Temporal evolution and thematic shifts in sustainable construction and demolition waste management through building information modeling technologies: A text-mining analysis
Farzin Naghibalsadati, Arash Gitifar, Sagar Ray, Amy Richter, Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng
Abstract
Construction and demolition activities are significant contributors to waste generation worldwide. As population growth accelerates worldwide, the amount of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) will increase proportionally unless proactive measures are implemented. This study analyzes the evolving research landscape on utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) technologies to advance sustainable C&DW management practices. A comprehensive text-mining analysis is conducted on 493 scholarly publications covering evolutions from January 2009 to February 2024 using the PRISMA framework. The research objectives are: (i) to identify key themes in domain of BIM technology in C&DW management using VOSviewer, (ii) to map the temporal evolution of research focus using SciMAT, and (iii) to identify emerging thematic trends.Co-occurrence analysis reveals three major research themes: (i) the use of digital twins and prefabrication for waste reduction, (ii) integrating environmental impact assessments, and (iii) data-driven decision-making. Strategic diagrams produced by SciMAT software uncover shifting priorities over the study period, with “reuse and recycling” emerging as motor themes, and “Prefabrication” (CIT = 481), “Decision Making” (CIT = 66), “Material Passport” (CIT = 92), and “Digital Twin” (CIT = 44) emerging as high-centrality and transversal themes. Temporal evolution mapping unveiled progressive integration of BIM tools such as (i) digital twins (TLS = 34, OCC = 9) and (ii) prefabrication (TLS = 40, OCC = 14), presenting opportunities to optimize waste reduction. This study offers a robust overview of the field, aiming to inform a diverse audience, including researchers from various disciplines, policymakers and industry professionals interested in advancing sustainable practices in C&DW management through innovative digital solutions. • The integration of BIM tools in C&D waste studies is examined using text mining. • Four distinct periods are observed in WoS database from Jan 2009 to Feb 2024 • Co-occurrence node analysis identifies 3 distinct clusters among 493 studies. • Strategic diagram shows distinct theme developments in the third and fourth periods. • Trend analysis supports decision making by funding agencies and policy makers.