In the ever-evolving landscape of construction, two buzzwords have dominated recent discourse: sustainability and the circular economy. While both concepts aim to reduce environmental impact, their distinct implications for the industry have often been muddled. A groundbreaking study led by Shakarim Aubakirov from the Kazakh-British Technical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, has cut through the noise using advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques to clarify these terms and their practical applications.
The research, published in PeerJ Computer Science (translated from Russian as “PeerJ Computer Science”), analyzed 480 academic articles to discern the nuances between sustainable and circular construction. Aubakirov and his team employed three NLP methods: TextRank, term frequency–inverse document frequency (TF-IDF), and semantic annotation (Wikifier). These tools extracted key relationships, identified significant terms, and provided contextual understanding, respectively.
The findings reveal that circular construction is more focused and practical, targeting resource efficiency, waste management, and industry-specific processes. “Circular construction is about the operational aspects—recycling, resource recovery, and making the most of what we have,” Aubakirov explained. In contrast, sustainable construction encompasses a broader scope, including urban planning, community development, and long-term environmental impacts.
This distinction is crucial for policymakers, industry practitioners, and academics aiming to integrate these principles effectively. For the energy sector, understanding these nuances can drive more targeted and impactful initiatives. For instance, circular construction principles can optimize resource use in energy infrastructure projects, reducing waste and improving efficiency. Meanwhile, sustainable construction can guide the development of energy-efficient buildings and communities, aligning with long-term environmental goals.
The study also highlights the potential of NLP in systematically disentangling closely related frameworks in construction literature. This methodological approach can be replicated in future data-driven investigations, fostering a more nuanced understanding of industry trends and practices.
As the construction sector continues to evolve, the clarity provided by this research can shape future developments, ensuring that sustainability and circular economy principles are applied in the most effective and impactful ways. By leveraging NLP, the industry can move beyond buzzwords and towards actionable insights that drive meaningful change.