Using BIM in the Design Phase for Construction Waste Minimisation (CWM): A Systematic Review

Abstract

Construction activities generate significant amounts of waste and carbon emissions, prompting extensive research into construction waste sources and management strategies. Recently, Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools have emerged to be effective for construction waste minimisation (CWM). Within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries, there is a consensus that cutting waste at the source, particularly during the design stage, is the most effective CWM strategy. However, utilising BIM during the design stage for CWM remains under researched. This dissertation aims to identify strategies to minimise waste through a framework of using BIM during design stages. A systematic literature review of 39 rigorously selected papers on BIM for CWM sourced from Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar finds that the most significant waste sources are design changes, design errors, and poor collaboration. Also, CWM strategies using BIM are categorised into: (1) digital tools; (2) processes, workflows, and frameworks; and (3) recommendations. This research synthesises these solutions into a BIM-CWM framework and recommendations for designing out waste. The impact of the study is to provide an evidence-backed framework for designers to reduce waste through design, and to extend BIM for CWM research for researchers by building on previous studies.