Concretes in which a large portion of fine natural aggregate is replaced with inert mineral powders would offer both economic and ecological benefits for the concrete industry, and they represent eco-friendly materials. Moreover, using the powders having potential pozzolanic effect could have positive extra effect on the properties of concrete. This paper analyses the impact of a high dosage of three kinds of micro-fillers (brick, concrete and glass powders) on the properties of concrete over a three-year period. Microfillers were applied as 40% replacement of 0/4 aggregate by volume. Samples having high dosage of micro-fillers and thus a higher binder volume achieved excellent values of both compressive (from 31 to 48 MPa in 28 days, and from 67 to 93 MPa in three years) and flexural strength (from 6.3 to 8.4 MPa in 28 days, and from 7.1 to 11.1 MPa in three years). Both samples with brick powder and concrete powder achieved the biggest strength values; however, due to better performance in durability parameters (capillary water absorption coefficient and density), sample prepared with glass powder can be identified as having the biggest potential for intended use.

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries are the producers of the most significant waste stream in the European Union. Known EU initiatives propose to deal with the issue of construction and demolition waste (CDW) according to the principles of a circular economy: the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle). CDW is generated during the whole life cycle of construction. The lack of information about the quantity of CDW during the design phase of building needed for sustainable design of construction was identified as a research gap. The aim of our research is to quantify construction and demolition waste during the construction design phase in a circular economy. The proposed method is based on the generation rate calculation method. This paper describes the proposed methodology for quantifying selected types of construction waste: excavated soil, concrete, and masonry. This information is essential from the point of view of a sustainable circular economy. The main contributions of the paper were identified during the decision-making process of sustainable building design, during the audit of CDW management, and during building information modelling as a support tool for CDW management. As early as the construction design phase, there is the possibility of choosing technologies, construction processes, and materials that have a higher degree of circularity in the economy.

This study is aimed at the utilization of natural zeolite as a prospective type of Supplementary Cementitious Material in connection with the innovations of construction solutions through the materials. The influence of zeolite on several properties of cement-based composites is studied. Basic characteristics of input powdery materials as well as the technological parameters of zeolite tested on mortar containing 50% of cement replacement are presented. The technical parameters of concrete containing 8, 13, and 25% of cement replacement by zeolite are presented as well. The paper is valuable due to the three-year testing period. The density of the hardened concrete was found to be decreasing with increasing zeolite content. While no significant differences in compressive strength were found after 28 days, differences between individual samples were clear after the long-term period. The presence of zeolite influenced the compressive strength positively in the case of the 8% and 13% replacement, while the higher proportion of natural zeolite (25%) caused lower compressive strength after 28 days but was similar to the reference concrete after three years. A major increase in strength was detected for all samples in the long-term period. It confirms the long-term potential of zeolite for strength improvement.

Building design and project planning face significant challenges in the 21st century. On the one hand, it is the requirement of building users. On the other hand, new possibilities and technologies contribute to the overall efficiency of construction projects. The progress of information and communication technologies is one of the most extensive opportunities that can significantly streamline designing sustainable buildings. The big data concept is increasingly being implemented in all areas of industry. The design of buildings and the entire civil engineering industry is where these processes are becoming automated with the help of information technology. Supply chain management based on information systems represents a great potential in the design of buildings and planning of construction projects in materials procurement. These facts lead to the assumption that the concept of big data and supply chain management systems can effectively influence the sustainable design of buildings. These technologies are expected to improve economic sustainability by reducing costs and shortening materials’ delivery time and construction time. The research is carried out on a sample of construction projects. The level of use of the concept of big data and SCM systems and their impact on economic sustainability in the form of parameters such as construction project costs, delivery time of materials and building construction were examined. Data collection took place through a questionnaire survey. Within the used methods, this research worked data-free but also scaled to the Likert scale. Data processing was performed using Pearson dependence and the use of a correlation coefficient. The main goal of the research was to analyze the impact of using the concept of big data and supply chain management on the cost of the building, the time of delivery of materials and the construction of the building. It was found that the use of SCM and BD has an impact on the monitored parameters, and the correlation rate is high.

Nowadays, high-performance concrete (HPC) and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) are ranked among advanced concrete technologies. The application of the mentioned advanced technologies may have potential to improve the construction efficiency from several points of view. For instance, reducing of construction time and construction material, construction quality improving, environmental impact minimizing, and increasing of both durability and lifetime of structures as well as reducing of total construction costs may be obtained. Particular advanced concrete technologies are described and the possibilities of their utilization in both monolithic structures and precast units are presented in the article. The main benefits of modern methods of construction (MMC) based on advanced concrete technologies application in precast elements production are presented. Regarding the selected aspects of construction efficiency assessment, a comparison of conventional and advanced concrete technologies that are applied in monolithic structures and precast units is made. The results of this comparison, estimated in semantic differential scale, are presented in the article. By the results of the comparison, the significance of applying the advanced concrete technologies in modern methods of concrete structures production is demonstrated in order to improve construction efficiency.