Applications of geospatial technologies for construction and demolition waste management: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Construction and demolition waste management (CDWM) is a grand challenge on a global scale. Traditional CDWM has heavily relied on anthropological approaches, which may prevent stakeholders from acquiring a comprehensive understanding of a macro standpoint for developing effective strategies. The emergence of geospatial technologies offers a more objective and precise approach for CDWM to enhance resource management and support environmental and socio-economic sustainability. However, a holistic review of how these geospatial technologies have been applied to CDWM is still lacking. To fully harness the potential of geospatial technologies for CDWM, this study aims to examine how different categories of geospatial technologies serve different application scenarios in CDWM through a systematic literature review. Through delving into 73 papers spanning 2004 to 2024, the results find this research discipline has been a hotspot since 2017. Existing CDWM literature has predominantly utilized geographic information systems (GIS) technology, followed by remote sensing technology and a hybrid technology strategy. Geospatial technologies have been extensively integrated with other non-geospatial technologies. Existing literature is mainly distributed across four application scenarios: identification and classification, site selection, quantification, and decision support. Finally, three research gaps have been also pinpointed, directing future studies to devote specific efforts to improving data accuracy, combining geospatial technologies with traditional methods as well as expanding application scenarios from a life cycle perspective. This paper offers academics and practitioners a clear roadmap on how to utilize geospatial technologies for propelling the discipline of CDWM toward high efficiency and precision.