Digital Technology for Construction Circularity: Applications, State of Practice, and Trends

Xichen Chen¹, Ali GhaffarianHoseini¹, Fengxuan Liu², Brian Guo³, Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini¹

1. Auckland University of Technology
2. University of Hong Kong
3. University of Canterbury

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 657 to 667. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_64.

Abstract

Circular economy (CE) principles represent a transformative shift from the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” model to one focused on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and material reuse. Digital technology (DT) is essential for achieving CE goals and advancing sustainability in construction. Despite its importance, a comprehensive understanding of DT applications and trends supporting CE in construction remains limited. This paper addresses this gap through a systematic review of 67 articles, utilizing bibliometric analysis, text mining, and thematic analysis. The results reveal three primary themes for achieving circularity: resource efficiency, waste reduction, and process optimization. The six most impactful DT identified - Building Information Modeling (BIM), digital twins, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI) - play a crucial role in promoting construction circularity by supporting activities such as project management, material tracking, and supply chain transparency. This study also highlights emerging trends in DT integration and proposes future research directions to enhance circular practices in construction.

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

Chen, X., GhaffarianHoseini, A., Liu, F., Guo, B., & Ghaffarianhoseini, A. (2025). Digital Technology for Construction Circularity: Applications, State of Practice, and Trends. 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. 657–667). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_64

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.