Exploration of prefabricated concrete construction with a focus on environmental sustainability and circular economy principles.
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Master's Thesis
Master's Thesis
Program
Design and construction project management (MPDCM), MSc
Publicerad
2024
Författare
Adegboyega, Rasaq
Al khayyat, Serag
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
The construction industry is a major consumer of natural resources, prompting researchers to explore circularity principles for building construction. This study examines the differences between on-site assembly and disassembly practices of prefabricated concrete construction and circular economy principles. The aim is to identify
strategies that can increase on-site assembly efficiency while maintaining environmental sustainability. The study also evaluates the opportunities and challenges
associated with incorporating circular economy principles to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Following a comprehensive literature review combined with the analysis of the empirical data from interviews, the study gains insights from industry
professionals. The findings suggest that current on-site assembly techniques do not
adhere to circularity principles, and the absence of technological integration like
BIM, RFID etc., during on-site assembly impedes efficiency and data collection for
potential disassembly and reuse phases. It is worth noting that a substantial portion
of construction time, 70%, is dedicated to lifting components, which often requires
heavy-duty equipment mostly powered by fossil fuels, significantly contributing to
carbon emissions.
The study emphasizes the benefits of adopting circular economy principles in prefab ricated concrete construction, including increased building value, decreased material
use resulting in environmental benefits, and the potential for new business opportunities. However, the study recognizes challenges such as substantial initial investments, standardizing component designs, integrating technology, and establishing
storage facilities for reused components. The study suggests optimizing on-site processes to reduce assembly times and labor costs, enhancing competitiveness. This
research contributes to the growing body of literature on the circular economy in the
construction industry by comparing current practices to circular economy principles
and emphasizing the critical role of the assembly phase in component reuse.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Prefabricated concrete , sustainability , circular economy , concrete components , component reuse , on-site assembly , disassembly