BIM-Driven Robotic Disassembly for Resource Recovery in End-of-Life Buildings

Abstract

Deconstruction for resource recovery offers a sustainable alternative to traditional demolition practices. However, deconstruction remains labor-intensive and time-consuming compared to demolition of buildings. This study proposes a novel framework that integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM) with robotic systems to automate the recovery of building components. The BIM file is converted into a robot simulation environment, enabling precise disassembly planning by providing location and size information of recoverable resources. A case study on a BIM model of an exposed interior residential wall assembly unit demonstrates the methodology’s effectiveness in automating resource recovery of end-of-life building components. The results validate the potential of the proposed framework to reduce manual labor and contribute to the circular economy of the building construction sector.