DRF Lunchtime Clinic - Dr Svetlana Besklubova

We are delighted to present our new Digital Roads Senior Research Associate in Digital Twins, Dr Svetlana Besklubova, at the DRF Lunchtime Clinic. Lana will be speaking on Revolutionising Construction: Smart BIM and Carbon-neutral Solutions for Waste Recycling. Come and join us to find out more about Lana's research interests and background.

Abstract:

The construction industry significantly contributes to environmental degradation through substantial waste generation and CO2 emissions, particularly from demolished concrete and cement production. This study investigates the integration of Smart Building Information Modelling (BIM) and carbon-neutral technologies to advance sustainable construction waste recycling, addressing deficiencies in current waste management practices. By combining active carbonation techniques—utilizing flue gas to recycle demolished concrete by-products (waste concrete powder and aggregates)—with Smart BIM’s advanced functionalities, including IoT-enabled waste quantification, demolition planning, and optimized disposal route selection, this research proposes a holistic framework for sustainable waste management. This approach alleviates pressure on Hong Kong’s limited landfill capacity and promotes carbon neutrality in construction material cycles. The findings provide engineers and planners with actionable insights and decision-making tools to implement sustainable practices, aligning with global environmental objectives. 

Bio:

Dr. Svetlana (Lana) Besklubova is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering, where she leads efforts in developing Digital Twins for roads, focusing on planning and design. She earned her PhD in Civil Engineering from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 2020 and completed postdoctoral research at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in Data and Systems Engineering. With over 30 papers published in top journals and presented at leading conferences, she has secured grants for initiatives like Hong Kong’s Public Policy Research (PPR) and Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), while managing large-scale ITF projects. Dr. Besklubova has supervised 47 Master’s students and mentored PhD candidates from Hong Kong, Slovenia, and the UK, while contributing to global conferences as Scientific Committee Member for SASBE 2025 and Area Chair for ISARC 2025.