Uses of building information modelling for overcoming barriers to a circular economy

Rabia Charef; Stephen Emmitt

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124854

Uses of building information modelling for overcoming barriers to a circular economy

Rabia Charef
, Stephen Emmitt

University of Bath

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

163 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The current linear economy approach of the construction industry is partly responsible for the environmental impact of the sector. The urgent need to move towards a more circular approach is becoming a priority and concurrently the use of building information modelling (BIM) is now mandated in many countries. However, the use of BIM for the management of a building’ end-of-life is still quite rare. A literature review was conducted to explore the state of the art of BIM uses in the building industry, which included academic sources and non-academic studies. This was followed by 20 semi-structured interviews with experts in the field of architecture and circular economy or BIM. The aim was to explore what would be the BIM uses that may help practitioners to adopt a circular economy approach. Analysis of the data identified 35 BIM uses that may foster the implementation of a circular economy approach. 28 of these were extracted from the literature, of which 19 were reported by the interviewees as having potential for helping with the management of the building's end-of-life and recovered materials. Seven new BIM uses were identified from analysis of the interview data, which may provide guidance and support for the adoption of the circular economy approach.

Original language	English
Article number	124854
Journal	Journal of Cleaner Production
Volume	285
Early online date	10 Nov 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124854
Publication status	Published - 20 Feb 2021

Bibliographical note

Funder

Institutional Links grant, ID 42938835

Funding

The authors thank sincerely all the individual practitioners who contributed to the research findings. Their time and participation in both the survey and the follow-up interviews are greatly appreciated. This work was supported by an Institutional Links grant, ID 429388357 , under the Newton Fund partnership. The grant is funded by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Ton Duc Thang University in Vietnam and delivered by the British Council .

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

BIM uses
Building information modelling
Circular economy
End-of-Life
Material bank

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
General Environmental Science
Strategy and Management
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124854

Cite this

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Uses of building information modelling for overcoming barriers to a circular economy

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funder

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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