Hinder och Möjligheter vid Återbruk av Byggmaterial och Byggdelar i Byggprojekt med stöd av BIM

Sammanfattning

The building and real estate sector accounts for a significant share of Sweden´s climate impact and resource consumption, which increases the need for circular working methods. Reuse of building materials is highlighted as a central strategy for reducing waste, energy use and emissions, but is still applied to a limited extent. At the same time, digital tools such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) have the potential to improve information management and decision-making in construction projects. The aim of the study is to contribute to increased knowledge about how reuse of building materials can be enabled in construction projects, with a focus on the design phase and what role BIM can play in this development. The study was conducted using a qualitative research approach in the form of a case study with AFRY as the main case. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews with five respondents from different professional roles in the construction industry, supplemented by a non-systematic literature review. The empirical material was analyzed through thematic analysis and gap analysis to identify differences between the current situation and a desired working method. The results show that reuse is currently limited by uncertainty regarding the quality, function, and availability of materials, as well as by insufficient information management and a lack of established working methods. Reuse is often addressed late in the design process, which reduces the possibility of integrating it into the fundamental decisions of projects. At the same time, opportunities are identified in the form of a large supply of reusable materials, reduced climate impact and potential economic benefits. BIM is mainly used for traditional purposes such as modeling and coordination, while the connection to reuse is limited. The analysis shows that there is a clear gap between the theoretical potential of reuse and its practical application. A lack of structured and accessible information makes it more difficult to identify and assess reusable materials. Furthermore, reuse is often handled at later stages, even though research emphasizes the importance of early integration. BIM has significant potential to support reuse through information management, visualization, and decision support, but this potential is used to a limited extent in practice. The results largely correspond with previous research and show that barriers to reuse are both technical and organizational. The study highlights that reuse often depends on the client´s requirements and engagement rather than established processes. To enable increased reuse, structured working methods, improved information management and increased use of BIM as support in the design phase are required. The study thus contributes to an increased understanding of how reuse can be integrated into construction projects and what development needs exist.