Short answer

Incorporate digital twin and BIM capabilities into infrastructure projects to proactively plan for sustainable decommissioning and material circularity, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Field: Sustainability
Source: Scientific Reports (2025)
Method: Simulation and Modelling
Evidence: Strong effect

Integrating digital twin technology with Building Information Modeling (BIM) allows for strategic demolition planning that quantifies lifecycle costs and carbon footprints, thereby enhancing circular economy practices for bridge infrastructure. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Scientific Reports. Using Simulation and modelling, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate digital twin and BIM capabilities into infrastructure projects to proactively plan for sustainable decommissioning and material circularity, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Study

SustainabilityNew This WeekStrong effect

Digital Twins Optimize Bridge Decommissioning for Circular Economy

Scientific Reports · 2025

Key Findings

01The construction stage is the primary contributor to carbon emissions and costs in the asset lifecycle.
02Strategic demolition planning is crucial for maximizing the reuse, repurposing, and recycling of materials.
03Digital twin technology can effectively quantify and optimize lifecycle costs and carbon footprints for demolition scenarios.

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate digital twin and BIM capabilities into infrastructure projects to proactively plan for sustainable decommissioning and material circularity, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

How to apply

When planning for the end-of-life of any significant built asset, utilize digital twin technology to simulate and analyze various demolition and material recovery strategies, prioritizing those that maximize circularity and minimize environmental impact.

Project actions

01When researching materials, consider their end-of-life potential for reuse or recycling.
02Explore how digital tools can help visualize and plan for the entire lifecycle of a product, not just its creation.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can digital twin technology, driven by BIM data, be utilized to develop strategic demolition plans that optimize both lifecycle cost and carbon footprint for bridge infrastructure, thereby promoting circular asset management?

MethodSimulation and Modelling

ProcedureA three-dimensional BIM model incorporating time, cost, and carbon emission data was created for a bridge infrastructure. This model was then used to drive a digital twin that simulated various demolition scenarios. The lifecycle cost and carbon footprint of each scenario were quantified and optimized to identify the most sustainable end-of-life strategy.

ContextInfrastructure asset management, specifically bridge decommissioning.

Variables

IVDigital twin-driven demolition scenarios

DVLifecycle cost and carbon footprint

CVBridge infrastructure characteristics, BIM data quality

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Novel application of digital twins for demolition planning.
+Quantification of both cost and environmental impact.

Limitations

It might be difficult to get detailed data for a real-world digital twin for a smaller design project.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the findings depends on the accuracy of the BIM data and the simulation parameters used in the digital twin. Validity is supported by the quantitative analysis of cost and carbon emissions.

Think critically

How can the principles of strategic demolition planning and digital twin integration be applied to smaller-scale products to promote a more circular economy?

Design Principles

"Design for Disassembly and Material Circularity: Plan for the end-of-life phase during the initial design to facilitate material recovery, reuse, and recycling."

This approach moves beyond traditional end-of-life considerations by proactively planning for material reuse, repurposing, and recycling. It provides designers and asset managers with critical data to make informed decisions that minimize environmental impact and maximize resource value throughout an infrastructure's entire lifecycle.

What This Means for Your Design

Imagine a digital copy of a bridge that can show you the best way to take it apart at the end of its life to reuse its materials and reduce waste.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of lifecycle assessment and circular economy principles in your design project.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical role of digital twin technology, integrated with BIM, in enabling strategic demolition planning for bridge infrastructures. By quantifying lifecycle costs and carbon footprints, such approaches facilitate enhanced circular asset management, moving towards carbon neutrality and maximizing material reuse, repurposing, and recycling at the end of an asset's life.

Source

Scientific Reports

Digital twin-driven strategic demolition plan for circular asset management of bridge infrastructures

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about digital twins optimize bridge decommissioning for circular economy?: Incorporate digital twin and BIM capabilities into infrastructure projects to proactively plan for sustainable decommissioning and material circularity, rather than treating it as an afterthought. Evidence: Scientific Reports (2025).
Why does "Digital Twins Optimize Bridge Decommissioning for Circular Economy" matter for design?: This approach moves beyond traditional end-of-life considerations by proactively planning for material reuse, repurposing, and recycling. It provides designers and asset managers with critical data to make informed decisions that minimize environmental impact and maximize resource value throughout an infrastructure's entire lifecycle.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate digital twin and BIM capabilities into infrastructure projects to proactively plan for sustainable decommissioning and material circularity, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
What were the main findings?: The construction stage is the primary contributor to carbon emissions and costs in the asset lifecycle.. Strategic demolition planning is crucial for maximizing the reuse, repurposing, and recycling of materials.. Digital twin technology can effectively quantify and optimize lifecycle costs and carbon footprints for demolition scenarios.
What research method was used?: Simulation and Modelling.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Scientific Reports.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When planning for the end-of-life of any significant built asset, utilize digital twin technology to simulate and analyze various demolition and material recovery strategies, prioritizing those that maximize circularity and minimize environmental impact.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on a specific bridge infrastructure; generalizability to other types of infrastructure may vary. The accuracy of the digital twin is dependent on the quality and completeness of the BIM data.