Enhanced logistics and operations of construction sites (IA)

Expected Outcome

• Reduce the time taken to carry out site operations of construction or demolition works;
• Increase the application of on-site circular approaches such as re-use, preparing for re-use and recycling, resulting in reduced waste generation and improved waste management;
• Improve health and safety of construction workers.

Scope

Construction works on the building site, whether for civil infrastructure or for buildings, often involve a variety of complex operations apart from the actual assembly of elements. These can include transport and movement of construction products to and around the site; storage of products, materials and other items on site, and their eventual removal; dealing with packaging of products and other consumables related to the construction works; temporary accommodation for workers; temporary utility connections and associated works; planning of works; coordination of trades and operations, including machines as well as human workers. Mistakes and delays in construction works can lead to negative consequences such as risk of accidents, waste, pollution, inefficiency and financial consequences.

Construction works need to be carried out more quickly and efficiently, with less room for error and waste. This could be improved through technology-driven innovations linked to on-site operations and logistical aspects.

Proposals should:

• Develop technologies that improve the efficiency of operations on the construction site, leading to more productive, faster and more efficient working practices. The technologies should be interoperable with, or build upon existing industry-wide practices, such as Digital Twins and Building Information Modelling tools. Speed and efficiency improvements should not be at the expense of safety.
• Address the traceability of construction products and other items delivered to the site, installed on site, and removed. If relevant, this can also include coordination with other operations outside the construction site boundary.
• Integrate circular economy approaches, such as waste prevention and the management and recovery of construction and demolition waste;
• Address new ways for site operations to reduce the chances of errors and accidents/taking better account of unexpected disruptions;
• Address human-centric and Social Science and Humanities (SSH) aspects of technologies or tools that are developed. Take into consideration potential social innovation mechanisms that can facilitate the market uptake of the developed tools.

Proposals should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

Proposals may choose to contribute to relevant European standardisation efforts. Proposals should seek to build synergies with relevant other work, for example, EU-funded projects under the New European Bauhaus Facility, or Horizon Europe partnerships including Built4People.

Activities are expected to start at TRL 5 and achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.