Recipient organisationThe University of MelbourneSource-published name: University of Melbourne
Funding£25K
PeriodMar 2025 — Mar 2026
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
Every year, millions of tonnes of building materials—steel, concrete, timber—end up in landfill because no one has systematically planned how to take buildings apart. This project creates an international network of researchers from Australia, the UK, and Canada to fix that. The problem is that deconstruction—the careful dismantling of structures to recover reusable materials—remains fragmented and under-researched, with no global platform to coordinate efforts. Without it, the circular economy’s promise of reusing resources from existing buildings is largely wasted. The network, called 3D-IN, will bring together experts in digital tools like Building Information Modelling, Digital Twinning, and AI to make deconstruction more efficient and data-driven. If successful, the impact is concrete: less landfill waste, conserved natural resources, and lower greenhouse gas emissions from the construction sector. The network also aims to support early-career researchers and improve gender equity in the field. This is applied engineering research with a clear practical goal—it does not seek fundamental discoveries, but rather to build the collaborative infrastructure needed to turn a neglected process into a routine part of how we manage the built environment.
View original technical description
The project, "Towards a Circular Nexus: Establishing 3D-IN (Data-Driven Deconstruction International Network)," addresses a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of the circular economy: building deconstruction [1]. In a circular economy, resources are reused rather than discarded, with deconstruction playing a pivotal role by enabling the methodical dismantling of buildings to recover materials. Without this process, the potential for reclaiming valuable resources from existing structures is largely squandered [2]. Despite its significance, deconstruction remains under-researched, lacking a global platform to coordinate efforts and support researchers. This absence of a collaborative network results in fragmented initiatives, impeding progress in advancing circular practices [2]. The project will unite international experts from Australia, the UK, and Canada, along with industry practitioners in Digital Transformation and Deconstruction, fostering a dynamic network to address gaps in current deconstruction research. 3D-IN will prioritise interdisciplinary collaboration, championing innovative approaches to harness digital platforms for enhanced deconstruction. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twinning, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the project aims to optimise resource recovery through more efficient deconstruction [3-5]. The establishment of 3D-IN will catalyse innovation in adopting state-of-the-art deconstruction techniques by promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-country research. The societal impact of this endeavour is substantial. Improved deconstruction processes will significantly reduce landfill waste, conserve natural resources, and lower greenhouse gas emissions [3]. Furthermore, the network will create a hub to support early-career researchers, advance gender equity in this field, and expand opportunities through partnerships across Oceania, the U.K., and North America.
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