From Building Stocks to Dynamic Digital Material Banks. A Digital Methodology for the Upcycling of Reclaimed Materials and Components.

The doctoral research is framed within the context of “Industry 4.0” for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC). This term refers to the ongoing digital transformation reshaping economic sectors since the early 21st century. Unlike other industries, the AEC - characterized by fragmented and traditional processes - has struggled to adopt these innovations, leaving digitalization as a largely underused opportunity for improving sector’s efficiency and sustainability. This discrepancy is particularly critical when considering the scale of waste generated by the sector: in 2022, the AEC industry in UE generated more than 862 million tons of non-hazardous waste, accounting for 38% of total waste production. The treatment of construction and demolition waste (CDW) and reclaimed building material and components is currently characterized by a downcycling approach. Nevertheless, potential for high-quality treatments and strategies is significant, and could lead to an increase of economic but also environmental, social and cultural value, a key factor for upscaling circularity. From a digitalization perspective, Digital Material Banks are currently the key tool for managing circularity processes in the AEC sector. However, Digital Material Banks, due to their static nature, have limitations in supporting and predicting different end-of-life scenarios. This doctoral thesis explores the role of a digital methodology in the upcycling of reclaimed building materials and components from demolition and deconstruction operations. This methodology results in the development of a Dynamic Digital Material Bank (DDMB), a BIM-based cloud inventory. The DDMB differs from other material banks because it provides various levels of information based on the objectives of reclamation projects, thereby adapting to the digital processes of industry stakeholders. It dynamically generates geometric and informational outputs as a result of demolition and deconstruction operations, taking into account treatment choices and design strategies for reclaimed materials and components. The research presents the outcomes of the application of the DDMB, analyzing its benefits across various stages of the upcycling process. Specifically, the DDMB contributes to: (i) improving the effectiveness of demolition and deconstruction processes by enhancing the quality of reclaimed materials and components; (ii) providing an assessment of the impacts of demolition, deconstruction, and resource treatment projects; (iii) expanding market opportunities; and (iv) enhancing the re- design phase toward upcycling.