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Integrated Data for Efficient and Sustainable Construction

Who we are?

GrowingCircle Data Driven Construction to Circular Economy

To enhance the digitalization trends in the construction sector it is necessary to develop mechanisms to foster information systematization, integration, management, maintenance and tracking about the built objects and the construction products that compose them.

Digital Data Templates or Data Templates are the standard and interoperable metadata structures with the capability of responding to these challenges, contributing to the effective implementation of more circular, more efficient and environmentally friendly practices.

The project is promoted by IC – Instituto da Construção, Portugal with NTNU – Trondheim University , Norway as partner.

Project approved under the EEA Grants 2014-2021“

Environment, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy Programme”

video poster

What we want?

A future based in a more efficient Construction Industry

The GrowingCircle project aims to highlight the added value of Data Templates through its implementation in several case studies, from design to construction, and inherent impacts for the use phase and eventual buildings decommissioning.

01

Digital Data Templates

GrowingCircle Branded catalog (CoBuilder Define)

02

Manufacturing

Data Sheets definition by adding properties and their values for specific products or systems

03

Design

Data Driven Design based on DDT to support analysis, evaluations and improved outcomes

04

Construction

Product requirements verification, assessment and update. Digital “As built” is materialized together with the built object

05

Handover

Built objects specifications and characteristics become available in structured and digital format, fostering improved maintenance, renovation actions as well as smart buildings implementation.

06

Decommissionning

Now is time to rethink. All the information available will support waste audits, helping decisions for re-use and recycle, closing the information circle and fostering Circular Economy in Construction

07

Data templates

Bringing Value, Efficiency and Circularity to the Construction Industry

The absence of constructions related data and of a common thread throughout the construction process entails increased risks for the use phase. Furthermore, it introduces inefficiencies and impacts on efficiency, sustainability and implementation of more circular practices.

With Data Templates

Without Data Templates

With Data Templates

Without Data Templates

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Why this project?

Built Environment

More than 95% of the human live is spent within the Built Environment. CI represents nearly 9% EU GDP and employs more than 18 million people

Construction

The constructions related information compilation is essential for its best use, to enhance the concept of smart buildings and to leverage more circular processes

Eficient

The constructions efficiency can be translated by the savings in terms of energy consumption during the use phase, as well as other dimensions. All of them are construction data dependent. The energy certificate is a good example but it represents only a small part of the constructions related information

Sustainable

The capabilities for practicing a more sustainable construction lies in the knowledge of the constructions and their constituent parts, namely to identify how these parts can be reused/recycled when they reach their end of life

Integrated Information

The lack of information traceability processes throughout the constructions life-cycle blocks the implementation of more circular practices and negatively impacts the industry sustainability and efficiency.

1

Our Process

Construction Information Management to Enhance Digital Twins enabling Circular Construction

  • DT

    Data Templates

    Data Templates (DT) are digital and standardized data structures used to describe the characteristics of construction products, systems or others, based on reliable sources of information, as standards, regulations or other references. (based on ISO 23386)

  • DBL

    Digital Building Logbook

    A Digital Building Logbook (DBL) is a common repository for all relevant building data. It is a dynamic tool that allows a variety of data. It can include traceability mechanisms, characteristics of construction products, performance data, smart building potential and lifecycle emissions. (Final Report on European Union for DBL)

  • DT

    Digital Twin

    Digital Twin is a concept where a platform connects through sensors the physical assets to cyberspace allowing the collection, processing, analysis of data to simulate and control those assets. Based on this, the Digital twin construction (DTC) is envisaged as a new mode for managing production in construction, leveraging the data streaming to provide accurate status information and to proactively analyze and optimize ongoing design, planning, production and use.

  • CC

    Circular Construction

    Circular Construction is the concept of Circular Economy applied to this sector. Sets a production and consumption value-chain promoting the sustainable use of resources in closed cycles powered by renewable energy sources, regenerating ecosystems and ensuring social progress.

Funding