Automating building element detection for deconstruction planning and material reuse

A case study

Journal Article (2023)
Author(s)

Matthew Gordon (ETH Zürich, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia)

A. Batallé Garcia (TU Delft - Design & Construction Management)

Catherine De Wolf (ETH Zürich)

Aldo Sollazzo (Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia)

Alexandre Dubor (Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia)

Tong Wang (TU Delft - Design & Construction Management)

Research Group
Design & Construction Management
Copyright
© 2023 Matthew Gordon, A. Batallé Garcia, Catherine De Wolf, Aldo Sollazzo, Alexandre Dubor, T. Wang
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2022.104697
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 Matthew Gordon, A. Batallé Garcia, Catherine De Wolf, Aldo Sollazzo, Alexandre Dubor, T. Wang
Research Group
Design & Construction Management
Volume number
146
Reuse Rights

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Abstract

To address the need for a shift from a linear to a circular economy in the built environment, this paper develops a semi-automated assistive process for planning building material deconstruction for reuse using sensing and scanning, Scan-to-BIM, and computer vision techniques. These methods are applied and tested in a real-world case study in Geneva, Switzerland, with a focus on reconstruction and recovery analysis for floor beam systems. First, accessible sensing and scanning tools, such as mobile photography and smartphone-based consumer-grade Lidar devices, are used to capture imagery and other data from an active demolition site. Then, photogrammetry and point cloud data analysis are performed to construct a 3D BIM model of relevant areas. The structural relationships between reconstructed BIM elements are evaluated to score the feasibility for recovery of each element. This study illustrates what is feasible and where further development is necessary for automating building material reuse planning at scale to increase the uptake of circular economy practices in the construction sector.