In recent times, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been evolved in globally as an analytical tool that systematically and holistically investigates cumulative environmental impacts associated with the entire building lifecycle from its cradle-to grave. Moreover, LCA approach has become a well-rooted concept internationally as a decision making tool due to the collaborative activities between main five (05) stakeholders i.e. academia, government, construction industry, civil society, and the natural environment. In contrast, it is difficult to find evidence on the application of LCA in Sri Lankan construction industry. Also, there is increasing interest in applying LCA, as Sri Lankan construction industry has been criticised due to the environmental pollution with the escalation of upcoming building projects. Hence, this study aimed to conduct a desk study by reviewing existing literature to disclose the activities, which the developed countries followed to integrate LCA into construction practice pertaining to aforesaid five stakeholder's contributions. Literature findings highlighted that, academia have to undertake and disseminate fact-based and comprehensive research on the field of LCA in order to popularize the concept of LCA while government bodies, construction industry, civil society and natural environment have to take actions to embed LCA to the environmental regulations and environmental planning as a core element to take voluntary actions to build ecologically sustainable constructions by using LCA as a decision making technique. Environmental modeling software packages have to be introduced as a collaborative activity of academia, construction industry and natural environment to make it possible to integrate LCA to the construction industry.
PurposeThe circular economy concept emerged as the resolution to the destructive linear economy practices. Nevertheless, the transition to a circular built environment is hindered due to the ambiguities of the economic value of the concept. Conversely, numerous decision-making tools are applied in the construction industry in assessing economic alternatives, even if there is a gap in utilising these tools in appraising circular economic practices. Hence, this study investigates the potential benefits of applying proven decision-making practices, particularly criteria scoring matrices, in developing circular built environments.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was followed to achieve the aim of the study. A conceptual design of a criteria scoring matrix was developed with a comprehensive literature survey. Semi-structured interviews of a three-round Delphi expert survey were employed to assess the matrix qualitatively and develop the matrix further. Data were analysed using the content analysis method.FindingsThe lack of a value assessment tool in economically assessing the circular economy principles is a key barrier to transcending to a circular built environment. In addressing this issue, this study develops a criteria scoring matrix for circularity value assessment during the design stage of a construction project.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the theory by developing a criteria scoring matrix to measure the economic contribution of circular economy principles. Further, this research contributes to the practice by allowing construction alternatives to be selected, balancing the potential economic return options of a project with the project's contribution to a circular economy.
The construction projects have a significant influence on achieving sustainable development in developing countries due to the increasing demand for sustainable construction practices. Hence, project sustainability should be addressed mostly in developing countries, like Sri Lanka, where a large number of construction projects are currently in progress and remain to emerge in the future. However, the country is facing not only environmental issues but also economic and social issues due to the unavailability of proper sustainable project feasibility criteria to be considered at the project inception stage. This paper intends to provoke thoughts on the necessity of embracing a new approach to conduct project feasibility studies by answering a few questions i.e. ‘What is the relationship between project feasibility studies and assuring sustainable construction?’, ‘What sustainability criteria have already been achieved by project feasibility study?’, and ‘How do government policies assure sustainable construction at project feasibility stage?’, which were answered in the study via an extensive literature review. Accordingly, 57 peer-reviewed journal articles on the confluence of feasibility and sustainability concepts of construction projects were analysed. The research findings highlight that economic performance has given the major consideration in the current practice of project feasibility study while less attention to social and environmental performance was being paid. Further, sustainability assessment tools have given priority to environmental criteria and their applicability at the project inception is still questionable. Hence, developing effective sustainable project feasibility evaluation will help to ensure sustainability performance from the project inception stage. Keywords: Environmental Sustainability, Economic Sustainability, Social Sustainability, Construction, Feasibility, Policies.
Purpose The sluggish progression of disaster-induced housing reconstruction (DHR) in Sri Lanka provoked the assessment of drywall technologies as a mode of improving efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of drywall technologies to adopt a technical solution to DHR. Design/methodology/approach The research contextualized a mixed research design via a case-study strategy integrating semi-structured interviews, documentary reviews and observations. Two cases based on the 2016 Samasarakanda landslide were investigated. Within-case-analysis and cross-case-analysis were performed to derive conclusions. Findings Enablers for drywall technologies application are time saving, cost-saving, less water consumption and logistical easiness. Less strength of drywall technologies will not be a critical obstruction owing to the expected disaster resilience from the concrete frame and the subsequent requirement of non-load bearing walls for landslide DHR. Labor source, community acceptance, durability are potential settings of barriers. Observing model houses, researching the resistance of drywall technologies to landslide-induced vibrations and impulsive waves are some further research areas discovered. Research limitations/implications Empirical findings are centered on the 2016 Samasarakanda DHR. Practical implications Because of many issues in updating guidelines, drawings and BOQs, a protocol should be gazetted in the parliament to improve its updating flexibility allowing provisions to apply novel technologies for DHR. Originality/value Being one of the very first of this kind of research, contextually, the research is original. This study provokes insightful investigation of drywall technologies for DHR beyond its overlooked properties. This study reveals many wall construction challenges of the 2016 Samasarakanda DHR which have not yet been explored in research.
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