Application of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Construction Waste Management: A Study on Integrated Systems in Isfahan City

Subject Areas : New technologies in natural resources and environment

Mohammad Reza Tabatabaei ¹ , Hadi Shakibazahed ^{2 *}

1 -
2 - Department of Civil Engineering, Sabzevar Branch, Hakim Sabzevari University, Yabzvar, Iran

Received: 2024-11-05 Accepted : 2024-12-16 Published : 2024-12-19

Keywords: Digitalization of the construction industry, artificial intelligence, advanced technologies in waste management,

Abstract :

Introduction: Due to the increase in waste generation and concerns about the ecological damage caused by them, waste management policy has become of great importance. Waste is a by-product of human activities and includes various types of household, medical, agricultural, industrial, commercial, special and hazardous waste. Recycling construction waste can reduce the need for energy, natural resources, extraction resources and land required for sanitary and controlled landfill. Meanwhile, the construction industry faces numerous challenges such as high costs, long project duration, safety and health issues, and labor shortage. In addition, this industry is limitedly digitized compared to other industries, which has added to its complexities and problems. One of the new technologies that can help solve these problems is artificial intelligence. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the role and application of artificial intelligence in the construction waste management system in the city of Isfahan, and this goal is pursued by assuming that artificial intelligence-based decision-making plays a role in construction waste management in the city of Isfahan.

Materials and Methods: This study investigated the role of artificial intelligence in the construction waste management system in Isfahan. For this purpose, data were collected through documents and field studies in different areas of Isfahan and analyzed using statistical software such as SPSS and Smart PLS.

Results and Discussion: The results showed that the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and sensors can help optimize the collection and processing processes of construction waste. In particular, the use of sensors to monitor the filling level of waste bins, optimizing the collection route using GPS, and utilizing smart bins to separate and compress waste are effective solutions. Also, directing the waste flow towards advanced technologies such as recycling and waste incineration can help reduce costs and pollutants. According to the results obtained, the highest correlation between the artificial intelligence application index and construction waste management is (0.82), followed by the artificial intelligence index and the city of Isfahan (0.79), and then the construction waste management index and the city of Isfahan index (0.67), which indicates the impact of artificial intelligence application indices on construction waste management in Isfahan.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that artificial intelligence can help improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts of construction waste management systems in Isfahan. In this regard, separating recyclable materials at the production stage and at source is highly desirable, more efficient, and more practical due to its ease, time and cost savings, and reduced pollution and less destruction of recyclable materials.

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