The construction industry, one of the most fragmented sectors globally, is a major contributor to carbon emissions and waste. According to Catherine De Wolf, assistant professor of circular engineering for architecture at ETH Zurich, the industry consumes nearly half of all materials and generates about a third of global waste—approximately 700 million tons annually.
To address this challenge, De Wolf is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to facilitate the reuse of construction materials. Her lab at ETH Zurich uses computer vision and machine learning to analyze buildings through Google Street View images, archival records, and demolition data. This helps identify materials that can be salvaged and repurposed. Additionally, robots and drones rapidly inventory materials at construction sites before demolition.
De Wolf’s team is also developing AI-powered tools to help architects design buildings using reclaimed materials and aims to create a global platform to connect companies with reusable resources.
“The key to solving fragmentation in the industry is making material cataloging and reuse more efficient than demolition,” she says. By integrating technology into construction, De Wolf envisions a future where sustainability becomes the norm, reducing the sector’s environmental footprint significantly.
