Emergent Construction and System Integration The system, as described so far, could be defined by both a set of types of elementary construction modules, each type having different geometric or functional properties, and a set of combination rules applying to modules of different types. These rules can be incorporated in the construction modules if the latter include specific locking mechanisms that determine both which types of modules can be attached to each other and the form of the attachment. As a consequence, larger scale properties—such as system consistency of a construction—could emerge through the modules' properties.

There are three major classes of modules, presented here with a schematic notation of their locking mechanisms: surface modules, … … linear modules, … … and node modules. Each class includes several types, each type having different geometrical specifications.

Modules of different types, locked to each other, result in system consistent constructions.

Linear modules include a metallic beam that constitutes element of the structural system of the construction. Elements of the electromechanical or the plumbing system can be incorporated in the beam. At the endpoints of the beam there are locking mechanisms allowing connection to the node modules.

A node module includes a metallic core where a beam can be attached. The core may include connections to the electromechanical or plumbing infrastructure incorporated in the beams.

When the beams are locked on the core, the elements of the infrastructure are also connected. As a consequence, the infrastructure emerges as the construction is assembled.

All construction details are designed at the system level. As a consequence, no study of construction details is needed at the project level.

Larger scale construction units, such as stairs, as well as their attachment to a construction, are also designed at the system level.

Geometrical complexity, occurring as a side effect of variability, results in a large set of types of construction modules. For instance consider the sample construction presented before. We can identify four different types of surface modules, … … six different types of linear modules, … … and twelve different types of node modules. In fact, many more types exist.

How all these types could be produced in a cost-effective manner? Note that all construction modules follow a fine-grain 3D construction grid. As a consequence, they can be viewed as combinations of elementary virtual modules that correspond to the elementary cells of the grid.

A very small number of virtual module types suffice for the definition of a large number of basic modules. Both informational and material resources produced at the virtual module level can be reused for the construction of the basic modules. In the same fashion, larger scale construction modules can be constructed as combinations of basic modules. Any shift from a smaller to a larger scale results in exponential increase of the number of possible module types. As a consequence, the construction variability required to reach the systems' specifications can be achieved by a developmental procedure which reduces the informational cost of the construction.

Considering sections of different types of linear modules, each section perpendicular to the module's axis, we can see how type differentiation derives from different possible angles between the surface modules connected by a linear module. Different types could occur by slicing the type that corresponds to coplanar connections and recombining the resulting parts. In a similar manner, 3D slicing and recombination operations could produce all types of node modules, starting from the "coplanar connection" type. The developmental construction procedure could be summarized as: "basic type  differentiation  composition of many specialized types".

The same procedure applies also in construction details: … … different details emerge by differentiation (or even recombination) of basic types of details.

Present industrial technology, which of course is not limited in building construction, includes adjustable production systems (e.g. CAD-CAM systems) which can cope with different product specifications. Such systems fit fine to developmental construction procedures by allowing type differentiation—which is characteristic of the developmental paradigm—to be achieved at a minimal cost. Furthermore, generalization of production could allow industries based on such systems to adapt in new market niches. Consider for instance an automobile industry adapted in building construction.