CircularBIM

Educational platform focused on advanced strategies of reinstatement of building materials in the industrial value chain to promote the transition to the Circular Economy through the use of BIM learning technologies

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.
Understanding that the waste generated during a production process, or due to the exhaustion of the useful life of a product as 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, the project unifies BIM and techniques for the revalorisation and reuse of construction materials to create a 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.
The major 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.

Participating Organisations
Asociación Empresarial de Investigación Centro Tecnologicodel Marmol Y La Piedra, Cype Soft SL, Universidade Do Minho, Centro Tecnológico Da Ceramica E Do Vidro, Universitatea Transilvania Din Brașov, Asociația Romania Green Building Council

Prezentare CircularBIM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aQXh2TcCbk