Short answer
Integrate ICT-driven decision support into the design process to systematically address circular economy principles throughout the building lifecycle.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Journal of Cleaner Production (2022)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Sample
- 62 papers
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can significantly enhance decision-making for implementing circular economy principles within the construction industry. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2022 study published in Journal of Cleaner Production. Using Systematic literature review with 62 papers, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate ICT-driven decision support into the design process to systematically address circular economy principles throughout the building lifecycle.
ICT-Powered Decision Tools Accelerate Circular Economy in Construction
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can significantly enhance decision-making for implementing circular economy principles within the construction industry.
Journal of Cleaner Production · 2022
Key Findings
- 01ICT-based decision support tools are vital for successful construction circular economy implementation.
- 02There is a need for better integration of technologies into comprehensive information systems that consider the full scope of circular economy challenges.
- 03Challenges exist from technological, business, and societal perspectives in applying ICT to support circular economy in construction.
Application
Design takeaway
Integrate ICT-driven decision support into the design process to systematically address circular economy principles throughout the building lifecycle.
How to apply
When designing buildings or construction processes, research and utilize available Building Information Modeling (BIM) plugins or dedicated software that offer circularity metrics and decision support for material selection, waste reduction, and end-of-life planning.
Project actions
- 01Investigate how digital tools can help you track materials and plan for reuse in your design project.
- 02Consider the entire lifecycle of your product, from sourcing to disposal, when selecting digital tools.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive systematic literature review covering a decade of research.
- +Development of a theoretical framework to explain ICT's role in circular construction.
Limitations
Access to advanced ICT decision support tools might be limited, and their application may require specialized knowledge.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the findings is enhanced by the systematic review methodology. Validity is supported by the theoretical framework and identification of challenges from multiple perspectives. However, the review is based on existing literature, so direct empirical validation of tool effectiveness is outside its scope.
Think critically
How can the identified technological, business, and societal challenges be overcome to ensure widespread adoption of ICT for circular construction?
Design Principles
"Leverage digital tools to enable informed, lifecycle-oriented decisions for sustainable material and resource management in construction."
The construction sector is a major consumer of resources, making its transition to a circular economy crucial for environmental sustainability. ICT-based decision support tools offer a structured approach to navigate the complexities of circular construction, from material selection to end-of-life management.
What This Means for Your Design
Using computers and software (ICT) can help construction projects make better choices to be more 'circular' – meaning they reuse materials and reduce waste.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the use of digital tools or software to support sustainable design decisions in your design project.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) offers significant potential for advancing circular economy principles within the construction industry. As highlighted by Yu et al. (2022), ICT-based decision support tools can provide crucial insights for material selection, waste management, and end-of-life planning, thereby facilitating a more sustainable built environment. Designers should explore these digital solutions to systematically embed circularity into their projects.
Source
Journal of Cleaner Production
Circular economy in the construction industry: A review of decision support tools based on Information & Communication Technologies
journal · 2022
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about ict-powered decision tools accelerate circular economy in construction?
- Integrate ICT-driven decision support into the design process to systematically address circular economy principles throughout the building lifecycle. Evidence: Journal of Cleaner Production (2022).
- Why does "ICT-Powered Decision Tools Accelerate Circular Economy in Construction" matter for design?
- The construction sector is a major consumer of resources, making its transition to a circular economy crucial for environmental sustainability. ICT-based decision support tools offer a structured approach to navigate the complexities of circular construction, from material selection to end-of-life management.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Integrate ICT-driven decision support into the design process to systematically address circular economy principles throughout the building lifecycle.
- What were the main findings?
- ICT-based decision support tools are vital for successful construction circular economy implementation.. There is a need for better integration of technologies into comprehensive information systems that consider the full scope of circular economy challenges.. Challenges exist from technological, business, and societal perspectives in applying ICT to support circular economy in construction.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review with 62 papers.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2022 journal from Journal of Cleaner Production.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing buildings or construction processes, research and utilize available Building Information Modeling (BIM) plugins or dedicated software that offer circularity metrics and decision support for material selection, waste reduction, and end-of-life planning.
- What are the limitations?
- The review focuses on published literature and may not capture all emerging or proprietary ICT solutions. The effectiveness of specific tools in real-world scenarios requires further empirical validation.