RecycleBIM: driving circular construction innovation

In recent years, sustainability has become an absolute priority, and the construction sector is no exception. This time, the focus has been on the theme of circularity of construction materials, an approach that aims to minimize waste produced on-site and maximize the reuse and recycling of materials. This philosophy contrasts with the traditional linear model that involves the use and then disposal of materials, promoting instead a continuous cycle of resource use and reuse.

A crucial variable in this process is certainly Building Information Modelling (BIM), a new working methodology that, thanks to integrated management tools, allows for optimization of construction projects. BIM enables the creation of highly detailed 3D digital models of buildings, providing valuable information on every phase of a project’s life cycle, from design to demolition. Through BIM, it is possible to efficiently plan the reuse and recycling of materials, catalog and estimate the quantities of each material, evaluate the timing and phases of demolition, thus improving the overall sustainability of constructions. All this is only possible by creating the project digital model, namely the 3D model that faithfully represents its real version and constitutes a container of information to be implemented over time.

Regarding this important topic, ACCA software is also contributing its experience and advanced technologies by actively participating in the RecycleBIM project, a significant multinational and multi-actor initiative aimed at developing an integrated framework for the circularity of construction materials.

This work has been partially funded by the ERA-MIN 3 action, which has received funding from the European Union under the Horizon 2020 program from the European Commission grant agreement No. 101003575.

RecycleBIM: what is it about

The RecycleBIM project represents an important initiative to promote sustainability and circularity of construction materials through the advanced use of BIM. Thanks to this project, it will be possible to investigate procedures to improve the management of building materials, reduce environmental impact, and promote more efficient and sustainable construction practices.

The main objective is to exploit the potential of BIM to promote sustainability and efficiency in the management of building materials, from their use to the dismantling and recycling phase. The project has a duration of three years and started in May 2022. Many partners are involved, with prominent profiles ranging from the world of research and universities to the construction market.

Here is a list of consortium partners:

• University of Minho (Portugal)
• Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany)
• Universidade de Vigo (Spain)
• Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
• ACCA software S.p.A. (Italy)
• Südhessische Wertstoffrückgewinnungs GmbH (Germany)
• University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
• LEZAMA DEMOLICIONES S.L. (Spain)
• Lafarge Centre de Recherche (France)
• Newton (Portugal)
• Gaiurb EM (Portugal)
• Marta Campos – Architecture (Portugal)
• A-Lab (Portugal).

LCA and construction

Project objectives

The project aims to investigate five main aspects.

• Experimenting with new methodologies for surveying building heritage
  One of the main objectives of the project is to develop an innovative methodology for surveying buildings destined for demolition. This involves the use of cutting-edge technologies, such as manual laser scanning, to create digital twins of buildings semi-automatically and at controlled costs. These digital twins are virtual models that faithfully replicate the physical and functional characteristics of the buildings, facilitating the planning and management of dismantling operations.
• Establishing BIM modeling rules and information requirements
  Another crucial aspect of the project is the definition of appropriate BIM modeling rules and specific information requirements. These standards will allow incorporating all relevant information for a comprehensive analysis of demolition in BIM models, including health and safety aspects, demolition phases and techniques, as well as the quantification of materials available for reuse and recycling. This will ensure a more effective and safe management of demolition operations, promoting material circularity.
• Implementing IFC tools for multi-criteria optimization
  The project involves creating a tool based on IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) for multi-criteria optimization of deconstruction strategies and materials. This tool will enable designers to analyze their BIM models within an integrated platform. The platform will manage a multi-criteria optimization procedure, taking into account various factors such as dismantling phases and strategies, and including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analyses. This approach will be useful for Design for Deconstruction and planning the demolition of existing buildings.
• Developing new uses for waste from demolitions in 3D printed concrete works
  Another project objective is the strategic and optimized use of recycled demolition waste for 3D printed concrete production. This innovative digital construction practice will reduce the environmental impact of construction waste, while promoting the adoption of 3D printing technologies in the construction sector. The use of 3D printed concrete will not only reduce waste but also improve the efficiency and sustainability of construction processes.
• Developing tools for municipal permit issuance
  Lastly, the project aims to develop a specific set of tools that Municipalities can use in the process of issuing permits for new construction and demolition based on BIM models (openBIM). These tools will enable a more efficient and transparent management of municipal authorizations, based on traceable data and accurate records of material circularity at the local level. This will allow Municipalities to implement global optimization strategies, improving the sustainability and efficiency of construction practices at the municipal level.

One of the main objectives of the project is to disseminate new knowledge and methodologies for the benefit of the construction market, mainly composed of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These companies often cannot afford significant investments in the development of new technologies or the purchase of expensive equipment, such as professional laser scanners, or premium software licenses for sustainability analysis. Supporting joint initiatives at the European level, such as RecycleBIM, is therefore essential to accelerate the introduction of circular economy principles into the daily activities of the European market and to positively influence the rest of the market towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The widespread adoption of circularity principles in design-to-demolition can have a significant impact on the construction industry, supporting the ambitious goal of 100% circularity in construction materials. This project, far from being a niche initiative, aims to create a database of reusable and recyclable materials in construction based on BIM and data analysis to inform other industrial sectors about the availability of materials for circularity.

RecycleBIM project deliverables

The RecycleBIM project aims to achieve specific results through the contribution of the various partners involved. Among the main deliverables, it is expected to produce:

• Product Data Models Manual: developed based on circularity information requirements, these models will provide detailed guidance for material data management.
• Definition of LOIN Specifications (Level of Information Need): related to key construction elements, these specifications will support Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), energy audit, demolition design, Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and the development of inventories of reusable or recyclable materials using BIM methodology with application tools based on IFC file format.
• Information Requirement Specification Models (EIR): two dedicated models respectively for new construction buildings and existing buildings to be demolished, offering a structured basis for managing the request for informative delivery specifications in both contexts.
• Information Management Plan Models (BEP): similarly, two specific models to show how to respond to the information requests defined in the EIR, both for new construction buildings and those to be demolished, ensuring consistent and comprehensive information management.
• Open-source App “RecycleBIM”: an application for checking the integrity of IFC files and verifying possible inconsistencies or lack of information requirements according to LOIN specifications.
• Survey Activity Planning Manual: detailed guide for the semi-automatic creation of the BIM model using SCAN-to-BIM technology.
• Construction and Demolition Waste Prediction Model: provided with a detailed description, this model will help predict and manage generated waste.
• Integrated Energy Demand Assessment Tool: based on IFC format models, this tool will support energy analysis of buildings.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) Optimization Tool: based on a parametric model of buildings in IFC format, it will return representative indices of environmental performance improvement, contributing to reducing environmental impacts and optimizing the decarbonization process.
• Inventory of Recyclable Construction Waste: a detailed resource to identify and manage recyclable waste derived from construction and demolition processes.
• Marketplace for Recycled Materials: a platform for marketing recycled materials with information requirements, environmental and economic data, integrated with the open-source app “RecycleBIM” for checking the integrity of IFC files.

These deliverables will contribute to disseminating new knowledge and methodologies in the construction sector, promoting the adoption of circular economy principles and supporting SMEs in their journey towards more sustainable practices.