BACKGROUND AND IMPACT The raw materials present on the planet are a finite, limited and, in many cases, non-renewable resource, which is why the current consumption model is destroying many of these resources. For this reason, investment in research is necessary and, in this way, new production models should be promoted, if possible, based on the revaluation and reuse of industrial waste, encouraging the study and search for new markets for these recovered resources, considered as waste. In this way, industries are encouraged to adapt to the circular economy model with the environmental, social and economic advantages so necessary for our planet. Traditionally, the productive model that has sustained the system of growth of our society has been based on the use of the different available resources that, after their transformation within the production chain and their subsequent incorporation into the consumption chain, lost their resource condition to become waste, whose inevitable destination was the landfill. Hence the conception of a linear economy that prevails in today's productive industry. The main problems underlying this linear system are the commitment to the capacity to assimilate resources, with the consequent pollution, the accumulation of waste without use, the exploitation of renewable resources exceeding the renewal rate and the exhaustion of non-renewable resources due to their intensive consumption. The unsustainability of the current linear model imposed as the dominant pattern of economic development, requires progress towards the implementation of a growth model that optimizes the use of available resources and materials while retaining their value in the system for as long as possible, the circular economy. To this end, waste management plays a crucial role in the circular economy. The way waste is managed can lead to high recycling rates and the return of valuable materials to the economy, or on the contrary to an inefficient system in which most recyclable waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated, with potentially damaging effects on the environment and significant economic losses. Understanding that the waste generated during a production process, or due to the exhaustion of the useful life of a product is a potential resource, is one of the fundamental keys to initiating the transition process. According to the latest data provided by the EC on the circular economy, waste avoidance, eco-design, reuse and similar measures could provide EU companies with savings of 8% of annual turnover while reducing total annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2-4%. Furthermore, BIM use can change the work mode of architects and engineers. This tool is able to show a three-dimensional design from the beginning of the project and it provide information about each element that compose the project. It is a help to make easier the design, construction and the operation of a building project. The idea of this project is to add all in a single software called CircularBIM. Which is an Open Educational Resource where you can find information about: ecological construction details, techniques for the use and reuse of construction materials, reduction of waste… In addition to this, you can access to a free software to practice and obtain construction techniques that facilitate the reuse of the materials used in buildings. In conclusion, what we attempt to do is unify BIM and techniques for the revalorisation and reuse of construction materials to create an useful tool where students and professionals of AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry will be able to make aware about it as far as possible and implement in their daily work. OBJECTIVES To contribute to overcome the situation described above, the main objectives are: • Increasing the awareness about the circular economy in construction sector. • Teaching to reduce waste generation of construction materials. • Reduce waste from the construction sector by reincorporating it into the value chain. • Provide information on the possibility of revaluation of each element. • Free access to a free software for the consultation and use of the techniques or methods of reuse of building materials, also in BIM format. • Involve professionals and students in new technologies such as BIM applications. PRODUCTS • Open Educational Resource. • Establishment of common learning outcomes on placing methods based on circular economy criteria, life cycle assessment (LCA) and relative regulations. • Developing a new interactive BIM-learning method for Circular Economy. • IT production of integrated training materials. CONSORTIUM The consortium count on a highly qualified staff, who have already carried out other European projects successfully, due to their knowledge in the following fields, basic for this project: • Circular economy. • BIM technologies. • Develop of training materials and ITC based tools. • Experience in coordination of ERASMUS+ project.
The general aim of the project was to increase the awareness of AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) companies of the direct and indirect environmental impact of their work and improve the skills of professionals in construction sector. Therefore, the specific objectives of this project were the following: - Providing information about the placement of constructive elements with concepts of Circular Economy and recyclability of materials in construction of buildings, in a sustainable way. - Managing and organising the dissemination and training of teachers and professionals of public bodies and enterprises of the building sector in environmental field and BIM technologies. - Developing an Interactive CircularBIM Tool as a learning application with which it is possible to design and calculate all parts of a construction project, including the Circular Economy criteria by each material and percentage of recyclability and reusability of buildings and their materials.
With the growing problem of the global warming, it is necessary to study the materials efficiency and waste reduction of the constructions to decrease it the maximum from the earlier phases of the project, where the use of new technologies helps highly. The relentless rise of awareness and environmental culture of the society, at the same time the regulatory demands increase, make it the ideal moment to implement the calculation of the carbon footprint in construction sector because, this sector is responsible of about a 50% of the natural resources used, 40% of the energy consumed and 50% of the total waste generated and a 35-40% of total CO2eq emissions, of which 10% are produced during constructive/deconstructive processes and another 5% from maintenance tasks. Because of all the above, the project was born from the need to implement these new contents to be able to train students and provide them with the necessary skills to face the reality of the work world. The main objective of this project was to implement a Common European Curriculum based on Circular Economy criteria in the construction processes and the recyclability of buildings, as well as the increase of the capacities of new technologies such as BIM.