Results and Navigator

Advanced digital solutions supporting reuse and high-quality recycling of building materials

Digital Deconstruction (DDC) is an innovated Interreg North West Europe project in which smart services are developed to make circular construction a reality, and pave the way with reuse bricks towards a greener future. To learn more about the project, the goals and objectives, the involved partners, the achievements, the pilot sites and all other events organised throughout the project timeline, visit the following pages.

Mission and objectives of the Digital Deconstuction project

The project aims to develop an innovative digital decision support system, integrating various digital tools (3D scanning, Reversible Building Information Modelling, a digital materials & buildings database, blockchain technology) that helps to define the most sustainable and economical deconstruction and reuse strategy for building. By linking the digital system to innovative Building Information Model techniques, a cycle is created between design, construction and demolition. Scarce resources are reused in this way and will drastically reduce the huge CO2 emissions of the construction industry.

Researchers within the project are working on this open-source software system so engineers can reuse materials released from the dismantling of renovation and demolition projects in the construction industry and create a more sustainable future.

The project focuses on regions having set sustainable materials management, ecotechnologies, ICT and digitization in industry as one of their RIS3 priorities in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France, paving the way for roll-out to United Kingdom and Denmark.

Achievements and main results

The project develops the following main out-puts:

• An integrated DDC system at Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7), to be made accessible to companies in IT, engineering, construction & real estate sector as an open- source software package for further development and the integration to market-ready products and services.

• A transnational network of Regional Innovation Hubs (RIH) that support the optimization, validation and roll-out of DDC solutions.

• Five pilots, where the digital tools are tested in operational environment; an interactive DDC Navigator supporting the use and further adaptation of DDC tools.

Experimentation – Pilot sites throughout Europe

On five pilot sites in the four cooperative countries the various tools have to been tested step by step. Each pilot is a (de)construction project and with the help of EU Digital Deconstruction project the tools developed help engineers to analyse the building materials for reuse (or recycle). This data will be integrated in the digital software platform where users, constructors and engineers can search for the building materials. Project partners started with the 3D scanning on each site, followed by analysing the materials (BIM) and placed in the database (Cirdax) where materials are numbered for reuse. In the end all pilots are analyzed and useful building materials will become available via this open-source software platform.

Regional Innovation Hubs

The Regional Innovation Hubs (RIHs) bring together industry frontrunners and other parties interested in digital tools for reuse and high-quality recycling. These networks allow participants to explore possibilities to use digital technology for urban mining – through demonstrations, explanations, hands on testing and practical use cases. Members of the Hubs will also discover first-hand the innovative digital tools developed by the Digital Deconstruction project and share experiences with other frontrunners in the sector.

In each of the four countries participating in the Digital Deconstruction project is set up a Regional Innovation Hub (RIH): Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. The Regional Innovation Hubs reach out to general and demolition contractors, architects and consultants, public or private clients interested in circular economy, software developers, and stakeholders in the reclamation and recycling industry. The RIHs have the objective to create and coordinate a network of deconstruction actors interested in digitalization. Within the network, participants are empowered to start new projects and develop their skills and knowledge.

A Transnational Hub is also set up to allow frontrunners to dive deep in the technological developments of the Digital Deconstruction modules, and share on transnational issues, creating a network for future developments of DDC tools.

They support the Digital Deconstruction approach:

We believe in the power of the ecosystem, so that everyone can rely on valued contact in the field of construction, circular economy, circularity, construction and design industry and reuse of building materials.

If you have supported Digital Deconstruction during the last 3 years either by communicating on social media about the project or by coming to the many events we organized (Regional innovation Hubs, Mid-term event, Final event, etc.), feel free to communicate your support at [email protected] and be highlighted on our website !