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
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Barriers and enablers to BIM-enabled energy efficiency optimisation in the Sri Lankan building sector
(Facilities Management Research Unit (FaMRU), 2026) Madushanka, TH; Soorige, SDA; Madhusanka, HWN
This paper examines the barriers and enablers shaping Building Information Modelling (BIM) enabled energy-efficiency optimisation in Sri Lanka’s building sector. Although BIM is widely associated with digital mod-elling, coordination, and visualisation, its value for energy performance depends on whether project teams can generate, exchange, interpret, and act on reliable information across the building lifecycle. The study adopts a conceptual research design that synthesises the literature on BIM-based energy analysis, Levels of Development (LOD), interoperability, stakeholder readiness, and implementation conditions in developing countries. The an-alytical procedure organises the evidence around lifecycle decision points, phase-specific capacity demands, information-handover requirements, and the quality conditions required for dependable simulation outputs. The results identify BIM information maturity, information quality, interoperability, stakeholder capacity, and gov-ernance as the principal determinants of decision readiness for energy optimisation. They also show that barriers and enablers vary by project phase, requiring differentiated interventions rather than generic BIM training. Based on this synthesis, the paper presents the conceptual framework developed for the study and operation-alises its constructs for later empirical application. The paper contributes an energy-first, lifecycle-oriented ex-planation of how digital adoption can enable more dependable energy-related decision-making and building performance improvement in Sri Lanka and comparable developing-country contexts.
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Adoption of artificial intelligence to mitigate and resolve disputes in the Sri Lankan construction industry
(2026) Janaka, WRGC; Waidyasekara, A
Construction industry is a sector frequently affected by conflicts arising from contractual ambiguities, delayed payments, scope variations, and quality deficiencies. These disputes often cause project delays, cost overruns, and deterioration of professional relationships, while conventional mechanisms such as litigation and arbitration remain adversarial, time consuming, and costly. Consequently, there is a clear need for more efficient, technology enabled approaches to dispute management such as natural language processing, machine learning, and expert systems. These technologies can support automated contract review, prediction of claims, early identification of dispute risks, and data driven support for negotiation and mediation. However, despite the global diffusion of such tools, their integration into the Sri Lankan construction sector remains limited. Therefore, this study examines the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance dispute mitigation and resolution within the Sri Lankan construction industry. It aims to assess the current level of awareness and willingness among industry professionals to implement AI tools, alongside evaluating the perceived benefits and utility of these technologies in managing construction disputes.
The study employed a quantitative research design and targets construction and information technology professionals actively engaged in the sector. Data were collected using structured questionnaires developed from the Technology Acceptance Model, Innovation Diffusion Theory, and Institutional Theory to capture awareness, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and institutional pressures. The data are analysed using descriptive statistics to concerning the determinants of AI adoption intention.
The findings indicate that perceived usefulness and awareness of AI are the most influential drivers of willingness to adopt AI based tools, while technological complexity, regulatory ambiguity, organizational resistance, and cost related concerns significantly hinder adoption. Cognitive and institutional factors emerge as more critical than mere technological readiness. The study proposes strategic actions including targeted professional training, phased implementation of AI solutions, clearer regulatory guidance, and investment in digital infrastructure. These initiatives are expected to narrow the gap between AI’s potential and its practical deployment, and to support the evolution of a more transparent, efficient, and collaborative dispute resolution environment aligned with Sri Lanka’s long term development objectives.
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Effective management of EOT claims in Sri Lankan road projects under pandemic context
(2026) Haththotuwa, HMDS; Devapriya, KAK
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant surge in Extension of Time (EOT) claims in Sri Lankan road construction projects, primarily due to unprecedented disruptions, limited documentation, and a lack of prior experience in managing pandemic-related delays and claims. The approval process for EOT claims became prolonged and complex, resulting in disputes, project delays, and operational inefficiencies within the industry. Despite these challenges, there is a lack of research addressing effective mechanisms for evaluating and administering EOT claims in a pandemic context.
This study aims to explore pandemic-related delay causes, assess weaknesses in the current EOT claim process, and develop an improved framework for managing EOT claims in road construction projects under a pandemic context. A mixed methods research approach was adopted, involving an open-ended questionnaire survey administered to industry professionals to identify existing issues and potential improvement strategies regarding EOT claims. The findings were further validated through an expert panel interview to ensure industry relevance and practical feasibility. Statistical analysis, including the use of SPSS where appropriate, was employed to interpret and validate the survey results.
The study identifies the implementation of an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) as the most suitable and effective proposal for enhancing EOT claim management practices under pandemic conditions when compared to the other proposed recommendations. The proposed mechanism is expected to improve documentation handling, transparency, tracking efficiency, and timely decision- making, thereby strengthening the overall EOT claim process within the Sri Lankan road construction sector in the pandemic context. Overall, this study provides key insights into the factors contributing to construction project delays, notification, and EOT approval issues during the pandemic, and proposes some other mitigation strategies and mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of the EOT claim process in Sri Lankan road projects under pandemic conditions
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Determinants of solar photovoltaic system performance in Sri Lanka
(Facilities Management Research Unit (FaMRU), 2026) Ekanayake, S; Rajini. PAD; Samarakoon, WKURMKPK
Given the rapid development of solar technology over the past few decades, and its location in the equatorial belt, Sri Lanka has experienced a rapid expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in recent years. As solar energy becomes a significant portion of the national energy balance and a substantial financial com-mitment, it is essential to ensure the optimal performance of a solar PV system. The performance of a solar PV system is primarily affected by the quality and reliability of the system itself, which is dependent on its manu-facturing, construction, and installation aspects. However, solar PV system performance is also greatly affected by several other factors during its operation. Accordingly, this study specifically investigates the determinants of solar PV system performance in Sri Lanka during the operational stage. An extensive literature review iden-tified operational, maintenance, and environmental determinants, and through expert interviews, the applica-bility of the identified determinants in the Sri Lankan context was examined. In addition, the research identified outdated grid infrastructure and voltage fluctuations as external factors that can also affect the performance of solar PV systems.
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Investigating the barriers in implementing AHU condensate water utilisation strategy for improving water conservation in hotel facilities in Sri Lanka
(Facilities Management Research Unit (FaMRU), 2026) Dewmini Manage, KMD; Rajini, PAD; Samarakoon, WKURMKPK
Among emerging water conservation strategies, utilising Air Handling Unit (AHU) condensate water, a byproduct generated during the cooling and dehumidification process of HVAC systems, presents a promising yet largely untapped strategy for water conservation in hotel facilities in Sri Lanka. While the international studies confirm the technical feasibility and economic viability of AHU condensate water utilisation strategy, its limited adoption in Sri Lankan hotels suggests that the challenges lie not in feasibility but in overcoming the barriers that hinder its implementation. However, identifying these barriers is crucial because, without addressing them, the theoretical potential of AHU condensate utilisation cannot be translated into practical implementation. Therefore, this study aims to identify the barriers in implementing AHU condensate water utilisation concept in hotel facilities in Sri Lanka, providing a comprehensive understanding of the constraints limiting its adoption. The study adopted a qualitative approach by conducting expert interviews among five industry experts on the area of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and energy efficiency. Thematic analysis was conducted manually to analyse the data, and the research identified twenty barriers which could be categorised under four key categories as financial barriers, technical barriers, environmental barriers and organisational barriers. The findings revealed that high capital costs, design and installation complexity, insufficient staff expertise, fluctuating condensate generation due to climatic conditions, contamination risks, and limited government support were the major barriers affecting the implementation of AHU condensate water utilisation in Sri Lankan hotel facilities.