Another man’s treasure A digital solution to cataloguing waste material at building sites is targeting at least two of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – by reducing waste in landfills while also addressing the need for affordable construction material in informal settlements. The development of DigiYard, designed by South Africans Kausar Khan, Jaco Kemp and Carin de Beer of engineering and design company Arup, is in its pilot phase, according to Engineering News. It will focus on learning and gathering data from construction companies, with a view to creating a sustainable digital platform. In the beta version, information gathered from the platform will allow the companies to gain a detailed understanding of their material waste streams, helping to minimise waste and improve efficiencies. The long-term vision is that people living in informal settlements will be able to access quality, cost-effective building materials, thus reducing landfill waste. ‘We are excited to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of these valuable resources,’ says De Beer. ‘Technology could allow us to solve this problem in a way that is not only convenient but also sustainable and uplifting.’ 9 July 2019 Image: Pixabay
