Dirt-Master

AI Quick Summary

🛑 ProblemIn the Canton of Zurich, around 4 million m³ of clean excavated material is generated annually. Most of it ends up in remote gravel pits or landfills, leading to:High CO₂ emissions Rising operational costs / Inefficient use of valuable resourcesA missed opportunity to promote circular construction practices✅ SolutionDirt-Master is a smart logistics platform that directly connects construction sites to exchange excavated material — locally, efficiently, and without interim landfill storage.The platform:Matches supply and demand in real timeOptimizes transport logistics to reduce emissions and costsActively supports a circular economy in the construction sector🎯 GoalDirt-Master aims to build a scalable and economically viable infrastructure that:Enables circular use of excavated materials Reduces CO₂ emissions, transport costsMinimizes manual effort for construction companies through automation Dirt-Master is a digital logistics platform that enables the circular use of clean excavated material by directly connecting construction sites, transport companies, and other stakeholders. It reduces waste, CO₂ emissions, and costs by matching supply and demand regionally—without relying on interim landfilling. The platform brings together all actors in one ecosystem, making material flows in the construction industry smarter, greener, and more efficient.What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address? Dirt-Master addresses the lack of digital solutions in circular construction by connecting excavation material sources and receivers via a smart platform. It digitizes logistics, reduces administrative effort, and enables real-time matching to keep valuable materials in use—minimizing waste and supporting circular building practices.What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem? The vision is to digitally transform how clean excavated material is managed in the construction industry. Dirt-Master is a smart logistics platform that enables direct, local exchange of reusable material between construction sites—without interim landfilling. By integrating real-time data, route optimization, and automated matching, the platform creates a closed-loop system that supports circular building practices while reducing CO₂ emissions, transport costs, and administrative burden.What makes Dirt-Master innovative is its holistic, ecosystem-based approach. It brings together all key stakeholders—construction companies, transport providers, material testing experts, and public authorities—on a single digital platform. While circularity in construction is a growing topic, scalable, practical tools are still missing. Dirt-Master fills this gap with a “one-stop solution” for smart material logistics.The platform benefits multiple actors:Construction companies save time, reduce costs, and manage logistics, compliance, and material needs all in one place.Transport providers benefit from optimized routing and fewer empty trips.Public authorities gain a tool that helps meet regulatory and sustainability targets.The environment profits from less waste, fewer emissions, and smarter resource use.Dirt-Master unlocks the full potential of circular construction—digitally, transparently, and efficiently.How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (e.g., circularity, reducing waste, improving health, creating opportunities) Dirt-Master promotes circularity in construction by keeping clean excavated material in use. It reduces waste, CO₂ emissions, and resource consumption by enabling local reuse instead of long-distance disposal. The platform lowers costs and creates economic opportunities for construction and logistics companies. By simplifying coordination and reducing noise and traffic in urban areas, it also improves working conditions and the quality of life for local communities. In the long term, Dirt-Master supports a more resilient, sustainable, and efficient construction ecosystem.What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? (e.g., feasibility testing, prototype development, testing desirability) As part of a Master’s thesis, I have already conducted an in-depth market analysis and validated the need for a digital solution in circular construction logistics. Currently, I am working on a click-dummy prototype that illustrates the core functionalities of the platform.During the Booster program, I aim to further develop and refine the prototype in collaboration with potential users and partners from the construction and transport sectors. This phase will focus on testing usability, process logic, and desirability—ensuring that the platform truly addresses the pain points of all stakeholders.Additionally, I want to test key assumptions regarding user behavior, platform acceptance, and partner integration, especially around the coordination of excavated material flows, transport logistics, and regulatory compliance.The goal by the end of the program is to have a validated, user-oriented prototype that is ready for a real-world test phase starting at the end of the year. This will be an important step toward launching a scalable digital solution that supports circularity, reduces CO₂, and brings measurable value to the construction industry.Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested? The idea has not been directly tested yet, but similar practices already exist on a small scale. Currently, the exchange of clean excavated material happens manually—via phone calls, personal contacts, and within a small, informal network. There is no structured or digital solution in place. Dirt-Master aims to scale and automate this process, making it accessible to a wider range of users. What still needs to be tested is the usability of the platform, digital process acceptance, and the willingness of stakeholders to collaborate through an open, transparent system.Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring? I am a civil engineer specialized in infrastructure and sustainable construction, with many years of practical experience in construction materials and site logistics—topics that shape my daily work life. In addition, I hold a Master’s degree in Business Administration & Engineering, which enables me to professionally manage the administrative, strategic, and organizational aspects of the project.For the technical implementation, I am supported by the teams from Fast-Tool AG and d-fine ag—both experienced service providers. They contribute extensive expertise in platform development, UX/UI design, and backend programming, and are actively involved in developing and refining the prototype.This combination of industry-specific expertise and technical development know-how provides a strong foundation to successfully build and scale Dirt-Master.How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required? I am currently in contact with several interested parties. The core idea is to secure third-party funding by involving construction and transport companies as strategic partners. Their financial contribution is not only intended as investment, but also to ensure active use and dissemination of the platform. By participating early, these companies will be directly involved in shaping the solution and will benefit from its long-term value—both operationally and economically.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: Dirt-Master
• Date: 4/7/2025 6:07:17 PM
• Administrators:
  • Ardita Shala

Project Idea Description

Dirt-Master is a digital logistics platform that enables the circular use of clean excavated material by directly connecting construction sites, transport companies, and other stakeholders. It reduces waste, CO₂ emissions, and costs by matching supply and demand regionally—without relying on interim landfilling. The platform brings together all actors in one ecosystem, making material flows in the construction industry smarter, greener, and more efficient.

What challenge in the circular building and construction industry does your idea address?

Dirt-Master addresses the lack of digital solutions in circular construction by connecting excavation material sources and receivers via a smart platform. It digitizes logistics, reduces administrative effort, and enables real-time matching to keep valuable materials in use—minimizing waste and supporting circular building practices.

What is your vision for solving this challenge, and why is your approach innovative? Who will benefit from a solution to this problem?

The vision is to digitally transform how clean excavated material is managed in the construction industry. Dirt-Master is a smart logistics platform that enables direct, local exchange of reusable material between construction sites—without interim landfilling. By integrating real-time data, route optimization, and automated matching, the platform creates a closed-loop system that supports circular building practices while reducing CO₂ emissions, transport costs, and administrative burden.

What makes Dirt-Master innovative is its holistic, ecosystem-based approach. It brings together all key stakeholders—construction companies, transport providers, material testing experts, and public authorities—on a single digital platform. While circularity in construction is a growing topic, scalable, practical tools are still missing. Dirt-Master fills this gap with a “one-stop solution” for smart material logistics.

The platform benefits multiple actors:

• Construction companies save time, reduce costs, and manage logistics, compliance, and material needs all in one place.
• Transport providers benefit from optimized routing and fewer empty trips.
• Public authorities gain a tool that helps meet regulatory and sustainability targets.
• The environment profits from less waste, fewer emissions, and smarter resource use.

Dirt-Master unlocks the full potential of circular construction—digitally, transparently, and efficiently.

How could your idea positively impact the planet, people, or economy in the future? (e.g., circularity, reducing waste, improving health, creating opportunities)

Dirt-Master promotes circularity in construction by keeping clean excavated material in use. It reduces waste, CO₂ emissions, and resource consumption by enabling local reuse instead of long-distance disposal. The platform lowers costs and creates economic opportunities for construction and logistics companies. By simplifying coordination and reducing noise and traffic in urban areas, it also improves working conditions and the quality of life for local communities. In the long term, Dirt-Master supports a more resilient, sustainable, and efficient construction ecosystem.

What assumptions or ideas do you want to test? What do you plan to work on during the booster program, and what is your goal to deliver at the end? (e.g., feasibility testing, prototype development, testing desirability)

As part of a Master’s thesis, I have already conducted an in-depth market analysis and validated the need for a digital solution in circular construction logistics. Currently, I am working on a click-dummy prototype that illustrates the core functionalities of the platform.

During the Booster program, I aim to further develop and refine the prototype in collaboration with potential users and partners from the construction and transport sectors. This phase will focus on testing usability, process logic, and desirability—ensuring that the platform truly addresses the pain points of all stakeholders.

Additionally, I want to test key assumptions regarding user behavior, platform acceptance, and partner integration, especially around the coordination of excavated material flows, transport logistics, and regulatory compliance.

The goal by the end of the program is to have a validated, user-oriented prototype that is ready for a real-world test phase starting at the end of the year. This will be an important step toward launching a scalable digital solution that supports circularity, reduces CO₂, and brings measurable value to the construction industry.

Has your idea been tested before? If yes, what were the results, and what remains to be tested?

The idea has not been directly tested yet, but similar practices already exist on a small scale. Currently, the exchange of clean excavated material happens manually—via phone calls, personal contacts, and within a small, informal network. There is no structured or digital solution in place. Dirt-Master aims to scale and automate this process, making it accessible to a wider range of users. What still needs to be tested is the usability of the platform, digital process acceptance, and the willingness of stakeholders to collaborate through an open, transparent system.

Who is in your team, and what expertise or roles do they bring?

I am a civil engineer specialized in infrastructure and sustainable construction, with many years of practical experience in construction materials and site logistics—topics that shape my daily work life. In addition, I hold a Master’s degree in Business Administration & Engineering, which enables me to professionally manage the administrative, strategic, and organizational aspects of the project.

For the technical implementation, I am supported by the teams from Fast-Tool AG and d-fine ag—both experienced service providers. They contribute extensive expertise in platform development, UX/UI design, and backend programming, and are actively involved in developing and refining the prototype.

This combination of industry-specific expertise and technical development know-how provides a strong foundation to successfully build and scale Dirt-Master.

How do you plan to secure the 10% third-party funding required?

I am currently in contact with several interested parties. The core idea is to secure third-party funding by involving construction and transport companies as strategic partners. Their financial contribution is not only intended as investment, but also to ensure active use and dissemination of the platform. By participating early, these companies will be directly involved in shaping the solution and will benefit from its long-term value—both operationally and economically.

🛑 Problem

In the Canton of Zurich, around 4 million m³ of clean excavated material is generated annually.

Most of it ends up in remote gravel pits or landfills, leading to:

• • High CO₂ emissions
  • Rising operational costs / Inefficient use of valuable resources
  • A missed opportunity to promote circular construction practices

✅ Solution

Dirt-Master is a smart logistics platform that directly connects construction sites to exchange excavated material — locally, efficiently, and without interim landfill storage.

The platform:

• • Matches supply and demand in real time
  • Optimizes transport logistics to reduce emissions and costs
  • Actively supports a circular economy in the construction sector

🎯 Goal

Dirt-Master aims to build a scalable and economically viable infrastructure that:

• • Enables circular use of excavated materials
  • Reduces CO₂ emissions, transport costs
  • Minimizes manual effort for construction companies through automation