Opening of the Event and Institutional Messages The first day of II Iberoconstruct — the Ibero-Brazilian Construction Meeting — brought together public decision-makers, companies and universities at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid to discuss the transformation of the sector through industrialisation, technological innovation, sustainability and the evolution of contractual models. In the opening session, with contributions from José Miguel Atienza, Miguel Ángel Carrillo, Fernando Santos and Humberto Varum, the need to strengthen project predictability, technical quality at delivery and transparency in public works processes became clear. These themes directly intersect with DIGIMATRIA’s ambition to use building digital twins to support technical commissioning, preventive maintenance — particularly of façades — and the early resolution of contractual disputes. Opening of II Iberoconstruct – Ibero-Brazilian Construction Meeting The Construction Sector in Spain — Julián Núñez In his detailed intervention, Julián Núñez, President of SEOPAN, outlined the economic, environmental and regulatory pressures shaping the Spanish construction sector. He welcomed the Spanish government’s forward-looking approach to promoting strategic infrastructure investments, integrated into a medium-term strategy, as well as the need to maintain existing assets. Analysis of Priority Infrastructure Investments in Spain – SEOPAN – Julián Núñez The Construction Sector in Portugal and Brazil — Humberto Varum and Fernanda Fernandes Marchiori The Iberian and Brazilian analysis included Humberto Varum and a presentation by Fernanda Fernandes Marchiori (Federal University of Santa Catarina and coordinator of the GESTCON group) on the challenges of public procurement in Brazil. These contributions emphasised the importance of transparency and information consistency across borders — objectives that increasingly depend on shared digital models connecting planning, execution and supervision. Roundtable: Industry Dynamics — moderated by Carlos Ursúa Moderated by Carlos Ursúa, the panel brought together Concha Santos, Esther Ahijado, Fernanda Fernandes Marchiori and Jorge Moreira da Costa to debate industrialisation, governance and internationalisation. The discussion underscored the importance of technical traceability and transparency in decision-making, principles aligned with the use of digital twins as living repositories of construction information and common references in acceptance and technical audit processes. Innovation in the Construction Industry — Carlos Martínez Bertrand Carlos Martínez Bertrand, Director of the Construction Technology Platform, addressed strategies to accelerate innovation adoption across the sector. He highlighted digital experimentation and pilot projects as essential drivers for connecting research and practice, particularly in areas such as site monitoring, data integration and advanced planning systems. PTEC White Paper on Robotics in Construction – Carlos Martínez Bertrand Industrialisation and Robotics: 3D Modular Construction — Rui Garcia In his presentation, Rui Garcia described the strategy of Garcia, Garcia S.A. through the AMB brand and the growing use of prefabricated bathrooms in the residential market, highlighting the Hines project. DIGIMATRIA – Digital Twin of Industrial Buildings — Rui Garcia The discussion on quality control, construction interfaces and technical validation at handover emphasised the importance of digital systems capable of documenting compliance and non-compliance during commissioning — an area where DIGIMATRIA can play a relevant role by structuring technical evidence linked to the building’s digital model. Communicating Sustainability: Digital Product Passports — Pedro Mêda Pedro Mêda (University of Porto / ICS) presented the concept of digital material passports as tools for documenting performance, circularity and environmental impact. Digital Passports for Construction Products — Pedro Mêda Integrating this information into a building’s digital twin is a natural step for DIGIMATRIA, enabling façade materials and construction systems to be linked to preventive maintenance plans, durability assessments and technical reports supporting asset management. New Materials — Jaime Gálvez Professor Jaime Gálvez (UPM) addressed emerging solutions and the need to monitor their real-world behaviour over time. He highlighted the development of solutions designed to counteract concrete degradation caused by external agents such as carbonation and reinforcement corrosion, while meeting carbon footprint reduction targets. LC3 Cements as an Alternative to Clinker-Based Cements — Jaime Gálvez BIM and Digital Twins — Marcos García In the session dedicated to BIM, Marcos García highlighted the evolution toward large-scale digital twins capable of representing entire projects at very high levels of detail. Examples such as Madrid’s M-30 ring road were presented, featuring more than 200,000 interconnected objects integrating geometry, planning and maintenance data. This approach aligns with DIGIMATRIA’s ambition to transform BIM models into living platforms supporting commissioning, building operation and technical management throughout the asset lifecycle. Digital Twin of Madrid’s M-30 Ring Road — Marcos García Roundtable: The Future of Construction — moderated by Tiago Teixeira Martins Moderated by Tiago Teixeira Martins, the panel included Hipólito Sousa, Francisco Reis (CEO of BIMMS), Gómez Hermoso (UPM Innovación Caminos), Antonio Gómez (CDTI) and Antonio Ramírez (Director of Innovation at Sacyr). The debate reinforced the importance of interoperability, innovation funding, cross-cutting digital platforms and the sector’s attractiveness to new talent. Roundtable: The Future of Construction Conclusion Day 29 of II Iberoconstruct demonstrated that industrialisation, sustainability and digitalisation are increasingly interconnected. Sessions on modular construction, BIM, digital product passports and governance converged on the need for reliable data and integrated digital models throughout the entire asset lifecycle. It is within this context that DIGIMATRIA positions itself: using building digital twins to anticipate pathologies, support preventive façade maintenance, strengthen commissioning processes and provide a solid technical foundation for contractual management and dispute resolution.

This article explores the findings of a mixed-methods study conducted in the Iberian Peninsula. By combining Urban Metabolism  (the quantitative flow of materials through a city) with a Stakeholder Market Survey  and in-depth interviews , we aim to identify why circularity remains stalled in the industrial building sector and how digital tools might—or might not—bridge the gap. 1. Urban Metabolism: The 2030 Intervention Window The concept of Urban Metabolism treats the built environment as a "living" stock of materials. Between 2005 and 2015, Portugal, Spain, and France saw a massive expansion of logistics and industrial hubs, resulting in a stock of 240 million m2  of steel-faced sandwich panels. As these buildings reach a 20-to-25-year renovation cycle, a "wave" of removals is expected between 2025 and 2030 . This timing is critical. Currently, these panels are treated as waste to be downcycled into scrap steel. However, since many are removed due to functional building changes rather than technical degradation, they represent a significant "anthropogenic reservoir" of functional components. Estimated area of sandwich panels (installed between 2005 and 2015) in Portugal, France, and Spain, based on Eurostat data. 2. Qualitative Realities: Insights from 5 Key Interviews To contextualize the data, we conducted semi-structured interviews with five key actors : building owners, demolition subcontractors, and designers. These conversations revealed "latent" drivers that surveys often miss: The Fragility of Logistics:  Demolition experts noted that "delicate deconstruction" is rarely priced into contracts. Without a clear buyer, the cost of careful removal (6–9 €/m2) is seen as a financial loss compared to rapid demolition. The Insurance Void:  Designers expressed that even with perfect data, the lack of a standardized "conformity assessment" for fire safety makes specifying reused panels a professional risk they are unwilling to take. Cultural Resistance:  Interviews highlighted an organizational "risk culture" where new is always synonymous with "safe," regardless of what the data says about residual material performance. 3. Scenario 1: New Warehouse Construction We presented three procurement tiers for a new build to 11 stakeholders managing projects over 15,000 m2: Option A (New - 40 €/m2):  The standard choice for 70% of respondents. Option B (Certified Reuse - 30 €/m2):  Used panels with damage detection and lifetime estimates. Option C (Ad-hoc Reuse - 20 €/m2):  Uncertified panels. The Verdict:  While Option B is the most sustainable according to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, it lacks the legal framework to compete with Option A. Option C was largely dismissed, proving that cost savings alone cannot create a secondary market. Scenario 1 options for new warehouse: a) Life cycle cost assessment and b) Elemental Life cycle assessment. Option A - new panel (40 €/m²), Option B - repaired used panel that includes damage detection and life-expectancy estimates (30 €/m²) and Option C: reused panel without certification (20 €/m²). 4. Scenario 2: Existing Warehouse Interventions When managing an aging asset, four strategies were evaluated. Option A:  Full replacement (40 €/m2). Option B:  Targeted repair and postponed replacement (26 €/m2). Option C:  Replacement with certified reused panels (33 €/m2). Option D: Ad-hoc Repair (15 €/m2):  Localized, uncertified patching. The Conclusion:   Option D was highly rejected.  Stakeholders viewed it as a "band-aid" solution. The lack of technical certification makes it unfeasible for industrial insurance and safety standards, as it offers zero predictability regarding the building's future performance or resale value. Scenario 2 options for existing warehouse: a) Life cycle cost assessment and b) Elemental Life cycle assessment. Option A - full replacement (40 €/m²), Option B - repair used panel and postpone new sandwich panel replacement (26 €/m²), Option C - replace with certified reused panels (33 €/m²) and Option D - ad-hoc repair (15 €/m²). 5. Financial Drivers: LCC and LCA Realities CAPEX vs. OPEX:  New panels (High CAPEX) are the safe route, but digital monitoring allows for a shift toward optimized OPEX. By repairing instead of replacing, owners can extend service life, though this requires high-quality data to justify the investment. The Conflict:  LCA data suggests that reuse is the only way to meet aggressive carbon reduction targets. However, the LCC of "delicate deconstruction" often makes the resale price of a reused panel too close to the price of a new one to justify the perceived risk. 6. The Material Passport: A Partial Solution A BIM-integrated Material Passport aims to solve the Information Gap  by recording fire ratings, core composition, and corrosion levels. Example of the layout of a PDF report generated from an IFC material passport. Critique of the Passport Approach: The Material Passport is not a "silver bullet" . Significant hurdles remain: Liability Mismatch:  A passport provides data, but not a legal warranty . If a reused panel fails, the passport-holder is not necessarily the liable party, leaving a legal vacuum. Logistical Friction:  Digital data does not solve the physical problem of storing bulky panels. The "timing mismatch" between supply (demolition) and demand (new construction) remains a major hurdle. Cost of Data:  The labor required for high-tech inspection (drones/sensors) can erode the price advantage of reuse, potentially making the circular option more expensive than virgin material. In the circular economy, a panel without data is just scrap — but a panel with a passport is a proven asset that de-risks the future of construction.

The Challenge of Industrial Durability In the Industry 5.0 landscape, the structural integrity of assets is a critical factor for operational continuity and economic sustainability. At the heart of this issue are sandwich panels — multi-layer construction systems widely adopted in industrial infrastructures due to their thermal efficiency and strength-to-weight ratio. However, exposure to harsh environments subjects these elements to complex degradation. Within the scope of the DigiMaTRIA project, a deep understanding of anomalies is not merely a diagnostic exercise but the engine for creating an intelligent and predictive digital management system. The Degradation Ecosystem: Agents and Mechanisms Research developed by DigiMaTRIA identifies that the durability of sandwich panels is threatened by a synergy of external agents: Chemical Agents and Corrosion:  In coastal or industrial environments, the presence of chlorides, sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$), and high humidity accelerates galvanic and pitting corrosion. These agents attack protective steel layers, leading to section loss and compromising the adhesion between the faces and the core. Physical and Mechanical Agents:  Extreme thermal fluctuations cause differential expansion stresses, resulting in blistering phenomena or core delamination. Additionally, mechanical impacts and wind pressure impose loads that test the shear strength of the insulating material (PUR, PIR, or Mineral Wool). Electromagnetic Agents (UV):  Ultraviolet radiation degrades organic and polymeric coatings, making them brittle and allowing the infiltration of other aggressive agents. Biological Agents:  The development of fungi and microorganisms affects more than just aesthetics; biological activity can produce acidic byproducts that catalyze microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Typology of manipulation mechanisms by external agents, class and example. From Anomalies to Data: The DigiMaTRIA Approach The differentiator of the DigiMaTRIA project lies in the transposition of this physical-chemical knowledge into the digital domain. The detection of anomalies — such as discoloration, visible corrosion, deformation, or detachment — ceases to be a passive observation and becomes a data point in a BIM 7D model (Building Information Modeling focused on maintenance). Project engineering utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) to classify these anomalies through computer vision, trained based on the degradation patterns identified in the literature review. By cross-referencing these images with IoT sensor data, DigiMaTRIA can predict the progression of a pathology before it reaches a critical state of failure. Particle sizes of rust layers on the outer sheet exposed for 2 years to different types of atmospheres. Life Cycle and Intelligent Maintenance For engineers and asset managers, the importance of focusing on anomalies lies in Life Cycle Cost (LCC) optimization. Corrective maintenance is costly and disruptive; the predictive maintenance proposed by DigiMaTRIA is based on the "degradation signature" of each asset. The integration of autonomous robotic agents for inspection allows for systematic and safe data collection, eliminating human error and ensuring that each detected anomaly is geo-referenced in the industrial unit's Digital Twin . Blisters of different sizes on the outside façade of an industrial asset. A New Frontier in Maintenance Engineering Anomalies in sandwich panels are the symptoms of a system under stress. The DigiMaTRIA project elevates the analysis of these failures to a new technological level, where AI-assisted diagnosis and robotic management transform industrial asset preservation into an exact and efficient science. Investing in DigiMaTRIA is an investment in the resilience of industrial infrastructures, ensuring that knowledge of material degradation translates into added value and long-term operational safety. For more information, consult the scientific article presented at CIRMARE 2025 , dedicated to the literature review of sandwich panel anomalies in industrial buildings.

Discover the Digimatria project - Kick-Off meeting with Garcia, Gar.com, ISEP e INESC-TEC What is the Digimatria project? The DigiMaTRIA project proposes a holistic approach to the maintenance of industrial assets. Our main objective is to develop a Digital Twin platform to act as the primary decision support tool for maintenance managers. The Consortium and Project Architecture Led by Garcia, Garcia, a construction company specializing in the industrial sector, this consortium brings together industry and science—with ISEP, INESC TEC, and Gar.com —to develop technologies that integrate the physical asset, the virtual model, and the digital platform, creating a continuous information cycle that supports more informed maintenance decisions. From Inspection to Action Traditional maintenance approaches are being replaced by condition-based predictive maintenance, requiring a digital transformation in maintenance management, supported by digital technologies. The DigiMaTRIA service begins with the collection of industrial asset data using drones with advanced sensors and an IoT network of static sensors that continuously monitors the environmental and structural conditions of the building. The collected information is processed by an artificial intelligence system that, through deep learning, detects and maps anomalies with high precision, predicting the evolution of asset degradation and allowing for the optimization of maintenance interventions. Milestones and Closure The DigiMaTRIA project launch meeting took place on March 27, 2025. With this kick-off, we began a 3-year journey where we will work to validate our solutions in real buildings. DigiMaTRIA promotes a sustainable future, combining digitalization and technological innovation to extend the lifespan of industrial assets. Financing DigiMaTRIA - Digital Management of Industrial Asset Maintenance using Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. Project funded under NORTE 2030 and FEDER, designated NORTE2030-FEDER-00587800, with funding of €989,488.32.

The DIGIMATRIA project held its second consortium meeting at ISEP on November 20th, marking the start of a phase of greater technical involvement among all partners. This meeting, integrated into the planning of the project co-financed by Norte 2030 and the European Commission, allowed for the alignment of priorities and the consolidation of the direction for the coming months.   During the session, the needs of end users—with a focus on maintenance teams—were discussed, as well as alignment with European legislation regarding construction materials and the criteria for characterizing degradation induced by external agents. Principles were also defined for a sensor setup dedicated to the pervasive monitoring of industrial assets, including the use of drones, and the requirements of the digital twin system, which will integrate various existing or future technological components throughout the project, were debated.   The consortium, made up of INESC TEC, ISEP, Garcia, Garcia SA and Gar.COM, plans to implement the first monitored building within the next six months, initiating the integrated validation of the sensor, diagnostic and digital twin modules. 2nd consortium meeting of Digimatria project at ISEP - Garcia, Gar.Com , ISEP, INESC-TEC

The launch of the Portuguese Circularity Cluster (CPC) on November 18th marked a significant moment for the national circular economy ecosystem, bringing together public entities, companies, research centers, and entrepreneurship support structures. Portugal Entering the Circularity Era: The CPC's Impulse The opening session, led by João Nunes, president of CECOLAB, and Aires Pereira, president of the Smart Waste Portugal Association (ASWP), emphasized the strategic importance of the cluster in strengthening the country's competitiveness in an increasingly demanding European context. Both stressed that Portugal needs to accelerate the circular transition and place its initiatives on the European radar, creating critical mass and paving the way for international cooperation. João Nunes - Cecolab CEO. Luísa Magalhães - Smart Waste Portugal CEO. Aires Pereira highlighted the crucial role of ASWP members and the organizations that make up the CPC, recalling that circularity is far from being just an environmental concept: it is an economic, industrial, and cultural transformation. With a national circularity rate still at 2.8%, well below the European average of 11%, he reinforced the urgency of increasing the lifespan of materials, fostering new business models, and actively involving industrial sectors. He also emphasized that the celebration of ASWP's tenth anniversary coincides with a new phase for the country, where the aim is to consolidate circular practices and bring the Portuguese economy closer to the targets set by the European Commission. Aires Pereira - Smart Waste Portugal board member. Following this, Octávio Borges, from the Entrepreneurship and Innovation department of IAPMEI, reinforced the role of clusters as drivers of competitiveness and internationalization. Referring to Portugal's industrial turnover exceeding €112 billion, he emphasized that collaboration between companies—especially large companies, SMEs, and startups—is crucial for achieving growth rates exceeding 35%. He further highlighted that the CPC (Portuguese Cluster Council) can function as a space for coordinating public policies, monitoring opportunities, sharing information on funding, and creating visibility for innovative initiatives. He stated that optimism should not be naive but based on the real capacity to grow through cooperation. Octávio Borges - Head of R&D and Entrepreneurship of IAPMEI. Subsequently, Luís Matias, coordinator of IIBT Pinhal Interior, drew attention to the need to strengthen territorial cohesion. He mentioned that many inland regions carry a feeling of abandonment, but highlighted exemplary cases such as BLC3 in Lagares da Beira, demonstrating that innovation is possible even in less favored territories. The CPC, he stated, can contribute to reducing asymmetries and bringing knowledge, investment, and industry closer together. Luís Matias - IIBT Pinhal Interior coordinator. Alexandra Rodrigues, vice-president of CCDR Centro, added perspectives on fund management, highlighting that the cluster will play a decisive role in identifying and structuring funding opportunities for companies and startups developing solutions for the circular economy. She also reinforced the importance of collaboration with other European clusters and expressed the ambition to create an international fair dedicated to promoting circularity services and technologies, capable of positioning Portugal as a benchmark hub. Alexandra Rodrigues - CCDR Centro vice-president. The formal presentation of the CPC, led by Filipa Figueiredo, executive director of the cluster, framed the strategic and operational vision of this initiative. It defined clear priorities: strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration, boosting joint projects, supporting the green digitalization of companies, and promoting a transition based on scientific evidence and robust metrics. Among the highlighted sectors, the bio-waste, textile, and construction sectors were particularly noteworthy. This introduction established the ideal context for the most anticipated moment of the event: Miguel Brandão's presentation. Filipa Figueiredo - CPC director. CPC ambition on increasing portuguese circularity index from current 2.8% to 5.0% until 2030. Circularity: Between Intuition, Data, and Complexity Professor Miguel Brandão 's keynote address from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm offered an in-depth and thought-provoking perspective on integrated systems assessment, highlighting the complexity of measuring sustainability. Starting with the evolution of global resource use over the last 50 years, he showed that the world is far from reaching a tipping point in reducing the exploitation of raw materials, and that fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy landscape. Despite the growth of renewables, global dependence remains high. Miguel Brandão - Professor at KTH - LCA perspective on circularity. Brandão shared a set of counter-intuitive lessons derived from life cycle assessments (LCA), demonstrating that seemingly sustainable choices can, in certain contexts, generate greater impacts than conventional alternatives. Examples such as the comparison between locally produced versus imported meat, the real impact of biofuels, or the limits of plastic substitution highlight the need for a more rigorous and less intuitive approach. Polymeric material with competitive perfomance on LCA framework compared to alternatives. He emphasized that LCA is not an exact science: there is a multiplicity of possible methods, allocations, and models—identifying more than 12 different ways to structure the same study—which can generate contradictory results. Therefore, he advocated for greater methodological harmonization, more transparency, and the inclusion of socioeconomic impacts, avoiding impact transfers that create illusions of sustainability. Precision and accuracy of LCA methodology demands more from specialists. He also warned of the growing risk of greenwashing, encouraging organizations to base their strategies on robust indicators and not on simplistic narratives. According to the expert, the circular economy only brings real benefits when decisions are based on complete systems and not just parts of the process. Holystic approach on industrial symbiosis can prove economic feasibility of new sub-product fluxes. The closing session, led by José Francisco Rolo, reinforced the local and institutional commitment to the dynamic that the CPC aims to create. Among the dynamism that BLC3 brings to the municipality, he highlighted the work carried out on textile waste and the ambition consolidated 10 years after the distinction at Regiostars in various waste streams. José Francisco Rolo - President of municipality of Oliveira do Hospital. Digimatria and Garcia: Technology, Materials and Circularity (in construction) in Action The possibilities for synergy between CPC and the work developed by Garcia (in construction) are revealed in two complementary areas. In the Digimatria project , the exploratory reconstruction of the digital twin of coatings and the predictive maintenance of industrial buildings allow for a significant extension of the service life of facades and roofs. Digimatria present on CPC launch - Group Garcia. Meanwhile, at Garcia , the search for truly circular solutions is already materializing in concrete examples. The Circular Base , resulting from an industrial symbiosis between LIPOR and Harsco, demonstrates how downgraded waste products can give rise to a high-performance mechanical material, capable of competing with traditional solutions while incorporating principles of deep circularity. Together, these approaches — extending the lifespan of materials and creating robust circular materials — reflect the potential of the construction sector to transform practices and accelerate the transition that CPC aims to drive.

On March 27th, the DigiMaTRIA partners met at Garcia's facilities to kick off the project: Garcia, Gar.Com, ISEP, and INESC TEC. Together, we are developing an innovative Digital Twin to support predictive maintenance of the building envelope of industrial buildings. We are excited to be working together on this transformative project – follow us on LinkedIn for more updates ! 🌍🔧 Hashtag: #DigitalTwin #PredictiveMaintenance #Innovation #Construction #Technology