Browsing by Author "Kajavathani, P"

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item: Conference-Full-text
Alternative materials for sustainable road construction in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Kodithuwakku, HDDP; Ramachandra, T; Kajavathani, P
The current socioeconomic demand requires adequate engineering performance and environmentally friendly materials from the perspective of sustainable development. The scarcity of conventional natural resources and the severe environmental consequences of extraction have prompted research into alternative materials and resources for use in the road industry. Based on the findings of the existing studies, this research aims to explore the suitability of alternative materials for road construction projects towards sustainability in Sri Lanka. A quantitative research strategy was employed in the current study, and the questionnaire was distributed among 44 professionals involved in different types of road projects. The collected data were analysed by using Relative Important Index (RII). 84% of respondents considered alternative sustainable construction materials are highly suitable for the construction of road elements. Bituminous materials, natural soil, crushed rock and cement concrete are mostly commonly traditional materials. Construction and demolition waste (C&D), fly ash, plastic waste, and waste rubber tires were selected as the best materials for base construction, cement kiln dust waste, fly ash, glass waste, and waste rubber for sub-base and C&D waste and glass waste for sub-grade construction. Alternative sustainable materials can solve the waste disposal issue, scarcity of natural materials, and cost savings. Thus, this study presents a collective listing of the most viable alternative materials already in use by the global industry, with the goal of establishing a noble notion for better incorporation of alternative sustainable materials into road construction in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Full-text
An assessment of maintenance cost of residential apartments in Sri Lanka.
(2022-06-24) Kajavathani, P; Ramachandra, T; Sandanayake, YG; Gunatilake, S; Waidyasekara, KGAS
Buildings require maintenance for their continuous operation at a higher level through their extended life. Early prediction of maintenance costs (MC) would enable efficient maintenance and smooth operations of the buildings and thereby ensure achieving value for the investment. The effects of factors on MC provide a chance to refine the design to ensure the optimisation of MC during early design development. Thus, this study aims to analyse the MC of high-rise residential apartments along with the effects of factors influencing MC in Sri Lanka. Initially, a questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the factors’ impact on the MC elements based on a 1-5 Likert scale. Then, a case study approach was employed using three high-rise residential apartments with above 30 floors located in Colombo to analyse the costs of MC elements. The data collected from semi-structured interviews and document review were analysed manually as a percentage of MC. The findings revealed that MC accounts for 30% of running costs (RC). According to Pareto analysis, 11 out of 29 sub-elements including lifts and escalators, maintenance management, repairs and replacement, and electric power and lighting contribute to 80% of MC. Further, most of the building design factors and technical factors highly affect the MC. The annual MC per GFA is about Rs. 350.00. It is expected that these findings would enable the designers to forecast the MC and focus on the relevant design and technical factors to optimise the maintenance costs of highrise residential buildings at the early design stages
item: Conference-Full-text
Factors affecting construction time performance in high-rise building projects in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2022-06-24) Kilintan, K; Perera, BAKS; Kajavathani, P; Sandanayake, YG; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Gunatilake, S
On-time completion is one of the most important criteria for recent successful construction projects. High-rise building projects face significant risks and time constraints due to the complexity and dynamic nature of their environments. Demand for high rise buildings has been fuelled by economic advancements, rapid suburbanization, and increased consumer spending in Sri Lanka. High-rise building developments require a large amount of funding, permissions and procedures, advanced construction methods, and collaboration between many project participants. Delays have been observed regularly in high-rise buildings, yet studies on factors affecting construction time performance (CTP) are scarce in the Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this study focused on the factors affecting CTP in high-rise building projects in Sri Lanka. If the factors were identified at early stages, they could be minimised or even mitigated and the chance of future occurrences can be minimised. The study used a qualitative approach. Factors affecting CTP were identified through the literature review. The required data were collected from a series of semi-structured interviews identified from purposive sampling. The data were analysed using manual content analysis and validated for high-rise building projects using semi-structured interviews. Fifty-four factors were identified under six categories, including owner, contractor, consultant, contract, contractual relationships and external factors. New additional factor mismatches between the design and budgets are identified. Further, interviewees endorsed 49 factors that were considered as factors that significantly affect CTP. T