This paper reviews digital tools for supporting the Circular Economy (CE) in the built environment. The study provides a bibliometric analysis and focuses on computer-aided design (CAD), building information modeling (BIM), and computational plugins that can be used by practitioners. While Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the primary methodology for evaluating buildings' environmental performance, the study identifies tools beyond LCA, including computational methods and circularity indicators, that can support the evaluation of circular design strategies. Our review highlights limitations in tools’ functionalities, including a lack of representative data for LCA and underdeveloped circularity indicators. The paper calls for further development of these tools in terms of interoperability aspects, integration of more sources of data for LCA and circularity, and possibilities for a comprehensive evaluation of design choices. Computational plugins offer greater flexibility, while BIM-LCA integrations have the potential to replace dedicated LCA software and spreadsheets. Additionally, the study identifies opportunities for novel digital methods, such as algorithms for circular design with various types of reused building elements, and sharing of digital twins and material passports. This research can inform future studies and support architects and engineers in their efforts to create a sustainable built environment.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in adopting circular approaches in the built environment, specifically reusing existing buildings or their components in new projects. To achieve this, drawings, laser scanning, photogrammetry and other techniques are used to capture data on buildings and their materials. Although previous studies have explored scan-to-BIM workflows, automation of 2D drawings to 3D models, and machine learning for identifying building components and materials, a significant gap remains in refining this data into the right level of information required for digital twins, to share information and for digital collaboration in designing for reuse. To address this gap, this paper proposes digital guidelines for reusing precast concrete based on the level of information need (LOIN) standard EN 17412-1:2020 and examines several CAD and BIM modelling strategies. These guidelines can be used to prepare digital templates that become digital twins of existing elements, develop information requirements for use cases, and facilitate data integration and sharing for a circular built environment.

Tracking of building components can be instrumental in reuse for a Circular Economy. Tracking technologies (TT) for building components can be used to identify and access information for decision-making from deconstruction to design for reuse. Prior research has mainly been concerned with single technologies, limited life cycle applicability and new construction. This study aims to explore the potential of combining multiple technologies, such as QR codes, NFC, and Bluetooth tags, with BIM to support reuse along the life cycles of prefabricated concrete components. The benefits and limitations of choices in TT are examined concerning information integration in circular construction.

Concrete production contributes to around 8-9% of global CO₂ emissions. Reusing building components in a circular economy can contribute to closing material loops and lowering CO₂ emissions. When reusing concrete elements, it is necessary to have effective methods for evaluating their reuse potential. In this study, a novel digital workflow is developed to support the reuse of precast concrete elements by evaluating their lifespan based on carbonation depth. The workflow relies on automated retrieval of material quantities and information from a digital model. This model is then coupled with environmental data on construction products and calculation methods for CO₂ uptake in concrete by carbonation. The remaining service life of concrete elements was calculated for a case study. For reference, CO₂ uptake during the first service life was estimated at 4973 kg CO₂ or 4% of the embodied carbon. Hence, the potential benefits of reuse outweigh those of carbonation. The presented approach supports the decision-making process when evaluating the reuse potential for concrete elements. The digital workflow can help designers make quick decisions concerning the lifespan and carbon footprint of concrete. The digital tool can be extended in future work with more parameters to evaluate additional sustainability indicators.

Concrete is the most used construction material, accounting for 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Various strategies aim to reduce concrete's embodied carbon, such as using supplementary cementitious materials, utilizing cleaner energy, and carbonation. However, a large potential lies in reusing concrete for new buildings in a Circular Economy, thereby closing material loops and avoiding CO₂ emissions.

This study focuses on the reuse of precast concrete elements. We present a digital workflow for assessing reuse by predicting the remaining service life, estimating CO₂ uptake by natural carbonation, and calculating the embodied carbon savings of concrete reuse. Both carbonation rates from EN 16757 and our investigation were applied to a case study building.

While EN 16757 rates suggest that most precast elements have reached the end of their service life, our assessment shows that these elements have a sufficient lifespan for reuse. Plaster and coverings significantly delay carbonation and extend service life. During the first service life following EN 16757, carbonation was 19,2 kg CO₂/m³, whereas our prediction was 5,4 kg CO₂/m³. Moreover, CO₂ uptake during service life, including reuse, was less than 6% of the embodied carbon. The climate benefits of reuse greatly exceeded those of carbonation.

Furthermore, carbonation did not have a decisive influence when applying Cut-Off, Distributed, and End-of-Life allocations for assessing embodied carbon of re-used elements in subsequent life cycles. The digital workflow is useful in quickly assessing lifespan, carbonation, and embodied carbon of concrete. It can be leveraged as a decision-making tool when designing for reuse.

Reusing reinforced concrete structures within a Circular Economy offers substantial environmental benefits, but requires reliable assessment of their remaining service life. Conventional approaches to concrete durability, based on prescriptive design parameters for new structures or carbonation depth measurements in existing ones, are insufficient to ensure reuse for an additional 50 or 100 years. This study addresses this gap by introducing a performance-based probabilistic framework for evaluating carbonation‑induced corrosion, tailored to circular construction. The study incorporates parametric analysis and probabilistic modeling of corrosion initiation and propagation phases, and assesses two precast concrete buildings located in Nordic climates. The study also examines how storage period before reuse, changes in exposure class after deconstruction, altered carbonation rates during a second service life, and repair interventions, affect service life. Monte Carlo simulations are used to estimate the total service life under various conditions, with outdoor carbonation rates reflecting typical Nordic exposures. Corrosion propagation is modelled following fib Model Code 2020 and fib Bulletin 112. The results demonstrate that reused concrete elements can achieve service lives comparable to new structures, provided that performance-based assessment and appropriate repair interventions are applied. The proposed framework supports data-driven decisions on service life, repair, and reuse strategies for structural concrete, considering exposure classes and performance. It can be complemented by non-destructive testing and durability indicators. It provides a scientific basis for extending the service life of reused concrete elements and supports design for circularity and resource efficiency, thereby advancing circular construction and the transition toward a sustainable built environment.

PurposeThe study investigates how openBIM workflows can support standardised digital validation processes, aiding the transition towards circular construction. Specifically, it examines the use of the Information Delivery Specification (IDS) standard to validate Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) models for the reuse of precast hollow core slabs, in accordance with the Norwegian standard NS 3682:2022 Hollow Core Slabs for Reuse.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposes an Automated Checking Compliance (ACC) method to verify the compliance of IFC models with reuse-driven information contents for precast hollow core slabs. To achieve this, the IDS standard was selected to develop and test an openBIM validation workflow. The methodology includes three main steps: (1) identifying the minimum set of information requirements derived primarily from NS 3682:2022; (2) implementing these as IDS specifications linked to IFC entities, and (3) applying the workflow to a case study of a precast hollow core slab modelled in Autodesk Revit and exported to IFC4x3. The validation is performed using the open-source Bonsai add-on for Blender, while a complementary buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bsDD) is developed to ensure semantic consistency and standardised property definitions.FindingsThe results confirm that IDS enables effective automation of compliance checking for data presence and structure within IFC models. The IDS-based workflow reliably identifies missing information, highlighting the specific objects that fail the validation. By aligning rule-based validation with recognised standards, the proposed approach supports quality assurance for the digital representation of reusable hollow core slabs. Furthermore, the study establishes a standardised, machine-readable database of reuse requirements. The approach can be adapted and applied to other building components, promoting interoperability and reliability in digital marketplaces for reclaimed materials.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the proposed ACC workflow guarantees consistency and completeness of digital information, it does not assess the correctness or validity of underlying physical test results and of the initial data entry, such as mechanical properties or service life parameters. The applicability of the approach also depends on the digital maturity of stakeholders and the completeness of IFC models. Broader applicability will require further harmonisation of reuse-related standards and increased awareness of information requirements.Practical implicationsThe study illustrates how openBIM standards can be used within reuse-driven design and procurement processes through automated data validation. The combined use of IDS and bsDD enhances regulatory compliance, data transparency, and reliability of digital inventories of reclaimed components, lowering barriers to reuse, especially for small and medium enterprises.Originality/valueThis paper is among the first to apply the IDS framework to the context of building component reuse, translating reuse-oriented standards into machine-readable validation rules. It extends the use of openBIM standards from model verification to circular construction practices, supporting both digitalisation and sustainability efforts in the built environment. Specifically, the study contributes to improved interoperability and trust in digital marketplaces for reclaimed construction products.