An agent-based model approach for urban demolition waste quantification and a management framework for stakeholders

Abstract

Along with the rapid growth in construction industry, quantity of construction and demolition (C&D) waste has increased significantly in recent decades. Demolition waste (DW) is identified as one significant stream of C&D waste and it is vital to obtain reliable information of the waste quantity. However, the data of C&D waste generation in China is still insufficient. In this study, an agent-based model is developed to estimate the total volume of DW and the amount of DW generated at each stage of waste disposal in Shenzhen, China. The findings present the greater capacity of deconstruction method in reduction of DW generation than conventional demolition method. In addition, the change from conventional demolition to deconstruction method could bring about a dramatic difference in the amount of construction material saving. However, the results present that change of attitude towards the demolition method is a slow process, which explains the unsatisfactory performance of demolition waste management (DWM) in Shenzhen. Relying on the attitude change of demolition companies is not enough to improve the performance of DWM. Related stakeholders should pay additional attention on DWM. Furthermore, an optimized management framework with involvement of related stakeholders is developed in this study.