Advancing Digital and Circular Construction
Over the past six months, Natural Building Systems has taken important steps towards improving digital integration in modular construction. As we conclude our project funded by the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub’s Digital Innovation Fund, we reflect on our key developments, lessons learned, and next steps in refining this approach to industrialised circular construction.
Developing Digital Manufacturing Capabilities
A key focus of this project was enhancing our manufacturing processes through digital innovations. The implementation of an AI-driven Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, in collaboration with ArcFlow, has provided:
Improved oversight of manufacturing operations.
Reduced manual data entry and process errors.
Better identification of material shortfalls, helping to minimise production downtime.
Automation of key production workflows to improve efficiency.
In addition we have incorporated energy monitoring sensors into our production facility, gaining insights into production costs, waste management, and energy efficiency—supporting our ongoing efforts to optimise operations.
Improving Traceability with RFID and Digital Product Passports
Another significant development was the deployment of an RFID tagging system linked to a digital product passport platform. In partnership with Circuland, we established a traceability system that:
Tracks materials and components throughout their lifecycle.
Supports end-of-life reclamation and reuse, reinforcing circular economy principles.
Provides clients with access to detailed product and material data.
This project has also highlighted areas for refinement, particularly regarding how RFID tagging is integrated within our production process to ensure usability and efficiency on-site. A key challenge we encountered was integrating various data workflows with physical processes to result in a comprehensive digital model which links the as built product IDs with corresponding digital product and material passports. These elements combine to form a whole-building passport, which can be accessed and interacted with by clients through Circuland’s web-based 3D viewer. This integration represents an important step forward in ensuring full lifecycle traceability and accessibility of construction data which will allow for future verification of sustainability and performance credentials.
Circuland screenshot of our building dashboard for the Old Newton School Project.
Exploring Lean and Digital Manufacturing Practices
The integration of 3D CAD/CAM software, digital file coordination platforms, and structured lean manufacturing principles has improved our design-to-manufacture workflow. These efforts contribute to reducing material waste and human error, while setting the stage for further automation in the future.
Our work towards ISO9001 certification has reinforced the importance of standardised documentation and quality assurance, ensuring our approach remains replicable and scalable.
Next Steps and Long-Term Vision
The progress achieved in this project has strengthened our ability to support a digital and circular approach to modular construction. Looking ahead, we plan to:
Further develop our digital product passport capabilities, including real-time carbon accounting and material tracking.
Continue refining ERP integration for a more seamless flow of data between manufacturing and construction.
Expand the use of automated design tools, including parametric solutions, to drive further innovation in sustainable construction.
Support industry adoption of circular construction principles through ongoing collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Looking Forward
While this project has reached its conclusion, our work in developing and refining these digital solutions continues. A key next step will be our participation at FutureBuild 2025, where we will demonstrate our RFID/Material Passport technology integration. We are grateful to our partners, collaborators, and the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub for supporting this project. Our hope is that by continuing to refine and implement these innovations—particularly the expansion and integration of parametric design tools—we can create truly a customisable platform solution which contributes to a more efficient and sustainable industrialised construction practices. We look forward to sharing further updates as this work progresses.
