Browsing by Author "Siriwardana, C"

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13

item: Conference-Full-text
Appraising vulnerabilities on elders and built environment of aging-in-place in tropics using infrared thermography
(IEEE, 2022-07) Rajapaksha, I; Jayasekara, R; Siriwardana, C; Rathnayake, M; Adhikariwatte, V; Hemachandra, K
Demographic shifts due to the burgeoning ageing population and increasing global temperatures are synchronized societal challenges of the future. People living in low and middle-income countries are ageing much faster than richer countries and over the next three decades, ageing is predominant in Asia. People ageing in low-income communities of the tropics will become more vulnerable to heat with limitations and conditions of the houses they live. Thus, the study appraises the vulnerabilities of elders and the built environment of aging in place in the tropical city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The selected cohort is permanently residing in a low-income community. Infrared thermal imagery analysis of elders is evident for a mean skin temperature of 34.9° C, which is 1.9° C above a healthy adult. Mean skin temperature further increases in elders living in detached houses. Moreover, the houses demonstrate poor ventilation, and overheated interiors with less usable floor area and windows. Additionally, the elders are suffering from long-term illnesses and their income restricts treatments. Thus, the study portrays an overarching social injustice status of ageing population in cities in Sri Lanka, as elders prefer aging in place. Thus, it highlights the significance of physical attributes of built environment to ensure healthy aging in warming climates.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Assessment of the effects of LICIT and ILLICIT drug use on Sri Lankan construction labour productivity
(2023) Sajotha, GHAB; Siriwardana, C
It is assumed that licit and illicit drugs are commonly used by construction workers. The risk profile for alcohol and drugs on construction sites varies, from catastrophic accidents that result in severe injury or death to minor incidents. An investigation of the impacts of substance misuse among construction workers was carried out in Sri Lanka, which served as the basis for this study. Information was gathered about the issues that lead to substance abuse among construction workers, and qualitative and quantitative research method was used. According to the study's findings, many construction workers do not use drugs or alcohol to cope with the financial crisis. Additionally, these issues affect the workers' families, generating a setting that encourages the "vicious cycle." The research findings highlight the significance of eliminating substance abuse in the construction industry due to the socioeconomic impact it has on construction workers and the industry as a whole in Sri Lanka. The management of safety measures as well as the views, attitudes, and conduct of construction workers were the main subjects of this study. By dissecting its conclusions, this study shows that the major construction firms in Sri Lanka that were taken into account have a high level of risk awareness and perceive health and safety as critical issues, notably the effects of legal and illicit substances on productivity. This study aimed to understand the data collected and create a question-and-answer survey based on it. This study examines and compiles quantitative data on productivity in the construction sector to give the first systematic examination of the economic effects of drug usage in Sri Lanka. As a result, policymakers will better understand the current condition and the problem’s severity. Productivity loss is one of the consequences of drug abuse. Costs of healthcare, crime, institutionalization, and incarceration, as well as the cost and loss of welfare. Many of these costs must be borne by the industry, which has an adverse effect. Externalities are borne by society as well. Due to Sri Lanka's continued development, it is essential to calculate the economic cost of drug misuse in order to assess the severity of the issue and how it affects the nation. The value of resources lost as a result of a specific illness is referred to as the direct cost. According to this study, the total cost of drug abuse for institutionalized people includes direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and lost productivity due to drug abuse. According to the study, Sri Lanka project management is experiencing a micro- and macroeconomic crisis, as is the construction industry, and as a result, the use of expensive drugs and alcoholic beverages is very low, with some inexpensive substances such as smoking beedi and bit betel being used. In terms of productivity loss, it is estimated to be very minor. Keywords: Project Management, Construction Workers, Productivity, Drug Abuse, Substances
item: Conference-Abstract
Comparison of damage values used in different flood modeling studies
Randil, C; Siriwardana, C; Dias, P
Estimating the economic loss caused by a flood hazard plays a major role in decision making during disaster risk reduction activities, and such studies have been carried over some major cities of the world. This paper compares the base economic values used for building and infrastructure, depth-damage curves used and the total economic loss caused by flood hazards in five such studies carried out in Colombo, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok and Ginosa. These original studies had the data on different formats which were adopted to this study by means of normalization. The building structural damage and the contents damage of residential, commercial and industrial building types were focused on, since the largest contributions to the direct damage arises from these categories and building types. The comparisons have shown the importance of having disaggregated building economic information for commercial and industrial buildings with similar damage curves for the same building category. Furthermore, the importance of choosing a conservative depth for flood studies is stressed. The maximum inundation depth for the studies vary from 1.8 m to 10.0 m; and the lower values may produce errors in quantifying economic losses for floods with higher return periods.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Effects of COVID 19 pandemic for price fluctuation in construction materials Sri Lanka
(2024) Cooray, MMP; Siriwardana, C
The study, titled "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Price Fluctuation in Construction Materials in Sri Lanka," aims to investigate the impact of the global health crisis on the construction sector, which has seen substantial difficulties. The construction materials industry in Sri Lanka, like many other industries, has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its global economic repercussions. The outbreak has resulted in disruptions to the supply chain, shortages of labor, and changes in client demand. These factors have the potential to cause significant variations in costs. The outbreak has posed a substantial challenge of volatile availability and expense of construction supplies. The procurement of essential materials for construction projects is presently uncertain due to disruptions in both domestic and international supply chains. The disruption has the capacity to affect the feasibility of construction projects, escalate expenses, and result in project schedule setbacks. Researchers, legislators, and industry stakeholders are all highly interested in comprehending the magnitude and fundamental causes of the oscillations in building material costs in Sri Lanka. The research problem is highly important since there is a lack of empirical evidence that particularly investigates the influence of the pandemic on the construction materials industry in Sri Lanka. The construction materials sector in Sri Lanka lacks sufficient study on its specific features, in contrast to the abundant literature available on the worldwide economic effects of COVID-19. This research adds to the literature by closing a crucial gap in our knowledge of how covid 19 pandemic effect for price fluctuation in construction materials Sri Lanka. This study improves upon prior research by adding accuracy and context through thorough examination. Through this analysis and further research, a comprehensive model has been developed by examining the relevant literature. The academic community extensively utilized multiple regression models to evaluate hypotheses. Descriptive statistics, regression and correlation analysis, and reliability tests are among the approaches employed in the broader research. The study relied on a self-administered questionnaire and non-probabilistic convenience sampling to get to the bottom of things. SPSS was used to do statistical analysis on all 100 replies. Conclusions from this research show that "Identified Factors on Covid 19 have significant impact on Price Fluctuation”. Keywords: Global Supply Disruptions, Workforce Disruptions, Government Policy, Currency Exchange Rat
item: Article-Full-text
Ensuring the safety of Sri Lankan hospitals: adaptation of the WHO “Safe Hospital” initiative to Sri Lanka
(2021) Siriwardana, C
As a critical infrastructure, hospitals have to play a pivotal role in the health and well-being of a community. Specially during a disaster, hospitals are supposed to treat victims while continuing their day-to-day functions.
item: Conference-Abstract
Evaluating the applicability of the “hospital safety index guide” for the Sri Lankan context
Kularatne, D; Siriwardana, C; Hasalanka, H
The healthcare systems of a country and its numerous institutions are of considerable importance during the whole lifecycle of a disaster. Therefore, it is crucial that the preparedness level of the hospital including its structures, systems, and stakeholders are identified during the pre-disaster period. Thereby their weaknesses can be found, and steps can be taken to reduce them. In this study, the definition and role of a hospital in Sri Lanka during a disaster has been investigated in the form of a questionnaire. Then the applicability of the Hospital Safety Index (HSI) Guide developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) was analyzed. As part of an ongoing study, pilot studies in two tertiary level hospitals in Sri Lanka were carried out. Based on the outcomes, some amendments to the existing checklist were proposed in order to better suit it for Sri Lankan hospitals and the expectations that the general public has of a “Safe Hospital”.
item: Article-Full-text
Evaluating the network of stakeholders in Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems for multiple hazards amidst biological outbreaks: Sri Lanka as a case in point
(Elsevier, 2022) Jayasekara, R; Siriwardana, C; Amaratunga, D; Haigh, R
Synergized impacts of simultaneous hazards amidst COVID-19 have called for the need for highly collaborative multi-sectoral approaches for disaster preparedness planning. In such a context, this study aims at evaluating the network of stakeholders in the National Early Warning System of Sri Lanka during preparedness planning. Social Network Analysis was used to visualise the network of stakeholders for selected hazard scenarios. Furthermore, a series of key informant interviews were conducted focusing on disaster preparedness planning during the recent multiple hazard scenarios. The findings highlight the need for a framework to guide the stakeholder coordination in preparedness planning for multiple hazards.
item: Conference-Full-text
Indoor overheating and wellbeing of elders in tropics: an analysis of thermal comfort and skin temperature profiles
(IEEE, 2023-12-09) Sajjad, M; Rajapaksha, I; Siriwardana, C; Abeysooriya, R; Adikariwattage, V; Hemachandra, K
Global warming affects health and well-being of ageing population in hot climates of South Asia. Increasing ambient temperatures promote uncomfortable interiors. Thus, ensuring optimal thermal conditions is becoming increasingly challenging. The study focuses on indoor thermal exposure of elders living in tropical urban setting. Field investigation assessed thermal conditions of elderly residents and physical characteristics of their houses in Mattakuliya, Sri Lanka. Parameters for personal exposure assessment were measured on 100 elders and a questionnaire survey collected subjective feedback on thermal comfort. The calculated Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and infrared thermal images were used to assess the thermal comfort of elders. Objective measurements and survey responses enabled a holistic evaluation of their thermal conditions. The findings reveal, elders are living in over-heated houses (PMV 3) and their skin temperatures are high, in the range of 33°C to 39°C. Furthermore, they are ageing with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Extreme heat causes adverse impacts by exacerbating symptoms and complications. Synergized evidence-based investigation of infrared thermography and PMV is an effective approach to assess thermal comfort. It facilitates in deriving appropriate interventions to improve well-being and mitigate health risks associated with over-heated interiors of ageing in place.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Investigation of critical success factors (CSFs) for the deployment of construction risk management practices in Sri Lanka
Risath, ALM; Siriwardana, C
Risk is an uncertain occurrence that, if befalls, has direct and indirect effects on project objectives. In particular, construction projects in developing countries are likely to face wide range of uncertainties. Risk management is a positive approach to control the level of risk. The evidence available for the effective implementation of risk management practices in developing countries is very little. The existing studies on risk management in developing countries have generally concentrated on identifying and evaluating risks rather than applying risk management systems. This research was aimed to answer the question “how the risk management practices could be promoted and enhanced in Sri Lankan construction industry?” The study applied Delphi technique and the study was conducted in three different rounds. The Delphi panel was comprised of fifteen construction industry experts with vast experience and knowledge to make judgments on risk management systems. The findings of the study reasonably disclose that the construction professionals in Sri Lanka are not conscious enough of the available sophisticated techniques for construction risk management. It is also established that the cost incurred for implementing risk management systems, poor awareness of risk management systems among construction professionals, and unavailability of risk management consultants or experts in the country are the major barriers for implementing risk management systems. The study further explored that „Including the costs within project‟s budgets for IRMS‟ and „Request for Implementation of Risk Management Systems (IRMS) on projects by clients and end users‟ are considered as exceedingly imperative Critical Success Factors (CSFs). In the meantime „Attempting to deliver projects systematically on time and within project‟s budget‟, „Inclusion of risk management systems in engineering education and training modules of construction practitioners‟, and „Awareness of risk management systems among stakeholders‟ are regarded as important CSFs for IRMS. The study also revealed that a substantial alignment is not found between the current findings of the research and the previous findings of similar studies in developing world with regard to CSFs.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Liveability & the Sri Lankan high-rise : mitigating the impact of building height on high-rise occupants
(2023) Wijesinghe, BS; Siriwardana, C
The impact of height on occupant wellbeing is a phenomenon that is well documented in Western research. However, there is a dearth of and need for such research in the Sri Lankan context due to the bourgeoning high-rise development sweeping across the island. This study is a response to this need as it demonstrates how building height impacts on the wellbeing of occupants in 03 selected high-rise apartments located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This holistic multiple-case study approach has recourse to occupants’ phenomenological experiences of vertical living and building and environmental cues that impact both negatively and positively on their wellbeing. The initial literature survey conducted on occupants’ experience of vertical living quantifies the parameters impacting on wellbeing. These in turn have been factored into a questionnaire in order to assess the impact of height on occupants’ wellbeing, through the protocols of phenomenological enquiry. The analytical process consisted of phenomenological horizonalization, which facilitated the extraction of themes pertaining to the impact of height on wellbeing. The results show that the natural environment does, in fact, play a pivotal role in mitigating the negative impact of building height, especially when the experiences of occupants living in the upper floors of the high-rise apartments are taken into consideration. They also show that a high-rise apartment’s physical and visual connections to the natural environment, have a beneficial effect on the mental health and wellbeing of its occupants. Thus, the findings of this study corroborate those of Western research and contribute to the ongoing global discourse on the subject. It should also impact, thereby, the growth and evolution of the user-friendly high-rise of the 21st century. Key Words: high-rise, building height, natural environment, negative impacts, livability
item: Article-Full-text
Multi-hazard early warnings ; the importance of managing stakeholders for effective disaster response
(2021-12) Siriwardana, C; Shehara, I; Jayathilake, G; Jayasekara, R
Stakeholders in Disaster Management are those individuals or organizations that may contribute to, be affected by or can be influenced in all the phases of the disaster risk management cycle [1]. They can be government agencies, private organizations, media, NGOs/donors, emergency insurers services and the public.
item: Article-Full-text
A New relative risk Index for hospitals exposed to Tsunami
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2021) Baiguera, M; Rossetto, T; Palomino, J; Dias, P; Lopez-Querol, S; Siriwardana, C; Hasalanka, H; Ioannou, I; Robinson, D
The failure of hospitals in recent tsunami have caused extensive social and economic losses. A simple but quantitative approach is required to assess the resilience of healthcare systems to tsunami, which relates not only to hospital building integrity, but also to maintaining hospital functionality. This paper proposes a new tsunami relative risk index (TRRI) that quantifies the impact of tsunami on critical units, (e.g. Intensive Care Unit, Maternity Ward, etc) in individual hospitals, as well as the impact on service provision across a network of hospitals. A survey form is specifically developed for collecting of field data on hospitals for the TRRI evaluation. In its current form TRRI is designed for hospital buildings of reinforced concrete construction, as these are the building types most commonly used worldwide for housing critical units. The TRRI is demonstrated through an application to three hospitals located along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The TRRI is evaluated for three potential tsunami inundation events and is shown to be able to identify issues with both the building and functional aspects of hospital critical units. Three “what-if” intervention scenarios are presented and their effect on the TRRI is assessed. Through this exercise, it is shown that the TRRI can be used by decision makers to simply explore the effectiveness of individual and combined interventions in improving the tsunami resilience of healthcare provision across the hospital system.
item: Conference-Full-text
Understanding the interdependency of resilience indicators in green building assessment tools in Sri Lanka: an application of swara method
(IEEE, 2022-07) Rajapaksha, SH; Rajapaksha, DV; Siriwardana, C; Rathnayake, M; Adhikariwatte, V; Hemachandra, K
Sri Lanka is frequently subjected to disasters caused by adverse natural shocks and climatic stresses. Climate change which is accelerated by Green House Gases is a main cause behind the more frequent and intense disasters. Hence, the construction industry is now heading towards Green Buildings as one of the sustainable aspects. Since the involvement in the green building industry in Sri Lanka as well, it has emphasized the importance of incorporating disaster resilience indicators into Green Building Rating Tools (GBRTs) to ensure that green buildings can withstand adverse natural shocks and climatic stresses while maintaining their long-term survivability. There have been various disputes over the concepts “disaster resilience” and “sustainable development,” which have impeded implementation. Therefore, in this research, a multicriteria decision-making tool, the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method was used to identify the overall impact of the integration of disaster resilience indicators into a green building framework. It was intended to capture different perspectives of decision makers on each possible disaster resilience aspect that can be integrated into a GBRT related to the Sri Lankan context. The most suitable resilience indicators were selected from the GBRTs and related studies and used in the evaluation. They were assessed for their significance in enhancing disaster resilience as well as the sustainability of green buildings. The results have shown that risk avoidance related indicators can enhance the disaster resilience of the building while increasing the sustainability. Conversely, disaster resilience indicators like improved structural and architectural aspects, and excessive use of hazard-resilient and more robust materials can reduce the overall sustainability of a green building.