Cloud-BIM Enabled Cyber-Physical Data and Service Platforms for Building Component Reuse

Ke Xing,Ki Pyung Kim,David Ness

doi:10.3390/su122410329

Abstract

While the Circular Economy in the built environment is often viewed in terms of recycling, more value can be obtained from buildings and physical components by their reuse, aided by stewardship and remanufacture, to ensure optimum performance capability. The use of cyber-physical information for online identification, examination and exchange of reusable components may improve their life-cycle management and circularity. To this end, a bi-directional data exchange system is established between physical building components and their virtual Building Information Modeling (BIM) counterparts, so that their life-cycle information—including history of ownership, maintenance record, technical specifications and physical condition—can be tracked, monitored and managed. The resultant prototype Cloud-based BIM platform is then adapted to support an ongoing product-service relationship between suppliers/providers and users/clients. A case study from a major new hospital, focusing upon an example of internal framed glazed systems, is presented for ”proof of concept” and to demonstrate the application of the proposed method. The result of the case study shows that, informed by the life-cycle data from the Cloud-BIM platform, a “lease with reuse” service option is able to deliver a lower total cost and less carbon intensity for each unit of frame-glazed module. This leads to a higher level of eco-efficiency, coupled with decreased consumption of material resources and reduced generation of waste. The research is expected to serve as a step forward in the era of Industry 4.0 and illuminate a more sophisticated way to manage building assets.

Highlights

As a crucial economic sector, the construction industry is responsible for up to 33% of all emissions, around 40% of all material consumption, and 40% of all waste [1]
The Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment is often viewed in terms of recycling, more value can be obtained from buildings and physical components by their reuse, whereby their life-cycle is extended and they are kept in circulation, aided by their stewardship and remanufacture to ensure they retain their optimum performance capability [2]
While the CE in the built environment is often viewed in terms of recycling, more value can be obtained from buildings and physical components by their reuse, aided by stewardship and remanufacture, to ensure optimum performance capability

Summary

Introduction

As a crucial economic sector, the construction industry is responsible for up to 33% of all emissions, around 40% of all material consumption, and 40% of all waste [1]. Countries such as the Netherlands have established targets for a fully CE by 2050, including the construction industry; this has led to an increase in the introduction of “platforms” such as Madaster and BAMB (Buildings as Material Banks) to identify and facilitate the reuse of components from existing buildings. Such initiatives aim to sustain the value of building materials via the “material passport” concept and pursue the idea that every building is an “adaptable platform” and a “material depot” [3,4]. Baker-Brown [9] envisaged an online market that quantified new material flows as soon as they became available: “Enlighted designers and manufacturers would borrow or lease the material before returning it to the “Material Flow Market””

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Discussion

Conclusion