Browsing by Author "Asmone, AS"

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item: Conference-Full-text
Applicability of circular economy for the electronic waste minimization in Sri Lankan office buildings
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2022-12-02) Mafra, MTF; Gowsiga, M; Asmone, AS; Dilogini, RAA
Electronic equipment is one of the world’s fastest-growing waste types. Office buildings can be identified as a major contributor to the electronic waste generation of any country, including Sri Lanka. Several electronic waste management strategies are utilised around the world, including landfilling and incineration, export, urban mining, 3R concept, extended producer responsibility, and circular economy. Among all, the circular economy is considered the best approach for minimising electronic waste in an office building. However, the circular economy concept is not widely used in Sri Lanka. Hence, this research aims to examine the applicability of the circular economy for electronic waste minimisation in Sri Lankan office buildings. To collect the required data, a comprehensive literature review was carried out initially, followed by a questionnaire survey and expert interviews. Manual content analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The findings revealed that the barriers to implementing the circular economy are high cost, lack of skilled labour, limited rules and regulation, limited rules and regulation on the circular economy, lack of continuous monitoring system when issuing the license, and lack of allocated resources for research on the circular economy. Further, conducting awareness-raising campaigns, using electronic equipment responsibly, and enacting electronic waste-related legislations were suggested for the better implementation of a circular economy in Sri Lankan office buildings.
item: Conference-Full-text
Applicability of recycling and resource recovery for solid waste of Sri Lankan supermarkets
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Bandara, KGMB; Gowsiga, M; Asmone, AS; Dilogini, RAA
Every day, supermarkets create municipal solid waste, which makes up about 25% of all solid waste made in urban areas of Sri Lanka. Poor waste management in Sri Lankan supermarkets can have a big effect on greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and public health by contaminating water, soil, and the air. To address this challenge, recycling, and resource recovery are two of the best sustainable waste management practices. Hence, the study aims to investigate the applicability of recycling and resource recovery techniques for Sri Lankan supermarket solid wastes. The research choice adopted in this study was a mixed method with a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. A questionnaire survey with 70 participants from top-level management, middle management, and the front-line staff was conducted to identify waste types and management practices, and a semi-structured interview with three professionals who have experience in this field was conducted to validate the survey. Further statistical analysis and manual content analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the main waste types generated by Sri Lankan supermarkets are food, plastic, polythene, paper, and cardboard. Biogas and composting were found to be the most applicable on-site resource recovery techniques for these types of waste, and other techniques such as gasification, deinking for paper recycling, and recycling of plastic and polythene waste required the involvement of third-party resource recovery plants. The study can aid researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in coming up with and using waste management policies, laws, and guidelines for Sri Lankan supermarkets and other similar contexts.
item: Conference-Abstract
Effect of Albedo on surface temperature of concrete interlocking paving blocks in mitigating urban heat islands
Asmone, AS; Chandrathilake, SRMSR; Halwatura, RU
Out of the environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities and urbanization, urban heat island effect (UHEE) is considered most prominent and is identified to have many socio-economic implications, such as; deterioration of living environment, increased energy demand, elevation of ground level ozone and smog - events, adverse health conditions and even increase in mortality rates. The progressive replacement 6{f f natural environment is identified as a major cause of UHIE. Pavements are identified as a countermeasure to reduce urban heat, whereas this paper evaluates how existing pavements can be modified tiding surface treatments and how much a reduction of urban heat can be expected from that using surface energy balance model. Experimental measurements were taken of different coloured (albedo) pavers, and how it affects the ® surface temperature of the installations. It was identified that lighter coloured surfaces are cooler than conventional dark pavements; hence albedo can be used in countering the effects of UHL However, considerations have to be made about the decrease in surface albedo with traffic and weathering of pavers., This study was limited to surface thermal properties of concrete interlocking pavement blocks in tropical +1 climate conditions, which can be used in green building design and construction projects in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Full-text
Market feasibility and practicability assessment of rubberised bitumen for Sri Lankan road pavements
(Ceylon Institute of Builders, 2014-06) Thiwanka, RAY; Chandrathilake, SRMSR; Asmone, AS; Sandanayake, YG; Karunasena, GI; Fernando, NG
Conventional Bitumen (CB) has limitations in Sri Lankan context due to its tropical climate, as CB’s low stiffness modulus, low softening point, low viscosity, high temperature susceptibility and poor cohesion properties are aggravated in this environment. This leads to cracks on the road surfaces, which subsequently leads to surface failure because of frequent heavy rains in the region. Therefore, to avoid the adverse properties of CB, the technical feasibility of modifying bitumen with natural rubber and crumb rubber has been studied recently. However, the question remains whether these options are economically feasible in the Sri Lankan context. This paper presents a study which was carried out focusing the above issue. The study was carried out based on a preliminary literature review on the use of Natural Rubber Modified Bitumen (NRMB) and Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB) to identify technical feasibility and impacts, and an expert opinion survey with academic and industrial experts in the Highway field to identify the impacts. These impacts were identified in three categories, i.e. Economic, Social and Environmental. Comparing the economic impacts and lifecycle cost aspects it was concluded that NRMB and CRMB are more economically feasible over CB. Moreover, during the study NRMB and CRMB were found to be more environmentally and socially feasible as well. CRMB further provides additional benefits as it uses recycled rubber, which in turn reduces environmental and social issues created by waste tyres. Furthermore, CRMB has a lower cost of modification compared to the NRMB. Owing to these aspects and the prevailing market situation, it was concluded that CRMB is more appropriate to Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Full-text
A Taxonomy of waterproofing systems for high-rise building projects in the tropics
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Senarathne, HNY; Asmone, AS
The building construction is the most significant sector that has acquired significant attention in recent years among the various construction industries and the necessity of erection of high-rise buildings was emphasised because of the restricted space in urban areas. Since the unique and complex characteristics are involved in a building project, the structure must be strong enough in terms of its durability, stability as well as the appearance. Accordingly, water is the most persistent opponent of a high-rise building, and gradually, building components might erode, compromising their structure and requiring costly repairs. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the choice of the best waterproofing system in high-rise building projects in the tropics. Semi structured interviews were used to determine how the factors affected the choice of waterproofing. All respondents were project managers or engineers with extensive backgrounds in the building sector and expertise in waterproofing. Collected data were analysed using manual content analysis. The taxonomy was created using the opinions of experts and contractors on the choice of waterproofing. The most important category in the Taxonomy was related to detailing technology, while the least important category was related to legal requirements and compliance.
item: Conference-Full-text
Utilising smart visitor management system to enhance sustainable practices in high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Chandani, GGN; Asmone, AS
With the growing importance of sustainability and environmental conservation, effectively managing visitor flows in high-rise buildings poses unique challenges and opportunities. Smart visitor management systems (SVMSs) offer innovative solutions to optimise resource allocation, minimise waste generation, and promote eco-friendly practices in this context. Through an in-depth analysis of relevant data, case studies, and expert perspectives, this study investigates the implementation and potential benefits of smart visitor management systems (SVMSs) in high-rise buildings, with a specific emphasis on sustainability. The findings reveal that the adoption of these systems can lead to significant positive impacts, including improved energy efficiency through intelligent lighting and HVAC controls, reduced carbon emissions by streamlining transportation and parking, enhanced waste management through digital registrations and real-time monitoring, and improved visitor experiences through streamlined check-ins and personalised services. Moreover, the integration of smart visitor management systems (SVMSs) enables high-rise buildings to achieve sustainability certifications and contribute to the overall environmental goals of Sri Lanka. The article also addresses the potential challenges and considerations associated with implementing these systems, such as data security and privacy concerns, initial investment costs, and the need for stakeholder collaboration. The insights derived from this study provide valuable guidance for building owners, facility managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders involved in sustainable practices in high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka and similar contexts.