The RECONMATIC project’s Annual General Assembly, closing the 2nd year of the project, was held on September 16-17, 2024, in Thessaloniki, Greece, and was a pivotal event where project partners shared major updates on technical and technological advancements as well as ongoing collaborative efforts to address Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) management. Organized by the Laboratory of Building Construction and Building Physics at Aristotle University, the meeting hosted 36 participants in person from different partner organisations, with additional project team members attending online. Let’s look at some of the key updates from the meeting!
Demonstration Cases and Technological Progress
Throughout the meeting, Work Package leaders showcased the significant progress made over the past year, particularly regarding the demonstration cases, which serve as real-world testing grounds for RECONMATIC’s innovations.
One highlight was the Greek demonstrator, which integrates blockchain technology. This tool, developed to enhance the traceability and security of CDW materials, is nearing completion. Partners from the University of Thessaly successfully showed and explained the blockchain system's interface and functionality during the meeting. (https://concretetrack.gr/).
Partners also engaged in productive discussions on pilot cases, with a special focus on upcoming demonstration sites in the Czech Republic, organized by the Technical University in Prague and STRABAG. The Kladno railway station demolition and Opatov hotel building (Prague) reconstruction were confirmed as key projects to test advanced algorithms for the automated creation of 3D models and pre-demolition audits; they can be seen as pre-demonstrators for the final demonstration case for which the former ice-hockey stadium Werkarena in Trinec (Northern Moravia) was selected. A symbolic reason for this choice is the fact that this old stadium shall be within the next 3 years be replaced by national R&D centre for Circular Economy. These pilots are essential for demonstrating how RECONMATIC's tools can streamline CDW management and improve sustainability practices.
Moreover, the meeting reported remarkable progress in robotic sorting technology, developed at Tecnalia. The robotic sorter, designed to automate waste segregation, has demonstrated exceptional accuracy in classifying construction materials, marking a major leap forward for automation in the industry.
In parallel, the University of Manchester leading the research on different methods of establishing a digital model of end-of-service life buildings, presented a completed model, starting from paper-based drawings to pre-demolition audit.
For Italy, Italferr presented its infrastructural railway project, which has been selected as the country's demonstration case. It is a planned project for a new part of a railway track containing bridges, tunnels, cuttings and embankments. Additionally, ITC – Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica is leading the development of a self-assessment tool for sustainability and circularity in construction, which will be piloted in all six RECONMATIC demonstrators by the end of the project.
Finally, a dedicated workshop on Digital Information Management Systems (DIMs), led by the University of Salford, explored how digital tools can optimize data management and tracking in the construction industry. The workshop facilitated valuable insights into integrating these systems across various project components to ensure operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making.
Dissemination, Exploitation, and Clustering Activities
The consortium also discussed the extensive dissemination and clustering activities carried out over the past year. Efforts focused on building synergies within the Circular Construction Cluster and the Tech4EU Construction Cluster, aiming to increase the project’s impact on achieving Net-Zero goals while exploring collaboration opportunities on a global scale.
The Clustering Event held in February 2024 initiated further interaction during the project's Open Days. Following the successful Open Day in Manchester in May, another event was organized in China in August. Arcas & Callisto, facilitators of China-Europe collaboration, presented highlights and updates on the project’s progress in China. Given the urgent need for CDW management in China, RECONMATIC has become one of China’s key R&D initiatives, contributing to the Intergovernmental Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation. This collaboration not only allows Europe to share its expertise but also enables it to learn from China's innovative practices in CDW management.
A key to this will be the creation of educational and training materials on the solutions and outputs developed by the project. This task will start at the end of this year, coordinated by Jihoceska agentura pro invocani podnikani (JAIP) and Future Needs, further extending the project’s impact. Training materials will be completed in the fall of 2025, followed by training of relevant stakeholders and the professional public.
Collaborative Engagements
The collaborative spirit of the meeting was underscored by the involvement of Greek partners Skyrodema Verias AVE (SKYDE), ERGODOMI S.A. (ERGO), and ANAKEM, who sponsored the meeting dinner. This gathering provided a great opportunity to strengthen connections and reinforce the collective commitment to the project’s goals. A special thank you goes to all the Greek partners, our hosts Theodoros Theodosiou and Katerina Karanafti and our coordinator Jan Valentin (Technical University in Prague) for organising and coordinating this constructive meeting!
As RECONMATIC moves into its third year, it continues to push the boundaries of automation, digitalization, and circular economy principles within the construction industry. The meeting’s outcomes will guide the next steps, ensuring RECONMATIC remains at the forefront of innovation in sustainable construction.
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The RECONMATIC consortium contributed to this article, edited by Georgia Nikolakopoulou, Communication & Dissemination Manager in Future Needs Management Consulting, Cyprus, leading the Dissemination and Exploitation Activities for Business and Education in the RECONMATIC project.