The construction industry stands at a critical juncture in the pursuit of sustainability, facing the dual challenges of meeting growing infrastructure demands while mitigating its environmental footprint. This research delves into the application of Circular Economy (CE) principles within the construction industry, focusing particularly on Temporary Works (TW). It investigates how integrating BIM with inspection protocols can optimize the reuse, recycling, and management of materials, contributing to a sustainable built environment [1,2].
TW are essential for the safe and efficient execution of construction projects. According to BS5975, the management of these works requires rigorous inspection protocols [3]. The primary investigation of this research is to integrate BIM with TW inspections to create detailed assembly and disassembly relationships between structural elements. By leveraging BIM capabilities, inspections data on the condition and performance of TW can be systematically captured [4].
Temporary steel structures, due to their complexity and frequent reusability, are chosen as the focal point for this study. By incorporating a standardized BS5975 inspection protocol within a digital modeling environment, the research creates a detailed database mapping the assembly and disassembly sequences of structural elements [5]. This case study demonstrates that such
an integration enables better planning, resource optimization, and proactive issue management, ultimately enhancing safety and sustainability [6].
TW, with their shorter lifecycle, offer an ideal testbed for validating CE approaches. This research demonstrates that integrating digital modeling with TW inspections not only ensures compliance and safety but also aligns with CE objectives [7]. By focusing on TW, the findings provide actionable insights for stakeholders, advancing sustainable construction practices and paving the way for a more resilient and resource-efficient built environment [8].
[1] L. Eberhardt, “Circular economy in the ...” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 230, pp. 510–521, 2019.
[2] R. Apreda, “Application of bim in ...” Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2023.
[3] BSI, "BS 5975:2019 Code of ...", BSI Std., 2019.
[4] C. Okpala, “Real-time data capture using ...”, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2023.
[5] M. Moynihan and J. Allwood, “Case study on the ...”, Proceedings of the International Conference on Construction, pp. 78–85, 2016.
[6] N. Dipede and C. L aurenzi, “Optimizing resources in construction ...”, Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 101–120, 2023.
[7] Ellen MacArthur Foundation, “Aligning construction practices with ...”, Circular Economy and Construction, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 223–245, 2023.
[8] D. Moser, “Advancing sustainable construction practices”, Sustainable Construction Journal, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 345–368, 2020.