Mapping WA’s circular economy Stage 2: Transport Infrastructure

This project builds upon the research outputs of an earlier iMOVE project, Mapping WA’s circular economy Stage 1: Achieving Net Zero. The second stage of this project focuses on the transport infrastructure sector through quantifying regional material flows, enhancing built stock modelling for transport infrastructure, and forecasting future material requirements for this sector.

In parallel, this project will continue developing a multi-level indicator framework aligned with state and national priorities through mapping regional supply chain networks, integrating waste management systems into an economy-wide lifecycle framework, enabling the calculation of circularity rates and developing a digital monitor prototype.

This work will further contribute to embedding circular economy principles into WA’s infrastructure planning and environmental policy by developing consistent and locally grounded indicators and decision-support frameworks.

Through the creation of high-resolution material flow accounts, built stock datasets, and preliminary digital monitoring interfaces, the project will support the achievement of net zero emissions reduction and resource-efficiency targets at both state and national levels.

Participants

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure
• University of Western Australia / PATREC

Project background

Circular economy strategies are increasingly important to mitigate waste and keep materials in use, reducing the need for virgin materials. A systems-wide approach, supported by a consistent multi-level indicator framework is critical to supporting evidence-based decision making and monitoring progress towards enhanced circularity at the city and regional level.

This project builds on the foundational research conducted in iMOVE project #6-025 “Mapping the Circular Economy of WA: Stage 1” and focuses on development and use cases focused on the transport infrastructure sector. The Stage 1 project provided a high-level overview and understanding of the materials footprint and socioeconomic metabolism of Greater Perth within the wider WA context.

This subsequent project will provide an enhanced understanding of circularity specifically within the transport infrastructure sector. This supports WA’s strategies and policies towards waste avoidance, resource recovery, and a low carbon transition, aligning with national and international priorities.

Project objectives

The objectives of this project are to:

• Enhance the understanding of the circular economy of the transport infrastructure sector through a detailed assessment, including:
  • Enhancing built stock accounts for the transport infrastructure sector
  • Forecasting material requirements and circularity opportunities under future transport infrastructure scenarios.
• Contribute to embedding circular economy principles into WA’s infrastructure planning and climate policy through the further development of the WA multi-level indicator and monitoring framework, including:
• Mapping regional supply chain networks
• Integrating waste management systems into an economy-wide lifecycle framework, enabling the calculation of circularity rates
• Aligning the multi-level indicator framework with the National Circular Economy Framework
• Presenting a prototype for a digital monitoring framework.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!