Parametric Design for supply chain collaboration: towards a circular built environment

Abstract

A Circular Economy perspective is needed to mitigate the extensive negative environmental impacts of the construction industry. However, the fragmented supply chain, marked by low collaboration amongst the various actors, challenges narrowing, slowing, closing and regenerating the industry resource loops. While many Digital Technologies are posed as bringing efficiency and facilitating such collaborations, little is said about how parametric design tools - used in stages when impactful decisions for the whole building life cycle are made - can support supply chain collaborations for a circular built environment. This study has aimed to answer that by exploring the relationships between technological aspects and four elements of collaboration - Visions of the future, Actor Learning, Network Dynamics and Business Model Innovation - expanding and applying an existing framework to the digitalization context. It has done so through a qualitative multiple-case study, where three parametric tools in the Dutch context, alongside collaborations that used them to achieve circular goals, were studied. A mixed methods approach for data collection was used (collaborations’ documents, tools demonstrations and semi-structured interviews with collaborating parties) and a thematic analysis was performed.

The results indicate that parametric design tools can support a) the collective realization, shaping, understanding and redefinition of circularity visions; b) technical and business community learnings related to more integrated, agile and data-driven ways of working and designing, that challenge industry norms; c) collaborative dynamics in the joint development of both projects and products (e.g. high-performance buildings, modular and biobased construction systems), in the formation of industry networks and in the creation of strategic business cases for circularity; and d) the implementation of multiple sustainable business models archetypes, mainly developing scale up solutions for circularity and digitalization across the supply chain with the support of parametric web platforms. A few issues such as knowledge protection, transparency risks and data quality were brought to light to be tackled for broader and safe use. The study reveals that technological and collaboration dynamics reinforce each other in driving circularity in the built environment. Parametric tools are versatile to support varied strategies, but client ambition, strong visions and policy are needed to steer them toward collaborative and circular outcomes.