Digital and circular methods as a contribution to structural change in Germany’s lignite mining regions: Conceptual project approach and development of appropriate use cases

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, vol. 1554, pp. 012022

Abstract

Abstract With Germany’s decision to phase out coal by 2038, the German lignite regions are facing the task of structural change and the subsequent utilisation of lignite-fired power plants is therefore open. Conceivable deconstruction scenarios for these large-scale industrial buildings open up the potential for the development of anthropogenic resource deposits and thus the extraction of secondary construction products. However, the exploitation of these deposits and the distribution of the corresponding products is hindered by technical, logistical, legal and social aspects. The DeConDB research project addresses these challenges by developing digital and circular methods for the development of anthropogenic resource deposits and circular value chains as a contribution to structural change in Germany’s lignite regions. This project report is dedicated to the scope of the project and its methodological approaches. It also presents initial results from the development of digital and circular use cases.

Authors 7

1. F Edenhofner corresponding Aachen chair Institute of Construction Management

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair and Institute of Construction Management, Digital Engineering and Robotics in Construction, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. M. Mansour Aachen Geodetic Institute Chair for Computing in Civil Engineering and GIS

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Geodetic Institute and Chair for Computing in Civil Engineering & GIS, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. S-C Sauer
   Affiliation as printed

   Madaster Germany GmbH, Berlin, Germany

4. R Becker Aachen Geodetic Institute Chair for Computing in Civil Engineering and GIS

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Geodetic Institute and Chair for Computing in Civil Engineering & GIS, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. S Mackenbach Aachen chair Institute of Construction Management

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair and Institute of Construction Management, Digital Engineering and Robotics in Construction, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

6. Jörg Blankenbach Aachen Geodetic Institute Chair for Computing in Civil Engineering and GIS

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Geodetic Institute and Chair for Computing in Civil Engineering & GIS, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

7. Katharina Klemt-Albert Aachen chair Institute of Construction Management

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair and Institute of Construction Management, Digital Engineering and Robotics in Construction, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany