Circular Economy and Virtual Reality in Advanced BIM-Based Prefabricated Construction

Timothy M O’Grady,Heap-Yih Chong,Gregory M Morrison,Nicholas Brajkovich,Roberto Minunno

doi:10.3390/en14134065

Abstract

This paper presents a new virtual reality (VR)-based approach to advanced learnings and experiences of the circular economy (CE) in the construction industry. The approach involves incorporating game design and a building information modelling (BIM) digital twin of a purposed CE prototype building. Our novel approach introduces VR environments designed to provide a visual representation of materials and components that can be reintroduced into the supply chain at the end of life and their removal procedures and material provenance. A case study methodology was applied to a purposely designed CE building, namely the Legacy Living Lab (L3). To reflect the real-life building, L3’s BIM model was combined with Unify game software to advance the literature in three key areas. First, the research investigates VR tools that will allow building designers to view and implement their strategies to advance CE design. Second, this research proposes an advanced VR tool to visualise the bill of quantities (BoQ) and material stock embedded in the studied building, further understanding concepts such as buildings as material banks. Finally, the proposed VR environment defines CE techniques implemented within the case study to be disseminated across the vast construction industry. This VR research identifies three key pillars in reducing the waste generated by the construction industry: education, documentation and visualisation. Furthermore, this paper provides a visual link between the BIM, BoQ and resiliency of the selected materials.

Highlights

The construction industry stands globally as the largest contributor to waste generation [1,2]
To solve the issue of under-optimal recycling processes of building materials, the circular economy (CE) has been suggested as an approach that enables a material transition from the traditional linear business model of take–use–dispose to a model involving the life extension of resources and introducing systems and practices that enable materials to stay in the loop [9]
bill of quantities (BoQ) for the projects, enabling the second benefit to research, as it visualises the current material stock available to purchase at end of life, and shows the assembly sequence of the building to assist with end-of-life disassembly, bridging significant literature gaps discussed by Akbarieh et al [18]

Summary

Introduction

The construction industry stands globally as the largest contributor to waste generation [1,2]. The creation of waste is coupled to the high intensity of material consumption, with the industry consuming more than 40% of all materials produced [3]. These two issues are compounded by a rapidly growing global population and increasing standard of living, leading to a general increase in demolition waste. While building material continues to be disposed of in landfills, growing amounts are being reintroduced to the material loop through recycling [4]. To foster a CE, the closed-loop approach is gaining traction amongst researchers and practitioners as an important guiding principle for the growing construction waste problem [11]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion