Cross-linking, Tracing and Reusing Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) across Circular Supply Networks in Construction
Looptijd
June 2024 - June 2029Project manager
The construction sector is responsible for 50% of raw material consumption and 35% of all waste. That poses a significant societal challenge, especially considering the strong commitments made on national and European levels to reduce climate impact and stimulate the implementation of a circular economy. Several initiatives have fueled the transition of the construction sector from a linear into a circular model, e.g., Buildings as Material Banks (BAMB), Material Passports, Platform CB鈥�23, circularity hubs, Building Circularity Index, etc. However, further systemic changes are needed. Achieving a circular construction industry and reducing Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) requires a holistic network effect, including societal awareness, engagement, and commitment to eliminate waste. The UPSCALE project investigates ways to enable this socio-technical paradigm shift, relying on the collective knowledge and expertise from research and innovation in practice to transform traditional supply chains into dynamic supply networks. The consortium is composed of dedicated partners that aim to leverage the potential of digitalisation to enable tracking, tracing and linking CDW using state-of-the-art decentralised, networked web technologies with decomposed asset data in Building Information Models and Digital Twins. Furthermore, behavioural research aims to stimulate the adoption of these technologies and the associated actions and procedures. That includes co-design studies with relevant partners and stakeholders (contractors, clients, engineering companies, waste management companies and product manufacturers) and a detailed investigation of existing and emerging material flows. New business processes and decision-making models are developed with a clear focus on upscaling these flows into CDW supply networks.
Collaborative Partners
-
Eindhoven University of Technology
-
VolkerWessels BVGO-Zuid B.V.
-
Utrecht University
-
Delft University of Technology
-
Hogeschool Rotterdam
-
Gemeente Rotterdam
-
ABN Amro Bank
-
Witteveen+Bos N.V.
-
Madaster Services BV
-
BIM-Connected
-
ADEX Group
-
Huisrijk
-
Martens Keramiek
-
InnoTractor
-
Stichting SPARK Campus
AMBITIONS
BEHAVIOR
- Outcome 1: An irreversible cultural and behavioural change towards circularity and reuse can be recognised in the day-to-day activities of the construction value chain.
- Outcome 2: Acquiring and purchasing policies and processes have changed for CDW and circular materials, facilitating the circular transition of the built environment.
SYSTEM
- Outcome 3: Other industries apply the UPSCALE approach.
ECONOMY
- Outcome 4: Increased turnover from circular activities and products, and creation of more functionality from existing elements and new product flows to other industries.
- Outcome 5: Incentive for and reuse of CDW in new products, materials and constructions.
Achieving a circular construction industry and reducing Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) requires a holistic network effect, including societal awareness, engagement, and commitment to eliminate waste. The UPSCALE project investigates ways to enable this socio-technical paradigm shift, relying on the collective knowledge and expertise from research and innovation in practice to transform traditional supply chains into dynamic supply networks.
WORK PACKAGES
WP1 - Project Management and Coordination
The project will be managed according to an agile project management methodology. This includes setting up the project infrastructure and continuous project governance for work packages and consortium partners.
WP2 - Societal Trust and Community Engagement
The objective of WP2 is to advance circular practices aimed at reducing and reusing Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW). In WP2 we: 1) assess the current state of circularity in the (Dutch) construction sector; 2) identify barriers to the widespread adoption of digital circular solutions for CDW; 3) develop and test strategies to increase trust and uptake of network-oriented circular construction practices via co-design and end-user involvement in demonstrator sites; and 4) create an evidence-based implementation roadmap for digital circular solutions for CDW.
WP3 - Digital System Infrastructure for Networked Circularity Twins
Work Package 3 aims at the system pillar of this research project. As part of this WP, a decentralised user-centric IT infrastructure is created that allows to manage construction and demolition waste (CDW) across the construction supply chains. Connections are made with Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twinning and Green Business Process Modelling to enable appropriate material re-use. Finally, the addition of Track & Trace functionality is investigated to track the provenance of materials and enabling a Take Back model for construction materials.
WP4 - Business Potentials in a Networked CDW Circular Economy
In addition to the research on Behavior (WP2) and System (WP3), research needs to be done on changing the Economy, in order to enable the UPSCALING of novel decentralized circular workflows. This is the topic of WP4, which aims to (1) evaluate and critique existing centralised business models, (2) co-design network-based business models to increase CDW valorisation, and (3) upscale supply chains into circular supply networks.
WP5 - Learning Communities, Co-Creation, Exploitation and Dissemination
Work package 5 aims to create an UPSCALING network of learning communities. By directly engaging with anyone related to construction and demolition waste (CDW), as well as construction companies, waste management companies, product manufacturers, real estate owners, and citizens, this WP5 aims to increase awareness of CDW valorisation for economy, environmental sustainability, and resilience.
MORE INFORMATION:
PROJECT ORGANIZATION
- Pieter Pauwels | 果冻传媒 | Project Management and Coordination
- Laura Piscicelli | UU | Societal Trust and Community Management
- Ekaterina Petrova | 果冻传媒 | Digital System Infrastructure for Networked Circularity Twins
- Tong Wang | TUD | Business Potentials in a Networked CDW Circular Economy
- Tomasz Jaskiewizc | RUAS | Learning Communities, Co-Creation, Exploitation and Dissemination
