How can you reduce nuisance from particulate matter during construction work? And in what way can smart technology help? In the Netherlands, little is known about the dust released during construction and demolition projects. The 'Bouwstofwijzer' project(1) measures how much dust is actually created. The goal of the program is to regulate and reduce nuisance from construction dust during construction activities and to ensure a healthy living environment. The project was partly funded from the Digitale Overheid Innovation Budget (2). Rijkswaterstaat, Dordrecht municipality, Utrecht municipality and Connected Worlds worked together. Hans Nouwens is involved in the project and is happy to tell you more about it.
Hans Nouwens: "Dust and noise cause a lot of nuisance in construction projects especially in our densely built-up cities. According to the building code (3), construction dust must remain within the fences of the construction site. However, this is virtually impossible. If a lot of dust does get into the environment, the danger lurks that construction work will come to a halt."
To address this problem, the project group launched the Construction Fabric Guide. With the goal of using digital technology to improve livability around construction work. This is done by placing air quality measuring boxes around a construction project. Residents are asked to hang up their own sensors with which they can take measurements. The nuisance caused by dust is made visible via a website where residents and stakeholders can view real-time information on air quality. The system even issues a warning when too much particulate matter is measured in the air.
"The Construction Fabric Guide uses digital technology to improve livability around construction work"
The construction dust meter has been tested at 2 major construction projects. The maintenance work on the N3 for which Rijkswaterstaat is responsible. And the demolition and construction of an apartment complex in the center of Utrecht.
Hans Nouwens: "Around the construction projects we built a unique fine-mesh measurement network of sensors that we could mount on lampposts. We received data every 10 seconds. We also gave citizens a measuring sensor. This created a lot of support from the environment. Now they could see for themselves what dust values were being measured in their area." By combining the data from all measurement points, we could also indicate where the dust was coming from. So is it really coming from the construction site. Or is there a lot of dust due to traffic?
According to Hans, the innovation budget was really necessary to start this project. "We needed a fair amount of money for all the technology and to collect the data. But also to get things organized. And a lot of time goes into involving all the stakeholders such as local residents, the municipality and construction companies." Communicating with all the different stakeholders proved quite a challenge at times. Hans: "We held round table sessions together with Nyenrode. There the results of the measurements were shared. We also identified the potential risks. And proposed making an agreement system about measuring construction dust. Next year we will organize sessions with Rijkswaterstaat to see if we can come to a national agreement system."
"We needed a fair amount of money for all the technology and to collect the data. But also to get things organized "Hans Nouwens - Connected Worlds
Currently on and around construction projects, there is no real-time measurement of how much construction dust is released. As a result, enforcement is virtually impossible. Contractors do not know the actual effects of their construction work. And local residents currently receive little or no information about air quality.
The Construction Dust Guide makes it clear to everyone what the current situation is. This allows people to take nuisance into account and act accordingly. Hans would prefer to see concrete rules on the amount of building material included in the Environment Act. He also sees opportunities in the clean air agreement (4) signed by a large number of municipalities. Ultimately, every municipality wants to create a clean environment for its residents. And the Building Dust Guide can play a perfect role in that.
bouwstofwijzer.nl/
Digitale Overheid Innovation Budget
https://rijksoverheid.bouwbesluit.com/inhoud/docs/wet/bb2012
https://www.schoneluchtakkoord.nl/
