Guidelines for a BIM-aided pre-deconstruction audit

The BIM-aided pre-deconstruction audit process is mainly a process of collecting and digitalizing data of precast concrete elements in a donor building, from which they will be deconstructed. The digital information is stored in a database that architects and structural designers can use when designing a new building with reused precast concrete elements.

The ReCreate project tests the process of harvesting and reuse of precast concrete elements in four real-life projects in Europe. The goal is to gather knowledge in a wide range of topics directly connected to the reuse of precast concrete elements in structures of new buildings. By reusing these elements, they get a second life and the environmental impact of construction a new building is significantly reduced.

The insights gained in the pilot projects contribute to a kind of ‘roadmap’ for collection information on donor buildings and their precast concrete elements in what we call a ‘pre-deconstruction audit’ (as opposed to the more familiar ‘pre-demolition audit’). The audit process contains all the steps necessary to start an efficient and (structurally) safe deconstruction process of a donor building.

The audit process starts by collecting data from various archives and the internet, such as Google Maps and Street View. The data is entered into a visual database, a 3D BIM model. This 3D BIM model offers great advantages in managing and validating the collected data. To validate the data, determine its reliability and complete missing data, a visual inspection is performed. Additional testing supports the data and the reliability of the data. The information obtained is incorporated into the 3D BIM model in order to create a final, complete and reliable 3D BIM database containing all the necessary information of the precast concrete elements.

The roadmap for collecting the data, creating a 3D BIM model (database), verifying and managing the data of the donor building and precast elements is laid down in this document as a recommendation.