2020 - (Vol. 07, Issue 01)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/18677

Browse

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

item: Article-Full-text
An Alternative Approach to Assess The Residential Population Resilience to Urban Flooding
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Kalpana, LDCHN; Jayasinghe, AB; Abenayake, CC; Wijayawardana, PNP
Community resilience assessments and minimizing the anticipated disruptions to vulnerable communities, is a broad topic in disaster studies. In common practice, most of the indicator-based resilience assessment studies rely on statistical aggregation methods of tabular data collected for macro administrative units, as it is readily available in most of the countries. However, this method confronts severe drawbacks in converting such data into micro-scale geospatial units. To address those issues, this study proposes to utilize the Dasymetric Mapping Technique in the geospatial population resilience assessments, as it is capable of identifying the micro level impact to the population distribution as a pixel representation. In order to geospatially demonstrate the population exposure, the study has selected three major flooding events occurred in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The results revealed a great applicability of the proposed method as a statistical approach which estimates the exposed population by over 90% accuracy. Therefore, the proposed method is recommended to be utilized as an efficient tool of community resilience assessment as it is highly accurate in downscaling the spatial distribution of population data.
item: Article-Full-text
Corporate Social Responsibility Performance Evaluation Of Construction Organisations In Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Somarathna, HMPP; Francis, M; Mallawarachch, H
Through considering social and environmental factors in organisational activities, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is broadly defined as ensuring organisational effectiveness. In the construction industry in Sri Lanka, organisations are very excited to take part in CSR initiatives for sustainable business growth. The current research tends to investigate CSR performance indicators of Construction organisations and develops a CSR performance evaluation framework for construction organisations. A comprehensive literature review was executed identifying CSR performance indicators for the construction industry. Literature review found that, CSR holds that three main dimensions as economic responsibility, social responsibility and environmental responsibility. Correspondingly, in literature review identified CSR performance indicators of those CSR dimension. Then a quantitative approach using questionnaire survey is adopted to investigate the research phenomena. Subsequently, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique used to determine relative performance scores of each CSR dimension and CSR performance indicators. Finally, a CSR performance evaluation framework was developed for construction organisations in Sri Lanka.
item: Article-Full-text
Drivers And Barriers Of Using Intrenet Of Things For Successful Lean Implementation In Construction Projects In Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Sandagomika, NMGH; Sandanayake, YG; Ekanayake, BJ
With the rising impact of technological advancements within all sectors, there is an increase in interest among construction industry practitioners to integrate novel technologies collaborated with concepts. Lean is one such concept, which has received growing attention of construction companies. However, past researchers have identified many barriers for successful lean implementation in global construction context, where, technological approaches seem to be a success factor. Many experts have identified Internet of Things (IoT) as an enabler for the lean implementation in construction, which is undoubtedly lacking in the Sri Lankan context. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the drivers and barriers for using IoT for successful lean implementation in Sri Lankan construction industry. Seven semi structured interviews with experts in IoT and lean construction were conducted under the qualitative approach for data collection to achieve the research aim. Findings highlighted increased product and process quality; reduced unnecessary delays in construction process; reduced unnecessary costs; enhanced inventory management system; and increased site safety as key drivers, whereas, expensive devises and high cost of implementation; resistance to change; lack of internet coverage, IT facilities and compatibility issues; difficulties to adapt due to lack of knowledge and skills; security and privacy issues; and lack of innovative culture were identified as key barriers of using IoT for successful lean implementation in Sri Lankan construction industry. Findings revealed the several similarities in drivers and barriers of using IoT for lean construction implementation both in global and Sri Lankan context.
item: Article-Full-text
Finding The Logic Of Location: An Analysis Of The Distribution Pattern Of Urban Activities In The City Of Colombo With Space Syntax
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Munaisnghe, JN; Bandara, A
The self-organized order of the types, scales, and locations of different activities in urban areas has throughout been a matter of concern for planning. In order to regulate ‘unplanned’ distribution of activities in urban areas, planning authorities used different tools, of which zoning is still the most popular. However, except under heavily regimented conditions, zoning has continuously failed to withstand the forces that empowered urban activities to find their preferred locations in an urban area. Hence, planners need more strategic approaches than conventional methods in order to deal with the location dynamics of urban activities. In this regard, a comprehensive understanding on space appropriation by urban activities and the methods in which such understanding can be effectively integrated into planning strategies, are essential in planners. In a context where the available theories were limited in serving for this purpose, the Space Syntax method provides planners with a more convincing method to analyze and simulate spatial dynamics of urban areas, relating to ‘spatial integration’, which is an attribute that emerges from the overall configuration of the physical environment. Using this method, this study explored the potential relationship between the location choices of different urban activity types, and the level of spatial integration of their current locations within the core area of the city of Colombo.
item: Article-Full-text
A Gis-Based Simulation Application To Model Surface Runoff Level In Urban Blocks.
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Wijayawardana, PNP; Abenayake, CC; ayasinghe, AB; Kalpana, LDCHN; Dias, N; Amaratunga, D; Haigh, R
Simulation of flood inundation in urban areas longer important, given the magnitude of potential loss and disruption associated with non-river based, urban flooding. The complexity of the urban environment and lack of high-resolution topographic and hydrologic data compromise the development and implementation of models. Low impact development (LID) is technical know-how on a collection of sustainable practices that mimic natural hydrological functions including infiltration, evapotranspiration or use of surface runoff. Several studies have been carried out to discuss the impact of urbanization scenarios in reducing the urban flood risk in watershed scale in Sri Lanka. Yet, there is a gap remains in simulating the effectiveness of LID-based planning practices to reduce flood risk with the complex built form scenarios. In such a situation, this study attempts to make a significant contribution to simulate the variations of flood regulation functions under different high-intensive urban development scenarios, particularly focusing on the urban metropolitan regions. The analyses were carried out utilizing SWMM (Storm Water Management Model) which is open-source flood inundation simulation approach with the help of GIS in a more qualitative manner. The simulation results indicate that expanding built form scenarios increase the flood venerability for city functions, increasing inundation duration and LID scenarios able to reduce the surface runoff to reduce flood vulnerability at a significant level. The simulation results had been verified with the real ground situation (mean percentage change < 15.5%) which able to capture the thresholds of built form variation, as well as dynamic land uses and infrastructure supply which can be used as a tool for future planning practices and decision-making.
item: Article-Full-text
Hygrothermal Performance Of Old Lime Plastered Spaces In A Hot And Dry Climate
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Paralkar, V; Damle, R
Lime plaster is one of the key sustainable building materials which is also effective as a passive cooling strategy. Since it is being used for ages now, it is the most compatible material for old heritage structures. Thus, majorly used in conservation projects. In this work, the hygrothermal performance of lime plaster is observed through simulations and surveys. Residential surveys are carried out for occupied old naturally ventilated spaces. The inner surface temperature, relative humidity, and moisture content of the walls are measured. Simultaneously, the indoor air temperature, relative humidity, globe temperature, and air velocity are measured. In hygroscopic materials like lime plaster, realistic conditions like mold growth cannot be predicted through simulations. A simulation of thermal and hygrometric behavior of historical buildings is a challenge. An inaccurate simulation may lead to inadequate conclusions, which could lead to inappropriate and dangerous actions for the building’s heritage conservation. An attempt is made to use the survey readings and observations to predict the phenomenon of mold growth in a space while conducting simulations. Using a combined approach of simulation and survey, it was possible to predict the mold risk of the space
item: Article-Full-text
A Machine Learning Approach Towards Determining The Openness Of Urban Plaza
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Alam, MDS; Imam, CA
The design of urban plaza is guided by the principle of D/H ratio where D denotes distance and H denotes building façade height which provides a quantitative measure of the enclosure. Plaza has been considered as an outdoor room and the buildings are the walls. But these urban walls are not continuous. Connecting roads, voids between buildings, the variation of building heights, and the omission of building on any side of the plaza affect openness. So, maintaining the same D/H ratio the sense of enclosure can be varied. This paper aims at determining the inter-relation of openness with distance and height for better understanding the idea of enclosure of urban plaza using machine learning algorithms. Machine learning can be used to determine the non-linear relationship between multiple variables. The variables D and H are set by the author where the perforation of the surrounding elevation varied, then respondents were asked to rate the degree of openness of the plazas based on their virtual journey using a head-mounted Virtual Reality (VR) display. Utilizing their responses an inter-relation among the parameters is determined by training up an artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict the openness of any plaza. This can be used as a process of analyzing user experience of urban plazas.
item: Article-Full-text
Management Of Aggregate Base Course Wastage In Road Construction Projects
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Priyaruwan, EAS; Shandraseharan, A; Perera, BAKS
The construction industry in a country contributes significantly to the national economy. Developing countries in Asia produce a huge amount of construction waste. Road Construction (RC) projects, which are quite risky, often end up with cost and time overruns. Construction materials account for a major portion of the cost overruns. Thus, the management of material wastage in construction projects is important. Aggregate Base Course (ABC) wastage affects the cost of RC significantly. Thus, this study was on the waste management of ABC in RC projects executed in Sri Lanka. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and the required empirical data were collected by interviewing 13 experts. The interview findings were analysed manually using content analysis. The interviews were conducted based on the findings of a literature review. The interviews findings disclosed that improper material storage in sites, material wastage during transportation, improper material utilization, and professional inefficiency as the major factors that contribute to material wastage in road projects. Material reconciliation and proper documentation were identified as the two most common strategies that can be adopted to manage the material wastage in RC projects.
item: Article-Full-text
Requirement Area Review: Flexible Study srea For Traffic Impact Assessments
(Faculty of Architecture University of Moratuwa, 2020-11) Pathiraja, ALAC; De Silva, PCP; Jayasinghe, AB
New developments will contribute to increased traffic to the external environment. Therefore, the majority of nations, in planning and building regulations and guidelines have adopted steps to control them beforehand. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, new developments in the approval process should be undertaken, based on their legal specifications and through a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA). Although the management of traffic from new developments is exceedingly positive, one of the problematic sectors noted in the TIA study is a fixed study area. Consequently, a 500 m buffer area from the proposed site edges is currently being taken as the study area in Sri Lanka. The geographical extent of the traffic impact area is not a fixed bound-ary. Particularly based on a set of parameters, the true catchment area could be changed. A fixed boundary may, therefore, misdirect developers, consultants and planning authorities in decision making in situations of transport planning. Owing to this very debatable selection, almost all studies have been incorrect. Consequently, this research focuses on investigating the requirement of flexible study areas for traffic impact assessments of distinctly unique developments

Browse

Browsing 2020 - (Vol. 07, Issue 01) by Title