World Construction Symposium

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Adaptability of lean concept to reduce plumbing waste in high-rise building construction in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Senanayake, SMAH; Seneviratne, LDIP; Ranadewa, KATO
The waste generation due to the plumbing work substantially influences the total waste. Waste management is one of the most critical processes to achieve effective and productive construction projects successfully. Lean is a philosophy that is adopted in several sectors to mitigate waste. Thus, this paper intends to identify the adaptability of lean concepts to reduce plumbing waste in high-rise building construction in Sri Lanka. Data collection was done through two Delphi round interviews. The collected data were analysed using manual content analysis. As a result, comprising a total of twenty-seven barriers were identified under five sets of barrier groups for implementing lean concept to reduce plumbing waste in high-rise building construction in Sri Lanka. The strategies to successfully overcome each challenge and barrier were identified. Conducting CPD programmes, training programmes, showing the benefits of lean implementation and providing knowledge about lean through universities and other higher education institutes are the most common strategies to overcome the barriers to lean application. This study paves the path to lean professionals to align their strategy with lean practices by understanding and identifying the major obstacles.
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Adaptation of blockchain and smart contracts to the construction industry of developing countries
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Anuradha, IGN; Ambagala, KK; Nanayakkara, S; Perera, S
The construction industry is often criticised due to its inherited challenges. Lack of trust and transparency, inadequate collaboration and complex structure have plagued the construction sector. Blockchain is a technology that has the potential to address these issues by automating procedures and enhancing traceability and transparency with its salient features. Whereas adaptation of blockchain within the construction industry is still at its inception. The situation is bleak in developing countries and there are numerous barriers and limitations that impact the implementation process. Therefore, this paper aimed to distinguish the barriers that affect the adaptation of blockchain and smart contracts for the construction industry of developing countries. The study used a mixed research approach. The barriers were ranked based on the data collected through a questionnaire survey and strategies to overcome them were identified through expert interviews. Findings derived from the analysis indicate that having a limited number of construction related software applications (powered by blockchain), the reluctance of the companies to bear additional costs to adapt blockchain and sluggish adaptation to new technologies as the significant barriers. As per the identified strategies, conducting an industry-wide digitalisation analysis, developing an industry-wide digitalisation strategy and recruiting skillful staff can be pointed out as the weighty strategies. The outcomes of this research were gained through the data collected from Sri Lanka, which is a limitation of this study. Eventually, a framework was developed as a guideline to implement blockchain and smart contracts for the construction industry of developing countries.
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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.
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Adopting urban symbiosis for sustainable urban water reduction and management: a bibliometric analysis
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Yatawatta, YJM
This research aims to explore the feasibility of adopting urban symbiosis for sustainable urban water reduction and management through a bibliometric analysis of key literature. A Scopus-based systematic review was conducted to analyse journal articles related to urban symbiosis, water management, and water reduction, with a focus on their intersection towards achieving sustainability. The outcomes of the systematic review were analysed using bibliometric techniques to examine the evolution of publications, identify leading journals, and determine the authors and countries which have published the most papers on the topic. The research also conceptualised the benefits, barriers, and enablers associated with adopting urban symbiosis for water reduction and management. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the potential implications and practical implications of urban symbiosis in the context of sustainable water management. The study contributes to the knowledge of the potential of urban symbiosis in addressing the challenges of water management in urban areas and gives insights to policymakers, urban planners, and practitioners interested in implementing sustainable water management practices in urban areas.
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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.
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Analysis of barriers towards implementing circular economy in Sri Lankan built environment
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Weerakoon, P; Thayaparan, M
All over the world, environmental pollution has become a major environmental issue at present. As the construction industry extracts a high amount of natural resources compared to any other industry, it can be known as one of the significant causes of environmental pollution. In order to protect the environment from harmful human activities, there is a massive demand towards sustainable construction practices. Circular Economy (CE) concept has been identified as a way forward to sustainable construction practices. It has been identified that implementing CE in the construction industry has many barriers, enablers and drivers. Hence, this study aims to qualitatively analyse the relevance of the barriers identified through a literature survey in the global context towards circular economy implementation of the Sri Lankan context. Semi-structured interviews were carried out among industry experts and academics who have experience and knowledge of the CE concept. The findings of this study indicate that the practical implementation of CE in Sri Lankan built environment has many barriers as it is still in an early stage. This study concludes that the construction industry stakeholders should be aware of these concepts, and primarily the authorities should focus more on this concept to move forward with a sustainable construction industry and protect the environment.
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Applicability of bim technology for enhancing the lean construction process in Sri Lanka
(2023-07-21) Madusha, MDY; Francis, M; Liyanawatta, TN
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is widely implemented in construction industries around the world, providing many benefits. BIM has brought significant improvements in productivity, accuracy, and efficiency. Lean is an innovative construction management method that is closely linked to the overall lifecycle of a project to ensure its success. Lean and BIM are two different concepts used to enhance the value and quality of overall construction projects. The combination of these two concepts has been used to eliminate waste and encourage a streamlined workflow ensuring the delivery of value to the customers. But still, there is a lagging that can be identified in the applicability of BIM for enhancing the lean construction process in local scenarios. Therefore, the study explored the applicability of BIM technology for the lean construction process in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, a comprehensive literature survey and three case studies were conducted to collect data. Subsequently, the collected data were analysed using content analysis with the use of NVivo software. The study indicates that 12 lean techniques which have been implemented in local construction projects and 9 BIM-related software encourage the establishment of lean principles. The study further revealed, 7 common challenges while integrating of Lean-BIM and 9 solutions to overcome the challenges identified. Finally, a framework was developed based on the research findings to identify the current situation of the applicability of BIM technology for enhancing the lean construction process in Sri Lanka.
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Applicability of blockchain technology in the Sri Lankan construction industry
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Weerarathna, GPDA; Bandara, KPSPK
Construction is one of the most significant drivers of economic growth for any nation. In addition to contributing heavily to economic development, it is one of the world's biggest industries. The industry's productivity or effectiveness has often been in doubt whether the industry is productive or effective. To upgrade the standards of the construction industry, different digital tools and software have been introduced. Among numerous innovative technologies spreading across the construction industry, blockchain is emerging as a breakthrough in streamlining the structure and development of various processes. Therefore, this research tends to study how blockchain technology can improve the key performance indicators in the construction industry via various blockchain applications that can be utilized in the construction industry. The correlation and the impact between the applications of blockchain and the construction industry performance were analysed through statistical analysis via SPSS software. A qualitative expert opinion survey with ten construction experts who have experience in blockchain technology, selected through purposive sampling to collect data in Sri Lankan context, was conducted to collect suggestions and recommendations to implement blockchain in the Sri Lankan construction industry. The gathered data was analysed using the content analysis method. The barriers that Sri Lanka must overcome to adopt blockchain technology and the way to mitigate them were included in the study. How can Sri Lanka be prepared to adopt blockchain technology and what applications can be applied in the Sri Lankan construction industry were discussed in this study.
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Applicability of drive-thru banking facility for the new normal setup: a case of covid-19 pandamic in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Fernando, WDN; Sridarran, P; Yatawatta, YJM
Banks play an important role in economic growth and social welfare enhancement. However, the COVID-19 epidemic had an unanticipated significant impact on enterprises and organisations. Nonetheless, due to the crucial nature of their services, banks should continue to operate. As a result, to increase efficiency and profitability, the banking industry has embraced cutting-edge technology and access techniques. One of the most popular methods in the worldwide banking sector is drive-thru banking. However, in Sri Lanka, no particular emphasis has been paid to this type of facility, and there has been no adequate study on this topic addressing the applicability of drive-thru banking facility. A detailed literature analysis was conducted to review the concept and important components of drive-thru banking, as well as elements of the banking business globally and regarding to the Sri Lanka. Case studies and a survey were used to continue the study using the qualitative research approach. The study examined how each of the implementation factors, such as enablers, barriers, benefits, limitations, requirements, and customer perspectives on this facility, affected the applicability. Accordingly, certain factors such as high initial costs, supplier and maintenance constraints, carparking limitations, queue control, and accessibility need to be addressed. The study concludes that by considering these implementation variables, drive-thru banking can yield positive outcomes for both customers and bankers. The study recommends that banks in Sri Lanka explore the potential of drive-thru banking facilities and adopt them as a means of improving their services and meeting customer needs in a changing landscape.
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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.
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Application of experiential knowledge and personal constructs into construction claims management
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Piyumra, RAD; Disaratna, PAPVDS
Construction industry is known as a knowledge-intensive, where much of construction knowledge is tacit in nature based on experience. Nevertheless, sharing and applying of Experiential Knowledge (EK) and Personal Constructs (PC) to managing construction projects is lacking. Construction projects will inevitably involve claims, where due to presence of knowledge deficits of professionals in the industry, Claims Management (CM) has become a challenging task for contractors. Thus, the research aimed to explore the applicability of integrated EK and PC approach within the organisational culture towards successful CM practice. A qualitative approach inclusive semi-structured detailed expert interviews was attained in pursuing the research aim as the data collection tool. Data collection was limited to Grade C1 and above contractors in Sri Lanka. Literature findings disclosed the significance of applying previous project experience, role of organisational culture and role of PC in the construction industry. Expert interviewees established that CM is a knowledge-intensive core practice in the construction sector. Accordingly, the research study developed a framework indicating the relationships and applicability of Experiential Learning (EL), PC, Knowledge Sharing (KS) and Shared Learning concepts along with reusable project knowledge and EK towards each phase of CM process within the knowledge centred organisational culture.
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Assessing delay claims in terms of excusability and criticality of delays in fidic based contracts
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Jayasena, E; Kulatunga, U
Assessment of delays involves complex decision making. Most standard contract forms do not provide guidelines on assessing delay claims; this is left to the professionals who at times tend to make decisions based on experience and subjective judgement. This will not always guarantee consistent decisions. Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism for assessing delay claims in construction industry. Excusability and criticality are the two elements to be considered in assessing a delay. These are governed by the conditions of contract and adopted delay analysis techniques (DATs) respectively. This paper is focused on developing a holistic approach to support the assessment of delay claims in terms of assessing the excusability and appropriateness of DATs. A mixed method approach was adopted for this study with four phases namely; literature review, desk study (based on FIDIC 1999 red book), in-depth expert interviews and a questionnaire survey. Qualitative data obtained through interviews were analysed using content analysis and questionnaire survey findings were statistically analysed. According to the findings, there are 18 major sub-clauses giving rise to excusable delays under FIDIC 1999 red book. In assessing the excusability of delays, the notice requirement, concurrency of delays and the contractor’s obligations of mitigating delays are the important aspects to be considered. In the assessment of criticality, window analysis is the most suitable DAT. However, due to the complexity of the window analysis method, as planned vs. as built method is most commonly practiced in the industry which is considered as simple but less accurate.
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Assessment of design and construction related factors influencing maintainability of green roofs: a case of high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Kulasekara, G; Mallawaarachchi, BH; Damsari, AGU
Poor design and construction practices can significantly impact the future maintainability of green roofs in high-rise buildings. While previous studies have focused on green roof construction and design features, this research specifically evaluates the effects of design and construction related factors on maintainability of green roofs, with a focus on high-rise buildings in Sri Lanka. The study begins by reviewing literature on green roofs, their maintainability, and the design and construction factors that influence maintainability. The identified factors were used as a basis for evaluating the effects of design and construction on future maintainability of green roofs. A deductive approach is adopted within a quantitative research design, utilising a survey strategy. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 58 experienced construction professionals, while four expert interviews are conducted to gather additional insights. Data analysis techniques include the Relative Importance Index and content analysis. As derived through analysis, initial cost and roof design were identified as design-related key factors, while cost of construction and availability of machinery and materials were the construction related key factors influencing maintainability of green roofs. Accordingly, the study proposed strategies to enhance the maintainability of green roofs in Sri Lankan high-rise buildings focusing on cost effectiveness, design effectiveness and effective management of green roofs. As a main implication, this research contributes to the development of sustainable and maintainable green roofs in Sri Lanka by providing valuable insights for the construction professionals and policy makers in the country.
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Barriers for implementing dispute review board (DRB) method to Sri Lankan construction industry
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Liyanawatta, TN; Abeynayake, MDTE; Sumanarathna, PMSU
In Sri Lanka, dispute resolution methods in construction contracts are Negotiation, Mediation, Adjudication, and Arbitration. Although the Dispute Review Board (DRB) method has been successfully used internationally for more than 30 years, it has rarely been applied in domestic contractual disputes. Thus, this research was conducted to identify the barriers hindering the implementation of the Dispute Resolution Board (DRB) mechanism in the Sri Lankan construction industry and to provide recommendations to overcome these barriers. This research was deemed necessary because the current dispute resolution methods could not effectively resolve contractual conflicts. Despite introducing DRB through Dispute Adjudication Boards (DAB), its potential benefits have not been fully realised in Sri Lanka. To achieve the purpose of the study, a comprehensive literature review was conducted first, and then a preliminary survey to identify the barriers to the implementation of DRB in the Sri Lankan construction industry. Subsequently, a questionnaire was administered to 44 professionals engaged in client and contracting organisations. The research findings revealed that the main barriers to the implementation of the DRB mechanism are unawareness of the concept of DRB, clients considering DRB as a burden and hassle for them, additional costs to be incurred, and lack of experience. Accordingly, the study recommends increasing the awareness of the DRB at the national level with the support of authorities to utilise it as a valuable alternative for resolving disputes in the Sri Lankan construction industry.
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Barriers to emerging smart solutions adoption for energy efficiency in the construction industry
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Oguntona, OA; Ngobeni, F; Akinradewo, O; Ogunbayo, B; Aigbavboa, C
Globally, the construction industry (CI) has been blamed to be directly responsible for climate change and its consequential adverse impacts. As a sector known to be energy-intensive and energy-dependent, it is logically right for energy efficiency reforms and strategies to begin in the CI. While energy challenges are largely constituting a hindrance to the accelerated growth and socio-economic development of Africa, the continent continually commits to unsustainable means in meeting its energy demands. Therefore, the adoption of energy efficiency solutions is pivotal for the continent to meet its sustainability agenda. Hence, this study is aimed at identifying the various barriers hindering the adoption of Emerging Smart Solutions (ESS) for energy efficiency in the South African construction industry (SACI). The quantitative research method was utilised in this research study. A questionnaire survey was administered to registered and active construction professionals in the SACI for data collection. Both descriptive and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyse the retrieved data. Findings from the study revealed 17 barriers with high initial cost, lack of financial incentives, and theft and security concerns as the top three barriers hindering the adoption of ESS for energy efficiency in the SACI. The study concluded that a multi-stakeholder approach is embraced to mitigate these barriers so that the potential benefits of ESS can be maximised in the sector. It is recommended that government intervention and support be increased to pave the way for the proliferation of ESS and other energy-efficient strategies
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Barriers to the adoption of emerging technologies for sustainable construction in SMEs.
(2023-07-21) Adekunle, S; Aigbavboa, C; Ejohwomu, O; Ogunbayo, B
The construction industry activities contribute to and impact the environment; hence the industry continuously strives to adopt sustainable principles into its process and products. Another critical aspect to achieving this in the current technological revolution is the adoption of technology for achieving sustainable construction. Various technologies are available and have been explored to achieve sustainable construction. However, there is a dearth of studies on adopting technology for sustainable construction by construction SMEs and from the perspective of developing countries. This study investigates the adoption of technology for sustainable construction by SMEs in the South African construction industry. A total of eighty responses were collected through well-structured questionnaires administered randomly. It was observed that all barriers are significant, but the most significant barrier is the high cost of adopting technologies. The study recommends the provision of financial incentives and support for SMEs. Also, SMEs must not resist change birthed by the adoption of technology for sustainable construction.
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Big data analytics in the Sri Lankan construction industry: an assessment of the challenges and strategies
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Atapattu, AMDS; Wattuhewa, RM; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Dilakshan, R
The increasing complexity of construction projects and the expansion of the construction sector has complicated the data management process by highlighting the need for proper data management tools in arranging and organising construction data. Specifically, countries with developing economies such as Sri Lanka require more advanced data management tools, since the construction sector is the backbone of their economies. In this context, this study aims to identify the challenges to the implementation of Big Data Analytics (BDA) in the Sri Lankan construction sector and the potential strategies which can be adopted in overcoming the challenges for the implementation. Accordingly, a qualitative approach was followed in achieving the aim of the study. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the existing body of knowledge related to the study area. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted for primary data collection with experts in the fields of construction and data analytics and the non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the experts for the data collection. Data were analysed using the content analysis method. Findings revealed that the requirement of large capital expenditure, resistance from industry professionals and lack of industry awareness are the major barriers to adopting BDA in the Sri Lankan construction sector. Eventually, it was revealed that conducting awareness sessions and educating the industry stakeholders will assist the strategic implementation of BDA in the Sri Lankan construction sector.
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Building information modelling for construction productivity measurement
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Archchana, S; Pan, W
Productivity is a critical performance indicator of the construction industry, and thus warrants effective and efficient construction productivity measurement (CPM). Building information modelling (BIM), a digital representation of the building process, plays a significant role in effective and efficient CPM. Considering the high mandatory requirements for enhancement in construction productivity measurement, this paper aims to review the state-of-the-art literature on BIM-integrated CPM, to identify gaps in the existing body of knowledge and explore future research trends. The aim is achieved through a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis where the data are retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar and proposes future research directions. In total 260 publications were identified from the initial search, and 56 were shortlisted for full-text analysis after several levels of screening including duplication, title and abstract checking. Finally, 21 were narrowed yielded for detailed review for this study. The results mapped the yearly publication trend, publications by source and the co-occurrence of terms. The findings help to identify a suite of BIM-integrated CPM methods used in the construction industry and provide a foundation for future research in CPM. A framework is developed to illustrate the knowledge gap and future directions identified in this study. Accordingly, the findings revealed that existing studies on utilising BIM for CPM are limited to only 3D and 4D BIM. Further, there is a lack of studies on the feasibility of using BIM for CPM, fully automated BIM integrated CPM tools and real-time CPM through BIM.
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Can Colombo port city high-rise tower and podium morphology improve pollutant dispersion and urban ventilation?
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Vidanapathirana, M; Perera, N; Emmanuel, R; Coorey, S
A rapid increase in high-rise building clusters within developing cities has led to mounting environmental and climatic issues. This is especially highlighted in Asian cities where extreme tropical climates are accentuated by ad-hoc developments, that in turn create unfavourable urban environments. Traffic emissions and air pollution, directly and indirectly, effect the Urban Heat Island (UHI) factor. Studies show that urban ventilation is a key mechanism to ameliorate UHI, reduce pollution stagnation, improve air quality, and reduce dependence on energy-consuming systems, thereby enhancing future sustainability. A research gap on the effect of the morphology of high-rise towers, and tower and podium forms as clusters on air pollution dispersion was identified. A high-rise cluster in the proposed Port City in Colombo, Sri Lanka was identified, and possible building forms were designed based on guidelines given by the local authority. Simplified three-dimensional building clusters were simulated using Ansys Fluent and a RANS k-epsilon turbulence model. Results suggest the addition of a podium has minimal impact on pollution dispersion when compared with only a tower form. Block podiums were found to concentrate pollution within the podium height, while tiered podiums pushed street pollution upwards along the face of a podium. However, more uniform dispersion was seen in tiered podiums, reducing overall pollution concentrations within the study area. Overall, as per requirement and context, it is highlighted that podium forms can be designed to create better-ventilated urban spaces with good air quality, within a high-rise high-dense environment.
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Cargotecture to minimise problems in post-disaster reconstruction projects in Sri Lanka
(Ceylon Institute of Builders - Sri Lanka, 2023-07-21) Gurusinghe, KD; Ranadewa, KATO; Parameswaran, A; Weerasooriya, D; Costa, MDD
Cargotecture is a sustainable housing solution that has gained popularity in recent years. However, its potential for Post Disaster Reconstruction (PDR) projects has not been fully explored locally and globally. This research aims to develop a framework to overcome the problems in the PDR projects through the implementation of cargotecture in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive literature review synthesises existing research on integrating cargotecture for PDR projects. The research adopted a mixed-method approach. A questionnaire survey was conducted with forty-five construction professionals selected through snowball sampling and data was analysed using RII analysis to identify the critical problems in PDR projects. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten experts selected through selective sampling. Code-based content analysis was used to identify problems in PDR projects and the benefits of integrating cargotecture for PDR projects. The study revealed 18 problems in PDR Projects, while high time consumption was identified as a significant problem in PDR Projects. Further, the study identified 17 benefits of integrating cargotecture for PDR projects, including reducing construction duration and modularity. The study developed a framework which offers industry practitioners significant insight into the possible use of ISO shipping containers as a sustainable and cost-effective disaster relief housing option. From an academic point of view, the study adds to the current literature on disaster relief housing by investigating the viability of employing ISO shipping containers. The study serves as the foundation for more detailed research on the social and environmental implications of employing shipping containers for disaster relief housing.