Browsing by Author "Fernando, SMH"

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Impact of use of sustainable materials on road construction
(Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, 2024) Sayanthan, T; Perera, BAKS; Fernando, SMH
The growing emphasis on sustainability has highlighted the importance of eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches, particularly in road construction, where the use of renewable, earth-derived materials is encouraged. However, some professionals still believe that using sustainable materials may adversely affect project outcomes in terms of cost and quality. In line with that, this study aims to investigate the impact of incorporating sustainable materials on road construction projects. The study uses a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews, utilising the Delphi technique with two rounds of expert interviews to gather empirical data, which is then analysed using content analysis. Findings reveal that construction and demolition waste, recycled tyres, waste plastics, fly ash, recycled glass, polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles, asphalt shingles, cement kiln dust, colliery spoils, recycled asphalt, and warm mix asphalt are the commonly used sustainable materials in road construction. Furthermore, the study identified eleven positive impacts and sixteen negative impacts of using sustainable materials in road construction, which were later classified under each commonly used sustainable material. Overall, this study contributes to advancing knowledge in sustainable road construction, guiding future research and decision-making in the field, and encouraging the use of sustainable materials to promote environmental responsibility.
item: Conference-Full-text
Investigating community-based participatory design approaches in planning and constructing public community facilities: a scoping review
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Fernando, SMH; Fernando, YI; Kulatunga, U; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
The construction industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards Community-Based Participatory Design (CBPD) approaches, deviating from traditional top-down methodologies. CBPD prioritises local knowledge and perspectives, encouraging inclusive collaboration among stakeholders. With the aim of investigating different CBPD approaches in planning and constructing public community facilities, focusing on their applicability, benefits, and limitations, this study employed a Scoping Review Methodology. Scopus and Web of Science databases were used to identify the papers with the use of predefined keywords. Following the screening process, 30 relevant research studies were analysed. Findings revealed that CBPD approaches offer several benefits, including promoting democratic decision-making, sustainable development, and community empowerment, ultimately enhancing the inclusivity and effectiveness of infrastructure projects. Simultaneously, limitations were identified, including navigating power dynamics, reconciling stakeholder interests, addressing scalability concerns, and overcoming resource constraints. Real-life examples and case studies were thoroughly analysed to identify the applicability of CBPD approaches and the importance of implementing such approaches in public community facilities. Based on the findings as well as the identification of gaps, future research areas were proposed.