geoFluxus

With insight into data, prospects for a circular (construction) economy

GeoFluxus is a greentech spin-off project of Delft University of Technology (TUDelft) and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute). Based on two large European H2020 research projects, geoFluxus developed the world's first monitoring system for circular economy. Active in 11 different regions in 9 different European countries, geoFluxus literally maps how material flows through cities.

Previous work shows that the construction of large infrastructure projects (roads, tunnels, metro connections,...) can account for up to 20% of a city's total materials consumption. Based on already existing data sources, within this project geoFluxus will analyze the impact and potential of the Antwerp Oosterweel connection for a circular Flemish construction economy. As one of the largest ongoing infrastructure projects in Europe, more than 5,500 construction workers will build until 2026 to complete the ring road around the port city. What is the potential of the construction and demolition waste streams generated from this project? Can they be reused on a local scale (within the project itself)?

In practice, unfortunately, there is little information available on this subject. Both on the origin, quality, residual value and safety of the material, and on its potential secondary use. Data and information are scattered, mismatched and often underutilized. As a result, entire material chains cannot be mapped and, for example, their environmental impact cannot be calculated in an automated way.

That is why geoFluxus is building CIRCLER. In collaboration with OVAM and the Smart Symbiosis team, geoFluxus will:
- map all construction and demolition waste streams from the Oosterweel connection via an interactive online dashboard,
- calculate the environmental impact (CO2, NOx,...) of these material streams,
- using artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify which waste streams could be reused by which parties,
- in collaboration with the SmartSymbiosis team try to facilitate this reuse in reality.