Rodrigo, N; Omrany, H; Chang, R and Zuo, J (2024) Leveraging digital technologies for circular economy in construction industry: A way forward. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 13(1), pp. 85-116. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to investigate the literature related to the use of digital technologies for promoting circular economy (CE) in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: A comprehensive approach was adopted, involving bibliometric analysis, text-mining analysis and content analysis to meet three objectives (1) to unveil the evolutionary progress of the field, (2) to identify the key research themes in the field and (3) to identify challenges hindering the implementation of digital technologies for CE. Findings: A total of 365 publications was analysed. The results revealed eight key digital technologies categorised into two main clusters including “digitalisation and advanced technologies” and “sustainable construction technologies”. The former involved technologies, namely machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, big data analytics and object detection and computer vision that were used for (1) forecasting construction and demolition (C&D) waste generation, (2) waste identification and classification and (3) computer vision for waste management. The latter included technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and building information modelling (BIM) that help optimise resource use, enhance transparency and sustainability practices in the industry. Overall, these technologies show great potential for improving waste management and enabling CE in construction. Originality/value: This research employs a holistic approach to provide a status-quo understanding of the digital technologies that can be utilised to support the implementation of CE in construction. Further, this study underlines the key challenges associated with adopting digital technologies, whilst also offering opportunities for future improvement of the field.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; construction industry; construction waste; digital technologies; digitalisation; sustainable construction; waste management; waste recognition |
| Index terms: | holistic approach, mining, construction waste, blockchain, transparency, artificial intelligence, implementation, internet, construction industry, forecasting, building information modelling, deep learning, circular economy, waste generation, waste management, methodology, publication, object detection, digital technology, machine learning, computer vision, digitalization, sustainable construction, bibliometric analysis, content analysis, construction and demolition, big data |
| Subjects: | professional development, sustainable construction, computer vision, sustainable design, research methods, information systems, industry analysis, geotechnical engineering, research evaluation and metrics, computing systems, waste management, environmental impact, business, research dissemination and communication, prediction and forecasting, artificial intelligence, contractual arrangements, data analysis and analytics, digital technology |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Research Practice, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Procurement, Sustainability, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here