The document discusses a project to develop a digital twin system to track construction and demolition waste in New South Wales. It aims to create a pilot program that uses sensors and historical data to create digital models of waste streams from generation through recycling or disposal. This would help improve compliance and reporting over the current paper-based system. The goals are to identify opportunities for tracking different waste streams digitally, develop a methodology for digital twins in this space, and conduct a pilot demonstration project to evaluate findings and outcomes for government and industry. Benefits could include improved compliance and reporting, identifying new reuse opportunities, and enabling progress toward a circular economy.

1. PROJECT CONCEPT BY
Sustainability Advantage and the Responsible
Construction Leadership Group
DIGITAL TWINS
PROJECT
RCLG 2.0
FOR CONSTRUCTION AND
DEMOLITION WASTE IN NSW

2. THE ISSUE
The tracking and reporting of construction and
demolition waste is cumbersome and fragmented
across the construction industry. The need for tracking
and reporting for compliance relies on outdated paper
dockets and manual data entry systems that are prone
to error and manipulation. Understanding what waste is
generated, where is goes, and what happens to it is
crucial for compliance, reporting and is a key enabler for
a circular economy in NSW.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Digital Twins Project for construction and demolition waste
aims to develop a pilot scale demonstration of the application
of digital twins for the tracking of construction and demolition
waste from generation on site through to recycling, reuse, or
disposal. The data will provide Government and Industry with
actionable insights to help with reporting, deploying resources,
identifying opportunities to improve waste management, and
as a potential enabler of a more circular economy in NSW.
PROJECT CONCEPT
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
01
Identify waste management
opportunities for digital twins eg
co-mingled waste or bulk material
02
Develop a digital twins
methodology for construction and
demolition waste
03
Conduct a pilot scale
demonstration
04
Provide a report on key findings
and outcomes for Government
and Industry
WHAT IS A DIGITAL TWIN?
A Digital Twin is a digital model of a real-life object, process or system. The digital model
can be informed by historical data and fed with live sensor data to make the digital model
identical – a ‘twin’ – to the real-life subject. Digital Twins of discrete systems can be linked to
create twins of larger, more complex systems such as a factory or a city. (NSW Government
Emerging Technology Guide).

3. Compliance
Reporting
Reuse opportunity
Waste diversion Upcycle
Scoping (6 months) - develop project
scope and secure industry partners
Design (6-12 months) - detailed project
planning and specification for digital
twins pilot demonstration
Implementation (12 months) - build and
test pilot scale demonstration of digital
twins for C&D waste
Turlough Guerin
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and
Environment
Sustainability Advantage Program
E: turlough.guerin@environment.nsw.gov.au
CONTACT
TIMEFRAME
Improved compliance and reporting
Opportunity identification
Enabler for circular economy
BENEFITS
PhysicalWorldCyberWorldDigitalTwin
Marketplace
Design Building Information Model Site Records Transport e-dockets Receiving data
Manufacturing Building/Asset C&D Waste Transport Recycling, Reuse, Landfill
Data matching
Compliance
CONCEPT
Circular
Economy