Digital Functions Drive Circular Economy in Construction

Why It Matters

Understanding the granular digital functions that support circularity allows design practitioners to select and integrate appropriate digital tools more effectively. This targeted approach can optimize resource use, minimize waste, and extend the lifespan of built assets, aligning with broader sustainability goals.

Key Finding

The research identified ten key digital functions and fifteen circular strategies in construction, revealing that specific functions like 'assess' and 'collect' are vital for implementing circular practices, while also pointing to areas needing more research, such as extending building life and improving data management.

Key Findings

• Ten distinct digital functions were identified as supporting circular economy practices in construction.
• Fifteen circular economy strategies were mapped against these digital functions.
• Functions like 'assess', 'auto-plan', 'collect', and 'estimate' are frequently utilized.
• Significant research gaps exist in applying digital technologies to building lifespan extension, large-scale reuse/recycling, and robust data management.

Research Evidence

Aim: How do specific digital functions enable circular economy strategies in the construction industry, and what are the key areas for future development?

Method: Systematic Literature Review

Procedure: A systematic review of 125 research papers was conducted to identify and categorize digital functions and circular economy strategies relevant to construction. The identified digital functions were then mapped against the circular strategies to understand their interdependencies and highlight research gaps.

Sample Size: 125 papers

Context: Construction Industry, Circular Economy, Digitalization

Design Principle

Leverage granular digital functions to strategically implement circular economy principles in construction projects.

How to Apply

When designing a new building or renovation, consider which digital tools can best support the 'assess' phase for material sourcing, the 'auto-plan' phase for deconstruction, and the 'collect' phase for tracking materials throughout their lifecycle.

Limitations

The review's findings are based on existing literature, and the practical implementation and effectiveness of these digital functions in real-world construction scenarios may vary. The focus is primarily on published research, potentially overlooking emerging or undocumented practices.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Digital tools can help construction projects be more sustainable by using features that help assess materials, plan for reuse, collect data, and estimate needs, but more work is needed on making buildings last longer and managing data better.

Why This Matters: This research shows how specific digital features can make construction more sustainable by enabling circular economy practices, which is a key consideration for responsible design.

Critical Thinking: To what extent do the identified digital functions truly represent novel capabilities, or are they existing functionalities being applied in a new context for circularity?

IA-Ready Paragraph: This research highlights the critical role of specific digital functions, such as 'assess', 'auto-plan', 'collect', and 'estimate', in enabling circular economy practices within the construction sector. By mapping these functions to various circular strategies, it provides a framework for understanding how digitalization can support sustainability goals. Future design projects should consider leveraging these functions and addressing identified research gaps in building lifespan extension and data management for enhanced circularity.

Project Tips

• When proposing a design solution, clearly state which digital functions your chosen tools will provide to support circularity.
• Consider how your design can address the identified research gaps, such as extending building lifespan or improving material tracking.

How to Use in IA

• Cite this research when discussing the role of digital technologies in achieving circular economy goals within your design project.
• Use the identified digital functions and circular strategies as a framework for analyzing existing products or proposing new design solutions.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of how specific digital functions translate into tangible circular economy outcomes in construction.
• Critically evaluate the limitations of current digital applications in supporting the full spectrum of circular construction practices.

Independent Variable: Digital Functions (e.g., assess, auto-plan, collect, estimate)

Dependent Variable: Implementation of Circular Economy Strategies in Construction

Controlled Variables: Construction Project Type, Lifecycle Stage, Digital Technology Used

Strengths

• Provides a structured framework for understanding digitalization's role in circular construction.
• Identifies specific digital functions and circular strategies, offering actionable insights.

Critical Questions

• How can the identified digital functions be integrated into existing construction workflows without significant disruption?
• What are the economic implications of adopting these digitalization-enabled circular practices for construction firms?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the feasibility of developing a digital tool that specifically enhances the 'assess' function for material reuse in a particular construction context.
• Analyze the impact of digital data management systems on the success rate of recycling construction waste.

Source

Deciphering how digital functions enable circular economy practices in construction: A critical review of recent progress and future outlook · Environmental Impact Assessment Review · 2025 · 10.1016/j.eiar.2025.107889