Automated solutions for sustainable and circular construction and demolition waste management

Project Information

RECONMATIC

Grant agreement ID: 101058580

DOI

10.3030/101058580

Project closed

EC signature date 25 May 2022

Start date 1 July 2022

End date 30 June 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 6 091 960,00

EU contribution

€ 6 091 958,00

Coordinated by

CESKE VYSOKE UCENI TECHNICKE V PRAZE
Czechia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RECONMATIC (Automated solutions for sustainable and circular construction and demolition waste management)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

RECONMATIC is a European research and innovation project in the domain of the Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) management, focused on integrated decision making that would allow considering all aspects of CDW generation and involving all stakeholders within the construction industry in the whole life-cycle. The project focuses on one of the areas requiring increased attention in terms of improving the efficiency and sustainability of the construction industry and operation of existing built assets, followng objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU taxonomy requirements. The project proposes a suite of innovative tools, solutions and techniques to build bridges through "bottom-up" construction and demolition waste prevention or avoidance, management and handling to reach "top-down" European waste reduction goals. During the project implementation, the current practices in CDW management, from prevention and minimization of waste to its reuse, are evaluated and further developed to support the supply chains while circular economies are identified and integrated where it is possible end efficient. The aim is to develop, test and demonstrate a digital information management system for stakeholders' collaboration and waste traceability. It is envisaged that the CDW minimization will be achieved by empowering BIM and integrating waste management relevant data into the information models by product databank methodologies, waste predictors or BIM related data standard emphasizing recycling, reuse and management of CDW. Processes of converting different formats of construction information to the digital twins are going to be automated, as well as the decision-making system for repurposing, deconstruction and demolition. The project is furthermore going to employ automation for AI-assisted CDW classification and robotic segregation off-site. Methodology for CDW logistics reflecting automated and more efficient CDW sorting will be proposed, along with methodologies to provide new added-value uses to CDW seeking for higher valorization.    

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1:
- Evaluation of Current Practices and Policies in the EU and the UK (report)
- Digital Information Management System (report for methodology of DIMS)
WP2:
- Framework of data fom material/product mapping - methodology towards national product databanks with potential linking with digital product passports, technical data sheets or EPDs
- Designing and specification of schema, implementation mechanism and process map for WASTEie data standard
- Waste prediction tool drafted
- Development of smart order-delivery-logistics tool with focus on designing a web dashboard enhanced by blockchain
WP3:
- Development of algorithms for paper 2D drawings to digital model (DM) with testing on real building examples. Improving it by incorporating augmented reality information.
- Development of algorithms for automated generation of (DM) from 3D scanning point clouds. Training on selected buildings for automated pre-demolition audit.
- Developing a joint flow map and data structure with identification of processes and classifications during the whole life cycle of a built asset project used in pre-demolition audits.
- Digital app linking digital models with product data to automate pre-demolition audits
WP4:
- Identifiction of inherent inefficiencies in existing systems, leading us to develop a custom measurement line equipped with RGB cameras and various transducers, has been the cornerstone of our research, aiming to revolutionize CDW recycling through enhanced sorting accuracy.
- Fusion of data from different sensors in improving classification performance and adapting these innovations for industrial-scale applications (scaling up sensor network and enhancing machine learning models).
WP5:
- Sequential identification of technical parameters to enable better valorisation for 10 selected materials
- NDT analyses used during the operational stage in buildings and infra
- Collection of case studies for effective material recycling for identified types of waste materials
WP6:
- Analysis for circularity tool (to define how the guidance tool can complement decision-making processes).
- Analysis of reference documents and regulations to be considered in the tool's development and stakeholder interviews to determine the functional requirements.
- Definition of content and basic structure of the tool with 5 dimensions, incl. selection of relevant indicators (prototyping a tool).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Project results offer significant potential for impact in the realm of CDW management. For these innovations to achieve widespread uptake, several key needs have to be addressed:
• Further Research: Continued exploration and refinement of the developements in WP 2-5 to enhance efficiency and applicability.
• Demonstration: Real-world testing to showcase the practical benefits and scalability of the solutions especially dealing with digital models or twins, enhanced extensions to BIM emphasizing CDW management in particular phases of building/infrastructure life, automated sorting of waste inlcuding a robotic prototype for fine-sorting of selected CDW materials. For the assessment tool it is intended to fill the gaps left by existing sustainable building certification schemes or green building rating systems and standards (currently under development by CEN) in relation to the sustainable and circular management of CDW.
• Commercialization: Strategies for transforming these technological advancements into viable commercial products. This is ongoing supported by dissemination activities, networking and clustering events which act as positive actions to achieve this objective.
• Expanding the reach of the developed technologies to global markets, cintinous work in clustering and exchange with other running or recently finished pro European projects.
• Advocating for policies and standards that favor the adoption of such sustainable technologies.