How closing the data gap can help the sector reach new standards of efficiency and sustainability
In the European Union, the construction industry is responsible for over a third of all waste produced annually. In the UK, it generates 62% of the country’s waste (equivalent to over 100m tonnes of waste annually), with 32% of this waste sent directly to landfills without being recycled.
As the waste accumulates in these landfill sites, it contributes to nearly 23% of the UK’s air pollution, thus significantly exacerbating CO2 emissions.
This alarming trend highlights the significant environmental problems embedded in the construction industry. Such problems are now the norm due to the lack of available data, which is necessary to make informed decisions about waste management.
Digital twin technology and AI can help close this gap, by empowering companies to harness the data to transform waste into a valuable resource.
It is clear that the construction industry has a waste problem. Making data readily available is key for long-term success, streamlined management and impactful environmental benefits.
Unveiling the core challenges of the construction waste crisis
While the environmental problems at the heart of the industry are evident, the issue is actually two-fold, with logistical inefficiency being another major challenge for the sector.
Logistically, the contents and fill levels of waste containers are a mystery. In many cases, containers, empty or full, go missing. This haphazard approach means unnecessary waste removal trips are the norm.
These containers act as the backbone of the recycling industry, yet the management and regulation of them has proven near-impossible. This results in the missed opportunity for optimised waste collection.
Additionally, inefficiencies in resource management lead to poor allocation of materials, overstocking and unused materials – resulting in wasted time and resources.
Resources such as timber, steel and concrete, among others, are invaluable materials to the construction industry, but they are frequently discarded.
The environmental issues are even more critical. Many construction materials that have reusable potential are not seen as a resource, making it difficult for the industry to recycle or responsibly dispose of valuable resources.
This issue extends to secondary materials, which are often mishandled, reducing the potential for functional reuse and exacerbating environmental impacts.
With construction waste estimated to be a third of the world’s overall waste, the need for a systemic overhaul is clear.
Bridging the data divide with digital twin technology
Why does so much construction waste go to waste? The answer lies in the industry’s inability to access real-time, accurate data. This gap in data makes it nearly impossible for companies to streamline operations or mitigate waste effectively.
In fact, it perpetuates inefficiencies and accelerates waste production at extortionate rates, leaving construction teams to operate in the dark, unable to keep up with the pressures.
Real-time data is essential for effective waste management processes and unlocking the potential for sustainable practices.
While the challenges and problems associated with construction waste are self-evident, they are not insurmountable. AI-driven digital twin technology offers a potentially transformative solution.
Digital twin technology integrates GPS, radar and AI to provide comprehensive, real-time data.
Sensors placed in waste containers monitor their location via GPS, how full they are and what’s inside them. The data from the radar is then processed by AI and displayed as a digital twin via an accessible dashboard, empowering companies to make informed decisions at every stage.
Real-time data enables waste management companies to know where their containers are, how full they are and their exact contents. Readily available data means that companies can stay ahead of the game, enabling them to take proactive steps in ensuring that waste does not go to waste but is instead reduced and valuable construction materials are recycled. Ultimately optimising their waste management solutions and revolutionising the environmental landscape.
Together, digital twin technologies can combat the logistical and environmental challenges in the waste management industry. Closing the data gap allows companies to streamline resource management, optimise waste collections and extend material lifecycles through reuse and recycling.
It’s time for a shift in the construction industry’s perspective on waste: it’s not trash, it’s a resource.
