Reincarnate is pleased to share the publication of the paper “Optimizing Disassembly Planning for Aluminium-Framed Windows through Automation and Collision Analysis,” presented at the EG-ICE 2025 International Conference on Intelligent Computing in Engineering hosted by the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom. The EG-ICE conference brings together researchers and industry practitioners to discuss advances in AI-driven collaboration and computational methods for sustainable and resilient built environments.
The paper, authored by Begum Aktas and Timo Hartmann from our consortium lead Technische Universität Berlin, addresses the growing need for automated disassembly methods that enable material recovery and circularity in construction. Focusing on aluminium-framed windows, the study develops a computational framework for disassembly sequence planning that combines geometric modelling, collision detection, and matrix-based representations to simplify complex multi-material assemblies.
The proposed method uses parametric window modelling in Rhinoceros-Grasshopper and performs collision testing to automatically generate adjacency matrices and corresponding graph structures. These tools allow the identification of feasible disassembly sequences directly from CAD data, avoiding manual modelling and improving efficiency.
Main steps of the computational workflow:
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Extraction of CAD data to build a parametric 3D model of the assembled window;
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Execution of collision tests to construct adjacency matrices identifying geometric relationships between parts;
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Generation of adjacency graphs visualising precedence and connectivity;
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Comparison of automated outputs with manually derived results for validation.
The results confirm that the automated process produces accurate and consistent disassembly relationships, matching the outcomes of manual approaches while significantly reducing effort. By integrating geometric logic with algorithmic computation, this research offers a practical route to standardising disassembly planning for complex building components and directly supports Reincarnate’s objectives of digitalising circular workflows and enabling data-driven reuse of building materials.