Implementing the circular economy model in the built environment demands high-quality information about the building stock and products. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is considered vital to capturing relevant information. This study uses a constructive research method to assess BIM support for effectively capturing circularity-related information. We identified circularity needs and transcribed them into actionable, machine-interpretable form, applying the novel Information Delivery Specification (IDS) standard. Considered use cases include material composition, quality and identity, environmental impacts, and disassembly aspects. We discuss the benefits, challenges, and suitability of modelling such information based on the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) schema. The developed IDS specification allows for semi-automated compliance checking of BIM content. Most considered aspects can be expressed in BIM but often lack consistent terminology. Difficult to document are disassembly instructions and elements’ connections. Discussed technical limitations help rationalise the amount of information reasonable to capture in BIM. The study bridges the gap between sustainability expert demand for data and BIM deliverables. Resultant knowledge enables practitioners to increase the availability of quality data relevant for future building disassembly, reuse or adaptation.

Reuse of building components is one of the recommended circular strategies to reduce the environmental impact of new buildings. However, reclaimed building components are more difficult to design with than new products. While new products can be made to match exact needs, the salvaged components have predefined dimensions and quality limitations. Following the Design Science Research methodology, we attempt to answer how the reuse design can be aided by a digital design tool. The developed matching algorithms suggest the optimal assignment of available elements for the desired configuration, considering user-defined constraints and optimisation criteria. In the test cases, we seek to optimise the global warming potential of timber framing elements, defined by life cycle assessment, though the tool is not limited to this objective. The implementation includes greedy algorithms, bipartite graphs, and mixed integer linear programming. The usefulness of the proposed solution is evaluated on simulated sets of building elements in terms of embodied emission reduction and speed of the calculation. The paper contributes with methodologies, algorithms, and test cases to assess their performance. Practitioners can apply the proposed solution to reduce the time of designing with salvaged materials, which can lead to the popularisation of the circular design.

Preservation of Cultural Heritage (CH) demands precise and comprehensive information representation to document, analyse, and manage assets effectively. While Building Information Modelling (BIM) facilitates as-is state documentation, challenges in semantic interoperability of complex cultural data often limit its potential in heritage contexts. This study investigates the integration of BIM tools with the buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD) platform to enhance semantic interoperability for heritage assets. Using a proof-of-concept approach, the research focuses on a historic tenement house in Tarnów, Poland, modelled with the IFC schema standard and enriched with the MIDAS heritage classification system. The methodology includes transforming the classification system into bSDD data dictionary, publishing thesauri for components, materials, and monument types, and semantic enrichment of the model using Bonsai (formerly BlenderBIM) plugin for Blender. Results demonstrate improved consistency, accuracy, and usability of BIM data for heritage preservation. The integration ensures detailed documentation and facilitates interoperability across platforms, addressing preservation challenges with enriched narratives of cultural significance. This method supports future predictive models for heritage asset conservation, emphasizing the importance of data quality and interoperability in safeguarding shared cultural heritage for future generations.