Reincarnate is pleased to share the publication of the paper “Streamlining BIM-Based Procurement for a Circular Economy: Aligning Design Specifications with Reclaimed Building Components”, presented at the 2025 European Conference on Computing in Construction (CIB W78) held in Porto, Portugal, July 14–17, 2025.
The paper, authored by Jorg Theunissen, Begum Aktas, and Timo Hartmann from our consortium lead Technische Universität Berlin, explores how Building Information Modeling (BIM) can connect design and procurement processes with digital marketplaces for reclaimed building components. Integrating secondary products into new or renovated structures remains a manual and time-consuming process, with the research demonstrating how automation can make circular construction both feasible and efficient, aligning digital design with material reuse.
The authors introduce a Parametric Design Tool (PDT) that automatically matches digital design elements with available reclaimed components in a marketplace database. Developed within the Revit and Dynamo environments, the tool enables designers to integrate reuse directly into their workflows by linking geometry, material data, and environmental indicators.
Core functions of the PDT:
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Automated matching of design components to reclaimed items using tolerance-based algorithms;
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Dynamic report generation listing all matched components and their specifications;
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Alternative BIM model creation replacing original elements with second-hand equivalents;
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Carbon estimation through integrated Global Warming Potential (GWP) calculations based on geometric data.
Tested first in a small-scale architectural project and later in the Katharina Haus case study, the PDT proved effective in automating geometric matching, reducing manual effort, and promoting circular procurement practices. The results highlight measurable CO₂ savings achieved by reusing components and integrating sustainability data directly into design workflows.
By embedding circular logic directly into BIM environments, this approach streamlines the reuse of building components and supports data-driven decision-making for sustainable construction. It shows how digital tools can make circular procurement practical, efficient, and environmentally accountable across future building projects.