Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
Welcome to the University of Moratuwa Digital Repository, which houses postgraduate theses and dissertations, research articles presented at conferences by faculties and departments, university-published journal articles and research publications authored by academic staff. This online repository stores, preserves and distributes the University's scholarly work. This service allows University members to share their research with a larger audience.
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Recent Submissions
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Development and performance evaluation of polymer cement hybrid bricks incorporating polymeric waste for sustainable construction
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Yasir, AAM; Liyanage, AN; Jayaweera, WAHI; Maduwanthi, AL; Herath, HMIK
The sudden emergence of the production of non biodegradable waste such as plastic and used tires is a grave environmental concern, with millions of tons being produced annually. Conventional methods of disposal such as landfilling, open dumping, and burning are leading to serious environmental effects [1]. Pyrolysis is a exciting waste to resource technology that produces oil, syngas, and a solid product pyrolysis char [2]. While oil and syngas are widely used as fuel, pyrolysis char finds limited application in Sri Lanka, where most of the plants are for fuel recovery. Pyrolysis yields about 30% to 40% of char material, which contains value added material like carbon black and silica and possesses properties like porosity, high percentage of carbon, and thermal stability and is thus usable in lightweight construction bricks [3]. Char must be bound by materials like cement or other substances to impart strength and endurance. Despite global attention on green construction materials, few studies have been conducted on using tire and plastic based pyrolysis char in bricks, particularly in Sri Lanka. This work reduces this gap by developing eco friendly bricks with locally manufactured pyrolysis char and silica Rich Husk Ash (RHA) [4]. The research seeks to optimize mix ratio, mechanical and heat testing, and compare performance to conventional clay and cement bricks. The outcomes are expected to promote circular economy practice and offer a sustainable alternative for Sri Lankan construction.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
CCTVIntelliGuard: an intelligent edge-based human motion detection and alerting system for CCTV surveillance
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Nithiyaraj, V; Sooriyaarachchi, SJ
Conventional CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) surveillance systems capture continuous video streams without intelligence, resulting in storage overhead, delayed incident response, and inability to differentiate human activity from irrelevant motion. This paper presents CCTV IntelliGuard, a lightweight edge-based module that enhances traditional CCTV systems with real-time human motion detection and logging. The system employs a hybrid approach combining OpenCV based motion detection with YOLOv8 (You Only Look Once) object detection model [1] , deployed on a Raspberry Pi 5 edge device. Upon detecting human activity and the system records timestamped video clips. This retrofit solution transforms conventional CCTV into intelligent surveillance with minimal additional infrastructure. And this is optimized computation through two-stage detection.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Quantification of microfiber shedding from synthetic garments: a case study of the Sri Lankan retail market
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Ashirwadanee, BAS; Thennakoon, ASM; Munasinghe, PD
Synthetic textiles specially polyester dominate the global fashion market due to their durebility, affordability, and commonness [1]. However, the laundering of those textiles release microscopic plastic, which we called microfibers. It is a primary subset of microplastics, affects to water bodies posing a massive environmental issue [2]. While this issue is well documented globally, there is a huge research gap in developing nations, mainly in Sri Lanka. Here, in Sri Lanka, presents a unique case due to mixed laundering habits (hand washing vs washing machines) and the growing market of affordable synthetic garment import, which is different than the Western contexts, where most data is available from [3]. Therefore, this introductory research aims to provide a quantitative analysis of microfiber pollution comes from Sri Lankan fashion retailers. Our goal is to measure the scale of microfiber shedding from local garments and identify key factors from fabric factors/qualities to consumer laundering habits, to establish the baseline for future mitigation strategies in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Comparison of machine learning models in predicting dam stability
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Sundararajah, T; Nihaaj, NMM; Ekanayake, LL
Granular filters are integral to the safety and operational performance of soil embankment dams, as they effectively mitigate internal erosion and piping phenomena. These filters function as protective barriers designed to retain base soil particles while simultaneously facilitating the safe passage of the seepage water. An effective filter design will have pore sizes that are sufficiently small to prevent the migration of underlying soil particles, while allowing seepage to continuously dissipate. Failing to provide optimum filter and base particle combination caused nearly 50% of dam failures occur due to internal erosion Foster et al (2000). Concurrently, the filter material must maintain adequate coarse particles to promote free drainage and prevent excessive pore water pressure, making a clear understanding of the interactions between base soil and filter materials essential for effective filter systems in embankment dam construction. Although numerous relationships have been proposed regarding particle size distributions, the complexity of combining filter and base soil gradations has prevented the development of a perfect criterion. To better address these complexities, machine learning provides a powerful approach, enabling the analysis of nonlinear and interdependent soil property patterns using experimental datasets and helping identify the most accurate models for predicting soil behavior
and stability.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Sustainable procurement in the Sri Lankan construction industry
(Engineering Research Unit, 2025) Navarathne, NS; Nihaaj, NMM; Ekanayake, LL
The construction industry is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s economy, contributing approximately 6% to the national GDP. However, the sector predominantly relies on conventional procurement practices that prioritize initial cost, often overlooking the long-term environmental, social, and economic implications the three pillars of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). Although there is a global transition toward sustainable procurement, its integration within Sri Lanka’s construction industry remains limited, leading to a significant knowledge gap. The recent introduction of the 2024 Procurement Guidelines, which recognize Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP), marks a positive policy shift than its earlier version of 2006. Nevertheless, the effective implementation of these principles is currently constrained, as the supporting framework from the National Procurement Commission is still under development. Therefore, this research aims to address this gap. The primary objective is to critically evaluate the current extent of sustainability integration within procurement processes in the Sri Lankan construction sector.