Use of BIM to Evaluate Feasibility of Deconstruction

Lachlan Booth¹, Leela Kempton¹, Emma Heffernan²

1. University of Wollongong
2. Sydney University

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 1567 to 1574. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_149.

Abstract

Deconstruction provides an alternative to demolition that aims to maximise the reuse potential of materials in end-of-life buildings. Its application, however, is limited by the additional cost and time required to undertake deconstruction effectively. The cost to deconstruct a building can be offset by the inherent value in the materials recovered. Evaluating the viability of deconstruction relies upon an accurate estimation of the materials that can potentially be recovered. In this paper, the use of building information modelling (BIM) based on site measurements is demonstrated using Autodesk Revit 2022 to develop quantity estimates for materials in a building pre-demolition. This information is used to assess the viability of deconstruction through the financial value of these materials on the resale market, as well as the potential embodied carbon savings offset from reuse of these materials. This analysis illustrates the benefit of applying BIM in the pre-works phase of deconstruction, particularly in decision making and planning for salvage. It also allows for established markets for reclaimed materials to be identified and provides opportunities to enhance efficiency and feasibility of deconstruction from an economic and environmental standpoint. These practices work towards increasing circular economy practices by keeping materials circulating at their highest value for longer.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Recorded Presentations, Session II, Friday 8 November 2024, 16:30 to 19:00, room WG 201, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Kamal Dhawan.

How to Cite

Booth, L., Kempton, L., & Heffernan, E. (2025). Use of BIM to Evaluate Feasibility of Deconstruction. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 1567–1574). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_149

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.