sustainable, and more interconnected. In Hall 8, Booth 534, four Fraunhofer Institutes will present solutions covering the entire process chain—from data acquisition and planning to energy-efficient implementation and automated assembly.

The presentation is part of the Fraunhofer flagship project BAU-DNS, which actively drives transformation in the construction sector. The sector plays a central role in achieving climate goals: around 40 percent of CO₂ emissions in Germany result from the construction and operation of buildings. To significantly reduce this share, future renovation efforts must become faster, more cost-efficient, and more resource-friendly.

BAU-DNS focuses on three key approaches: the seamless use of digital data, sustainable processes throughout the entire life cycle, and systemic manufacturing that helps counteract the shortage of skilled workers. The construction process is consistently designed from the end backwards—from deconstruction and recycling to the reuse of regional and recycled materials.

Technology Meets Construction Practice – Experience the Digital Process Chain in Construction!

Visitors will gain insights into current research results through various demonstrators, exhibits, and visualizations. Together, the Fraunhofer Institutes demonstrate how innovative sensor technology, intelligent algorithms, sustainable materials, and automated production steps can make tomorrow’s construction processes more precise, efficient, and resource-saving.

Event details

Location

Koelnmesse (Cologne Trade Fair)

Date

March 24, 2026 - March 26, 2026

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Organization

Exhibiting Fraunhofer Institutes:

Additional Fraunhofer Institutes involved in the project:

Exhibits

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Fraunhofer IPM

Measurement Systems and Process Chains for the Digital Twin

The Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM is laying the foundation for the digital process chain in the construction sector with its developments. As part of the flagship project BAU-DNS, the institute will demonstrate at digitalBau 2026 how measurement systems and process chains supply the digital twin of a building with precise, interconnected data.

Fraunhofer IPM’s solutions enable seamless acquisition, processing, and integration of measurement data into digital twins. Innovative sensor technology, automated process chains, and intelligent data fusion create the basis for accurate models, efficient analyses, and predictive decision-making. This results in a digital representation of the real construction environment that can be used for planning, simulation, and optimization.

The approach pursued by Fraunhofer IPM aims to integrate measurement data directly into digital twins to speed up and automate analyses and optimizations. Precise and up-to-date models provide a reliable basis for maintenance, quality assurance, and development processes. Predictive evaluations also enable early detection of potential failures and more targeted planning of investments.

In this way, Fraunhofer IPM contributes to a precise, efficient, and data-driven construction process—from measurement data acquisition all the way to the digital twin.

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Fraunhofer IGD

Digital Planning Models and AR-Assisted Assembly

As part of the BAU-DNS flagship project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD is working on the digitalization and automation of planning and execution processes in construction. At digitalBau 2026, the institute will present two coordinated developments that improve the flow of information between planning and implementation.

The first demonstration focuses on automated geometry reconstruction from 3D point clouds. Using proprietary algorithms, building façades are captured from laser-scan data, semantically segmented, and converted into parametric geometry models. The resulting digital models can be integrated into the building twin and used for subsequent planning steps. This approach increases efficiency in the planning process through a high degree of automation. Coordination cycles are shortened because all stakeholders can access shared digital data. This process optimization also leads to cost savings throughout the entire renovation process.

The second exhibit demonstrates assisted facade module assembly using augmented reality (AR). Planning data is projected directly onto the façade via a combined projection and visualization system. Drilling points, positions, and modules are displayed in real time, enabling more precise and easier installation of individually prefabricated elements. The projection reduces the measurement effort on the construction site and minimizes potential sources of error. At the same time, planning data can be visually checked on site and presented clearly for all participants.

Together, these two approaches show how Fraunhofer IGD is using digital technologies to make planning and assembly processes in construction more efficient, consistent, and less error-prone.

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Fraunhofer ISE

Resource-Efficient BIPV Facade Elements with Insulation

As part of the BAU-DNS flagship project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE addresses the integration of sustainable and energy-efficient façade technologies into digital construction processes. At digitalBau 2026, the institute will present a multifunctional façade element that combines power generation, thermal insulation, and weather protection in a single component.

The demonstrator shows how building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) can be implemented resource-efficiently and in a circular manner. The insulation material used is a biogenic alternative made from hemp fibers, integrated into the façade element in such a way that the individual materials can always be separated cleanly. The system therefore combines energy efficiency with a high level of sustainability and recyclability.

For building classes 1 to 3, the module allows simple and fast implementation of BIPV façades. Thanks to the choice of insulation material and the ability to install the module without additional support systems or robots, the façade element meets key criteria of sustainable construction—from CO₂ neutrality and circular use of materials to material savings and ease of disassembly.

Fraunhofer ISE thus demonstrates how technological innovation and ecological responsibility can be combined in the building envelope, making an important contribution to the sustainable transformation of the construction industry.

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Fraunhofer IFF

Automated Prefabrication and Assembly of Facade Elements

The Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF is exploring how industrial manufacturing and digital processes can be combined in the construction sector as part of the BAU-DNS flagship project. At digitalBau 2026, the institute will demonstrate how automated prefabrication and assembly of facade elements can contribute to a fully digitally supported construction process.

A demonstration video illustrates the entire workflow—from the interface between planning and prefabrication in the workshop to the automated assembly on the construction site. Prefabrication under controlled conditions ensures high component quality, while installation and construction times are significantly reduced. Because assembly can be carried out without scaffolding, worker safety is improved and additional costs are avoided.

The automated assembly system can be used flexibly up to a height of 13 meters and enables further savings in personnel and time. In terms of resource efficiency, the approach offers additional advantages: efficient use of materials during prefabrication reduces consumption and lowers the ecological footprint. The solution is also closely integrated into the digital planning process. Planners receive direct access to information about producible and deliverable modules, enabling better coordination and planning.

In doing so, Fraunhofer IFF demonstrates how a fully digital and automated workflow can lead to higher efficiency, quality, and sustainability in the construction sector.