Flow modelling of construction site materials and waste logistics

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the nature and extent of the current practice of logistics in the construction industry and to investigate the utility of reverse logistics in a construction context.Design/methodology/approachA pilot study was utilised to devise a method for the identification and measurement of parameters for incorporation within a process of construction site logistics optimisation. Data on vehicular movements were collected from seven sites in Cape Town. The data were used to design a flow model of material delivery and waste removal vehicular movements.FindingsThe results showed that in terms of transport distribution, of all vehicle movements observed, 62.6 per cent were classified as material delivery and 26.3 per cent as construction and demolition (C&D) waste removal. This ratio approximates to 2.4 materials delivery journeys to one waste removal journey. An optimised integrated materials delivery and waste removal logistics model is presented.Practical implicationsThe research has highlighted the potential for integration of building materials and C&D waste logistics. Based on the ratio of 2.4:1, up to 26.3 per cent of vehicular movements transiting sites could be eliminated by allowing material delivery vehicles to back‐haul waste to points of disposal, reuse or reclamation.Originality/valueThe potential use of “reverse logistics” in a construction context is demonstrated, as is the scope for the utilisation of spare capacity through the application of the reverse logistics concept and the possible reduction in unit costs and numbers of empty vehicular movements.

Addressing effective construction logistics through the lens of vehicle movements

“…The field observation established that significant amount of materials delivery vehicle movements (more than 45%) were empty runs to their return journey and 35% of C&D waste removal vehicle movements were empty runs on their forward journey. Compare to the similar study carried out in South Africa (Shakantu et al, 2008), it appears that the ratio at the observed site is higher than the counterparts in SA. During the construction process, some of the waste removal companies arrived site with empty bins and exchanged the filled bins back to either the landfills or company recycle plants.…”

“…From the non-monetary aspects, high transport requirement results in high social costs as well as a wide range of associated negative environmental impacts in the form of congestion, road accidents, environmental pollution, and noise generation (Shakantu et al, 2008).…”

“…Thus, effective construction logistics should provide appropriate trade-offs involving costs and service in the supply chain by integrating materials supply, storage, processing and handling; manpower supply, schedule control; site infrastructure and equipment location; physical site flow management and information management (Shakantu et al, 2008). Bowersox et al (2007) claims that "few consumers fully understand how dependent our economic system is upon economical and dependable transportation".…”

A Review of Reverse Logistics: An Upstream Construction Supply Chain Perspective

“…In other words, the results of the content analysis indicated that the current focus of reverse logistics literature in the construction industry is primarily on end-of-life waste management. Hosseini et al [17] x Chileshe et al [18] x Hosseini et al [19] x Chileshe et al [25] x Nunes et al [26] x Arif et al [27] x Aidonis et al [30] x Aidonis et al [31] x Al-Aomar and Weriakat [32] x Arif et al [33] x Beldek et al [34] x Bock and Linner [35] x Bock and Linner, [36] x Chileshe, et al [37] x x Chinda [38] x Chinda and Ammarapala [39] x Chinda et al [40] x Dim et al [41] x Ding et al [42] x Fabbe-Costes and Jahre [43] x Fu et al [44] x Gomes et al [45] x Hosseini et al [46] x Ketikidis et al [47] x Kim et al [48] x Mathiyazhagan and Noorul [49] x x Negi et al [50] x Netro et al [51] x Ojo et al [52] x Ojo et al [53] x Qiuliang et al [54] x Rameezdeen et al [55] x Sabai [56] x Schamne et al [57] x Schultmann and Sunke [58] x Shakantu, and Emuze [59] x Shakantu et al [60] x Simon et al [61] x Sinha and Taneerananon [62] x Sobotka and Czaja [63] x Sobotka and Segan [64] x Stokić and Rado...…”

An approach to packaging waste reverse logistics: case of Slovenia

“…An inverse logistics and recycling facilities network evaluation system was developed and applied to collecting and recycling municipal waste plastics by means of simulation and virtual engineering by Yoshinaga et al (2002). Further outside retail domain construction site material and waste flow was modelled and examined (Shakantu et al 2008), while Hogland and Stenis (2000) conducted an assessment and analysis of an industrial WMS at a large paper company and Abeliotis et al (2009) developed a decision support system for analysing solid WMS on national and municipal level. Methodologically, European Commission Directorate-General Environment (EC DGE 2012) proposes a WM planning guidance and UNEP (2009) sets forth basic analytical perspectives on WMS.…”