Browsing by Author "Gallage, SD"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8

item: Conference-Full-text
Adoptability of bioplastic as a sustainable material in Sri Lankan building construction industry
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Muhammed, NS; Gallage, SD; Eranga, BAI; Madushanka, TH
The Sri Lankan construction industry is facing significant challenges in building construction projects due to the negative impacts of using traditional building materials. Consequently, there has been a surge of interest in sustainable materials, and among them, bioplastics have emerged as a promising alternative. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of bioplastics as a sustainable building material specifically for the Sri Lankan construction industry. To achieve this, the study applied a qualitative research approach to collect data through semi-structured interviews. The research objectives are to identify alternative sustainable materials used in construction and identify how bioplastics could contribute to the construction industry as ta sustainable material. In addition to that, the study also identifies the motivators and challenges to the use of polymer building materials in Sri Lanka and subsequently develop a framework including potential strategies to use bioplastic as a sustainable construction material. The study's findings have identified significant factors that establish bioplastics as a sustainable material suitable for the Sri Lankan construction sector. Moreover, the research offers valuable recommendations to address challenges related to the adoption of polymer building materials. Furthermore, the study would contribute to the formulation of policies and regulations that promote the use of bioplastics as a sustainable building material.
item: Conference-Abstract
Applicability of polymer building materials for productivity enhancement and cost reduction in Sri Lankan building industry
(2021-07) Wijeratne, SD; Devapriya, KAK; Gallage, SD
Building construction contributes to a substantial consumption of raw materials compared to other sectors in Sri Lanka. Despite the excessive consumption of raw materials, industry is suffering due to low productivity and economic inefficiency. Thus, the circumstance has led to employ alternative building materials to overcome productivity and cost inefficiency with favourable impacts on sustainability. Polymer has become a global phenomenon with increasing demand as sustainable alternative. Polymer facilitates multiple applications in building construction due to its supreme properties and characteristics. Thus, this research focused develop a quantitative model based on factors related to productivity enhancement and cost reduction to measure the applicability of polymer materials in Sri Lankan building construction. A mixed approach consisting of semi structured interviews followed by a questionnaire survey was adapted for conduct this study. 12 experts were selected for the semi structured interviews and 34 respondents participated for the questionnaire survey. The significance of favourable impact to the productivity and cost efficiency of using polymer materials have been identified in the study. The study discussed the applicability of polymer types in building sector in Sri Lanka and derived resulted in a quantitative model to measure applicability of polymer adoption in the terms of productivity and cost related factors. Study concluded that inherent properties of polymers, buildability, ability to prefabricate, life cycle cost, handling would improve the applicability to local context. Further, relationship identified through the regression model would assist practitioners to select polymer materials while enabling researchers to improve the quality of the products.
item: Conference-Full-text
Challenges for project selection and execution of public-private partnership projects in Sri Lanka
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Kavinda, SAC; Gallage, SD; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) have grown in popularity in developing countries as a means of engaging the private sector in the building of public infrastructure. Determining the most suitable PPP model for construction projects in Sri Lanka is challenging due to the unique economic, social, and political context of the country. To identify these challenges, the research adopted a mixed approach, with questionnaire surveys, and expert interviews utilised to obtain data. Six expert interviews with experts who have more than 15 years of expertise in the field were selected for the preliminary survey, and forty-three project managers, engineers, quantity surveyors, and procurement specialists who were involved with PPP projects were subsequently selected for the questionnaire survey. Manual content analysis was used to examine the interview results. Relative Importance Index (RII) and manual content analysis were both applied to evaluate the questionnaires. The results disclosed that selecting a PPP project depends on several factors. Those Selection factors were categorised under economical, technical, legal, financial, and environmental considerations. Additionally, ten challenges were identified with the selection and execution of PPP projects to implement a selection criterion for PPP projects. Overall, a comprehensive assessment of the project's economic, technical, legal, financial, and environmental implications should serve as the foundation for the selection criteria as the recommendation. These findings will aid industry professionals in selecting a PPP project that will promote long-term economic growth in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Full-text
Comparative study of work-related factors affecting mental well-being of male and female construction workers in Australia
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Tennakoon, M; Samaraweera, A; Colangelo, T; Sharma, S; Tiller, J; Zeller, J; Gallage, SD
The construction industry is long perceived as physically demanding, and less consideration has been given to the mental well-being of the construction workers. The increasing number of mental health concerns urges the research to expand their focus from work health, safety and accident prevention to the “physio-social effects” on workers’ well-being. Hence, this research aims to explore the effect of work-related factors on the mental well-being of male and female construction workers. After a thorough literature review to set the background, a qualitative research approach was adopted as the methodology. Sixteen participants across two cases were interviewed, and the sample is an equal representation of male and female construction workers in Australia. Factors affecting mental well-being are recognised under five themes through the content analysis of the case study results, including the machoism characteristics of the industry culture; the high-risk and fast-paced work environment; financial stability and financial literacy; uneven workload and unconventionally long working hours; and the involvement of the employer’s management in reassuring the mental well-being. The key implication is that the same inherent machismo cultural characteristics of the Australian construction industry distinctly affect the mental well-being of male and female construction workers. The unpredictability of casual and contract-based appointments causes low job security and financial stability among male workers leading to financial stress. The current study emphasises that a one-stop approach to address the mental health issues of male and female construction workers is ineffective and proposes further in-depth research under the emerged themes of the research.
item: Conference-Full-text
Feasibility of web-based microservices architecture for contract document drafting
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Dalugoda, TP; Gallage, SD; Bandaranayake, DMLN; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
This study investigates the feasibility of utilising web-based microservices architecture (MSA) for contract document drafting in the construction industry. The research aims to identify essential selection parameters for contracts, address challenges in manual drafting, and determine necessary features for MSA integration. Through interviews with industry professionals and a comprehensive literature review, the study uncovered key parameters such as project size, type, procurement method, and design responsibility, with jurisdiction emerging as a significant factor. Challenges in manual drafting included human errors, stakeholder delays, and inefficiencies in existing tools, particularly regarding document tracking and security. Desired features for a microservices-based solution included version control, real-time collaboration, machine learning capabilities, and customisable data validation. Current technologies are often fragmented and lacking cohesive integration, which MSA could address by modularising features and improving overall efficiency. The findings suggest that MSA could enhance contract management by offering a more integrated, secure, and efficient solution. This study provides valuable insights for construction industry practitioners seeking to improve document handling and offers a foundation for further research into MSA applications and their impact on legal drafting processes.
item: Conference-Full-text
Influence of BOI approvals on cost and time aspect of apartment construction in Sri Lanka
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Gurusinghe, HR; Gallage, SD; Dalugoda, TP; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
This study investigates the influence of the Board of Investment (BOI) approval process on the cost and time aspects of apartment construction projects in Sri Lanka. The research aims to identify the specific challenges and factors associated with BOI approvals that impact project timelines and budgets. Utilising semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey, the study gathers insights from industry experts and practitioners, revealing that the BOI approval process varies with project types and involves diverse requirements such as UDA, SLTDA, and environmental approvals. Despite recent BOI initiatives to expedite approvals, delays persist, often leading to the expiration of BOI concessions and subsequent cost increases. A comprehensive framework was developed to summarise these findings, highlighting the critical cost and time-related factors at different project stages. The implications for industry practitioners include better preparation for BOI-related challenges, while academia and policymakers can use these insights to enhance understanding and refine regulatory processes. Limitations include a limited sample size and a focus on qualitative data. Future research could expand the scope and incorporate quantitative methods to validate and extend these findings.
item: Conference-Full-text
Potential use of digital twin for construction progress monitoring
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Amirthavarshan, K; Gallage, SD; Costa, MDD; Eranga, BAI
The digital twin (DT) presents an opportunity for the integration of the physical world into the digital world. DT technology has the potential to transform the construction industry and respond to some of its challenges. In conventional construction projects, progress is largely monitored by direct observation and measurement which suffers from numerous challenges, including low productivity, blunders, and poor technology advancements. Concerns are now being raised about integrating technology for autonomously monitoring building activity. In other sectors, DT technology has been responsible for saving product development time and costs by up to 50%. However, DT is still lagging the adoption of new technologies in the construction industry. The overarching aim of this study was to explore the adaptability of DT in construction site progress monitoring. This study comprehensively reviews and analyses DT concepts, technologies, and applications in the construction industry, parameters of applications of DT in construction site progress monitoring, how DT could be used for site progress monitoring in construction, common challenges in the implementation of DT in site progress monitoring, and strategies such as barriers related to DT in site progress monitoring, using literature findings while incorporating qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews. This research shows that DT has a high potential to solve the numerous challenges in construction site progress monitoring, rather than other current technologies in use. Thus, this study raises awareness and the need for the application of DT in construction site progress monitoring
item: Conference-Full-text
Risk management in Sri Lankan SME construction sector: identifying barriers and enablers
(Department of Building Economics, 2024) Bandaranaike, BB; Gallage, SD; Sivanraj, S; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Ranadewa, KATO; Chandanie, H
This study investigates risk management practices in the SME construction sector in Sri Lanka, aiming to identify critical issues, enablers, and barriers. Through a mixed-method approach comprising expert interviews and a questionnaire survey, the research highlights significant risk management (RM) challenges unique to the Sri Lankan context. Key findings indicate that economic instability, lack of education in organisational management, and reliance on experience-based practices are major obstacles to effective RM. The study identifies "unawareness of available practices" and "keeping outdated procedures" as the most severe barriers to RM implementation. Unlike global literature, which often emphasizes financial constraints and time limitations, this research underscores the critical role of awareness and procedural updates in Sri Lanka's small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. The findings have implications for industry practitioners, academics, and policymakers, emphasising the need for targeted RM training, supportive regulations, and localised RM strategies. Limitations of the study include a small sample size and a focus on SME contractors in Sri Lanka, suggesting the need for further research in different contexts.