CIRCUIT is conceptualized around four pillars, namely (1) Digitalisation, (2) Recycle, (3) Reuse in (4) Energy. These pillars are incorporated into five TRL7 demonstration pilots, one of which is located in Slovenia while the other four are located in Croatia, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
The Slovenian pilot, The Bistra Creek Bridge, is devised in collaboration between the Municipality of Črna na Koroškem and ZAG. The pilot proposes to build a small bridge over a torrential creek Bistra serving a local road. It addresses project pillars 1, 2 and 3 and also aims to demonstrate green public procurement and public procurement through the innovation partnership.
The bridge will incorporate three innovative technologies, namely:
- Abutments of geo-reinforced soil with vertical concrete front and infill from a secondary source (pillar 3). This type of abutments improves the resilience of infrastructure against floods, which is also one of the call objectives;
- Modular superstructure comprising reclaimed girders (pillar 3) and prefabricated slabs made of recycled materials (pillar 2) and designed for disassembly and reuse (pillar 3);
- Safety wall fabricated with digital additive technology colloquially referred to as 3D printing (pillar 1). It will utilize cement-based material incorporating recycled components (pillar 2).
Due to recent extreme floods in Črna the pilot will most likely be modified to some extent.