Framework for circular economy in AEC industry - Development of the “Circular Construction Site” methodology

Today’s challenges, such as climate change, population growth, urbanization and increasing demand of resources, are a potential wake-up call that we can no longer ignore. On these issues, the construction industry plays a focal role and should activate strategic solutions to improve its impact on the environment. One solution could consist to the transition to a circular economy model for the entire construction life cycle, through the help of innovative models and technologies. Environmental standards and voluntary protocols provide tools for improving structure’s impact but lack a methodology for making the construction phase circular and sustainable. From the design phase of a new work, it becomes fundamental to make the right choices in terms of materials, energy and water and to plan efficiently for its realization. The objective of this thesis is to develop and propose a circular methodology to build sustainably and create a flow to have “Circular Construction Sites”, applying circular economy concepts and thus considers practical solutions related to materials, water and waste management. After a general representation of the construction site processes, four areas have been selected to make circular or sustainable considerations. The proposed circular construction site methodology consists of a cycle, that provides strategies to optimize performance and find permanent solutions that avoid waste and encourage recover, reuse and recycle on the same site or off-site. The circular construction site ecosystem must have a logistics area where scrap materials are collected and managed for revaluing. In agreement with the circular economy model, that present a holistic approach, the circular construction site can communicate with other construction sites or other industrial ecosystems to promote external circularity and zero waste production. The last part of the thesis presents possible Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), that already exist, suitable for monitoring the circularity processes. This work aims to provide a method that makes circular not only the construction but also its realization.