Talla, A and McIlwaine, S (2024) Industry 4.0 and the circular economy: Using design-stage digital technology to reduce construction waste. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 13(1), pp. 179-198. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines how applying innovative I4.0 technologies at the design stage can help reduce construction waste and improve the recovery, reuse, and recycling of construction materials. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a three-stage sequential mixed methods approach, involving a thorough review of current literature, interviews with six experts in digital construction, and a survey of 75 experienced industry practitioners. Findings: The study identifies and discusses how ten specific digital technologies can improve design stage processes leading to improved circularity in construction, namely, (1) additive and robotic manufacturing; (2) artificial intelligence; (3) big data analytics; (4) blockchain technology; (5) building information modelling; (6) digital platforms; (7) digital twins; (8) geographic information systems; (9) material passports and databases; and (10) Internet of things. It demonstrates that by using these technologies to support circular design concepts within the sector, material recycling rates can be improved and unnecessary construction waste reduced. Practical implications: This research provides researchers and practitioners with improved understanding of the potential of digital technology to recycle construction waste at the design stage, and may be used to create an implementation roadmap to assist designers in finding tools and identifying them. Originality/value: Little consideration has been given to how digital technology can support design stage measures to reduce construction waste. This study fills a gap in knowledge of a fast-moving topic.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | circular economy; construction; digital; industry 4.0; technology; waste |
| Index terms: | geographic information system, implementation, internet, blockchain, artificial intelligence, construction waste, construction material, circularity, recycling, designer, circular economy, database, building information modelling, industry 4.0, recovery, platform, mixed method, digital construction, digital technology, digital twin, methodology, design stage, practitioner, big data, survey, interview, recycle |
| Subjects: | practitioner, computing systems, waste management, sustainable materials, digital engineering, data collection methods, profession, professional practice, technology adoption, artificial intelligence, contractual arrangements, building materials, operations management, digital design, sustainable design, research methods, information systems, geographical techniques and analysis, data management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Procurement, Sustainability, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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