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Circular economy in construction: Innovative AI solutions are revolutionizing demolition!
The TU Berlin initiates the EU project “Reincarnate” to make the construction sector more sustainable through AI and circular solutions.
Circular economy in construction: Innovative AI solutions are revolutionizing demolition!
The EU project “Reincarnate” is pursuing a comprehensive approach to transform the construction sector into a circular economy. According to the TU Berlin The project aims to significantly reduce the waste of resources in construction. Dr. Timo Hartmann, who coordinates the project, emphasizes the need to move away from traditional linear construction and develop innovative concepts.
A key initiative within the project is the creation of a database by the Swedish company RAGN SELLS. This database is intended to record all raw materials that are generated during demolition work. Using an AI-supported tool developed in Germany, new building materials can be obtained from these recorded materials. This innovative approach is part of the ten digital solutions being introduced as part of “Reincarnate”.
A focus on sustainable practices
In Europe, buildings are demolished on average after around 40 years, accounting for an alarming 25-30% of all waste in the construction sector. The “Reincarnate” project demonstrates its goals in thirteen practical projects in Europe and China. The main focus is to extend the life of buildings and materials and promote high-quality end-of-life recycling.
The research at TU Berlin is also groundbreaking. Examples of innovative approaches include automated, non-destructive dismantling of doors for reuse and robotic dismantling of single-pane windows to create multi-pane windows. These technologies are specifically aimed at extending the use of building materials and minimizing waste.
The need for a circular economy in construction is increasingly recognized. In 2022, over 216 million tons of construction and demolition waste were generated in Germany. This amount accounts for a whopping 54.2% of the country's total waste generation, like that Federal Environment Agency reported. Around 945 million tonnes of raw materials are extracted in Germany every year, a significant proportion of which, namely 550 million tonnes, are building materials.
Digital solutions to improve resource utilization
To meet these challenges, digital tools and artificial intelligence are used that enable resource-efficient and low-waste construction. Platforms have been created that simplify the documentation of building materials and the identification of recyclable materials. In addition, approaches such as urban mining are being developed, which view cities as deposits of raw materials.
An example of cross-border cooperation is the “FutureBalticBauhaus” project. Here, a group consisting of municipalities in Sweden and Denmark is working on radically reducing CO2 emissions by reusing components. Planned measures that are due to begin soon include training courses and pilot projects that will strengthen the circular construction sector.
In addition, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection is publishing a call for funding that supports innovative digital technologies to support the circular economy. Projects that develop or test digital solutions can be submitted until March 24, 2025, with a focus on AI systems and digital twins.
The development of these technologies and concepts could make a significant contribution to a more sustainable construction sector and further demonstrate the need for an economic circular economy. Those interested can find further information about the circular economy in construction on the platform Circular economy construction.