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Construction Waste Lab (CWL)
Research and Industry Portal
Technologies
In this page you will find some information about technologies that assist with reducing C&D waste disposal.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
*BIM is not only a technology innovation, but also a significant shift in the overall AEC processes. Improvement of productivity and reduction of project duration and cost by using BIM have been demonstrated in many projects. BIM can efficiently manage the C&D waste by avoiding design problems, changes, and rework. BIM provides the basis for improved planning and scheduling and helps to ensure just-in-time arrival of people, equipment, and materials . A visual interface to a BIM model would enable managers to visually select the work packages for immediate execution and have their material requirements measured automatically and compiled for delivery.
Video: What is BIM and how it is changing the construction industry?
*Source: Cheng, J.C.P., Won, J. and Das, M., 2015. Construction and demolition waste management using BIM technology. In: Proc. 23rd Ann. Conf. of the Int’l. Group for Lean Construction. Perth, Australia, July 29-31, pp. 381-390, available at www.iglc.net
BIM
Prefab
Prefabrication
*Prefabrication is a manufacturing process that generally occurs at a specialized facility where various materials are formed as a component of the final installation. Prefabrication has been widely regarded as a sustainable construction method in terms of its impact on environmental protection. One important aspect of this perspective is the influence of prefabrication on construction waste reduction and the subsequent waste handling activities, including waste sorting, reuse, recycle, and disposal.
Video: What is prefabricated construction?
*Source: Li, Z., Shen, G.Q. and Alshawi, M., 2014. Measuring the impact of prefabrication on construction waste reduction: An empirical study in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 91, pp.27-39.
Geographical Information System (GIS)
*The GIS presents as an innovative approach to assessing the amount of C&D waste and monitoring the demolition activities in space and time. GIS has advantages in data acquisition, storage, correlation, processing, and analysis. In addition to estimating generation of demolition waste, GIS can build a bottom-up material stock model which integrates with the life cycle analysis (LCA) to assess the environmental impact at the urban scale and integrates with GPS technology to provide real-time location of the material and its arrival time to the construction site.
*Source: Chen, J., Su, Y., Si, H. and Chen, J., 2018. Managerial areas of construction and demolition waste: A scientometric review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(11):1-20.
GIS
Drone
*Using drones for waste management can help governments and waste management organizations in monitoring landfills, calculating airspace, and deterring littering. Drones can simplify many operations in waste management such as garbage collection and landfill monitoring.
Video: Drone captures site of alleged illegal dumping operation
*Source:
>Jeong, B. Evaluating the Potential Role of Drones in Environmental Mitigation (Doctoral dissertation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute).
>Victoria EPA (2016)- drones take flight to detect illegal dumping
Drone
3D Printing
* Three Dimensional (3D) printing is a technology that can assist with C&D waste reduction. Printed products only use as much material as needed to form them. This means fewer resources are required and less waste is generated. For instance, with 3D Printing, the application of concrete is precise and calculated, lowering construction waste to 30%-60%.
Video: The biggest 3d printed building
*Source: Tay, Y.W.D., Panda, B., Paul, S.C., Noor Mohamed, N.A., Tan, M.J. and Leong, K.F., 2017. 3D printing trends in building and construction industry: a review. Virtual and Physical Prototyping, 12(3), pp.261-276.
3D Printing
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