To meet this need, we propose the AI-Enabled accurate aerial material monitoring system for circular construction (AI-CircularScan), a closed-loop system that integrates 5G-connected drones, ultra-high-definition
multisensory imaging, and AI-based accurate material status and decay detection this in turn will create accurate digital identities of reusable building materials. AI-CIRCULARSCAN deploys autonomous or semi-autonomous 5G
drones, operating over public 5G or 5G Non-Public Networks (NPN) to ensure stable control and real-time data transmission in dense urban environments. These drones, equipped with ultra-high-definition cameras, LiDAR, and optional multispectral sensors, perform 360° multi-angle exterior scans of facades, roof structures, joints, and other difficult-to-access elements. Whenever interior access is granted, micro-drones or indoor LiDAR
systems complement exterior mapping. Captured data feeds into the AI-CIRCULARSCAN AI/ML pipeline, which performs detection of material types (timber, concrete, brick, metal, insulation, composites), estimates their
quantities and conditions, and assigns circularity indicators. The outcome is a Digital Material Passport, functioning as the digital identity of reusable materials, including component lists, degradation scores, circularity
ratings, and recommended reuse pathways. AI-CIRCULARSCAN operates as a closed-loop system: material data is updated after renovation or deconstruction and can be seamlessly integrated into BIM models and municipal circularity platforms. This ensures long-term, city-wide visibility into material flows and building stock.
