Digitalisation as an enabler of circular excavated soil management - An evaluation of digital tracking, resource cadaster, and digital twins

Abstract

The construction industry faces major challenges in reducing CO2 emissions and project costs. The management of excavated material typically accounts for approximately 25-40% of the projects’ budget. Management of masses affects both economic performance and CO2 emissions, and significant challenges remain in achieving circular management of excavated soil. The aim is to identify digital tools that can support the circular management of excavated soil. Existing research on digital systems for buildings and the management of excavated soil is examined and compared, with a particular focus on tracking, resource cadaster, and digital twins. The study was conducted as a systematic literature search in which a modified version of the PRISMA method was applied for searches in Scopus. In total, 21 scientific articles on digital systems for the management of material and buildings were analysed and form the basis for the study. The results indicate that digital systems are a prerequisite for achieving a holistic perspective on the management of excavated soil, with real-time monitoring constituting a key functionality. The analysis shows that the existing system used by the Swedish Transport Administration only enables tracking between construction projects and receiving facilities. To achieve comprehensive traceability, the system must also encompass material flows between projects, from projects to private individuals, and movements within the project site. Traceability beyond the project site is considered achievable using IoT-based systems with GPS, enabling real-time monitoring. Within the project site, a combination of multiple technological solutions is required. The primary challenge identified is ensuring the monitoring and verification of material properties and contamination levels during the movement of material within the project site. The study therefore indicates that further research is needed to develop efficient methods for such monitoring. Furthermore, the findings suggest that an effective model for traceability within project sites is a prerequisite for implementing a resource database with a high degree of accuracy and reliability.