The construction industry is a major source of carbon emissions, creating a strong need to apply circular economy principles. While cities such as Amsterdam set ambitious circularity goals, high-value material reuse remains limited by logistical barriers. This thesis addresses th
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The construction industry is a major source of carbon emissions, creating a strong need to apply circular economy principles. While cities such as Amsterdam set ambitious circularity goals, high-value material reuse remains limited by logistical barriers. This thesis addresses the question: How can Circular Construction Hubs (CCHs) be strategically located and configured to support material reuse in urban road maintenance?
A mixed-method approach was applied, combining GIS-based suitability analysis and a heuristic optimization model with qualitative validation through expert interviews. Network performance was measured in tonne-kilometers (t-km) to compare Centralized, Decentralized, and Hub-and-Spoke models.
Results show that a refined 5-CCH Decentralized model achieves the greatest transport efficiency. Meanwhile, a 6-TSS Hub-and-Spoke model offers stronger resilience to regulatory and operational constraints. The study concludes that no single configuration is optimal. Instead, it proposes a scalable, hybrid three-tiered framework integrating CCHs, TSSs, and temporary staging areas. This provides a transferable blueprint for cities to align circular economy policy with logistical reality.
