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.
 Research Publications |  Thesis & Dissertation |  E- Books |
 UoM Journal Publications |  UoM Conference Proceedings |  Articles published in Scimago's Q1 journals |  UoM Research Reports |  Other Articles authored by UoM staff |
Recent Submissions
item: Conference-Full-text
Project data responsibilities for carbon assessment in Sri Lankan construction industry
(Department of Building Economics, 2025) Rajapaksha RMTD; Gallage SD; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Jayasena, HS; Wimalaratne, PLI; Tennakoon, GA
The construction industry is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, driven by both embodied and operational carbon emissions. In Sri Lanka, the lack of a national standard and limited availability of local data have constrained effective carbon measurement and reduction. This study explores stakeholder data responsibilities in carbon assessment, focusing on the Sri Lankan construction sector. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 18 experts, the research identifies the process-based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method as the most appropriate for project-level carbon quantification. In contrast, the input-output method is recognised as a practical alternative in data-scarce situations. The study highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement across life cycle stages, with clients responsible for setting sustainability goals, consultants for conducting carbon calculations, contractors for collecting project data, and government bodies for establishing regulatory guidance. Key data types and stakeholder contributions are identified across construction stages, offering insights to enhance the accuracy and credibility of carbon assessments. The findings offer practical recommendations to promote more sustainable practices and enhance carbon accountability in Sri Lanka’s construction industry.
item: Conference-Full-text
Rainwater harvesting systems as a sustainable water management strategy: addressing water security challenges in Sri Lankan buildings
(Department of Building Economics, 2025) Wijerathna WMSD; Dulshan GAK; Wjayasenarathne KASH; Dilini RMA; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Jayasena, HS; Wimalaratne, PLI; Tennakoon, GA
Water scarcity has emerged as a critical challenge with wide-ranging implications for economic development, public health, and ecological balance. Despite receiving approximately 2,000 mm of annual rainfall, Sri Lanka struggles with inefficient rainwater capture, resulting in significant runoff losses and growing urban water stress. While rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) have been recognized for their sustainability potential, existing studies rarely examine the critical gap between policy mandates and their practical implementation in urban buildings. This paper addresses this gap by critically evaluating RWHS as a decentralized water management strategy for Sri Lankan buildings, with a focus on bridging policy–practice disconnects. Drawing on empirical evidence, policy documents, and comparative global practices, the study analyzes RWHS design elements, treatment technologies, performance indicators, and institutional frameworks. Case studies demonstrate that well-designed RWHS can reduce reliance on conventional water supplies by over 70% in institutional and commercial settings, while also contributing to stormwater management and climate resilience. However, widespread adoption remains constrained by inconsistent enforcement, limited incentives, and insufficient public awareness. This paper offers context-specific recommendations for integrating RWHS into urban planning and building codes more effectively. By clarifying these implementation barriers and solutions, the study contributes new insights that can guide policymakers, urban planners, and building professionals to leverage RWHS as a transformative tool for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 and long-term water security in Sri Lanka.
item: Conference-Full-text
Readiness to implement construction 4.0 applications in building construction projects in Sri Lanka
(Department of Building Economics, 2025) Yaparathne IHGYMWU; Dias DD; Guruge K; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Jayasena, HS; Wimalaratne, PLI; Tennakoon, GA
The Construction industry is a vital indicator of the country’s economic progress and development. Technological advancements play an essential role across various sectors, and their integration boosts both productivity and efficiency. Industry 4.0, a global concept, focuses on digitalising industries through cutting-edge technologies. Construction 4.0, as an application of Industry 4.0, seeks to enhance construction projects’ efficiency, effectiveness and profitability. While many countries have begun to adopt Construction 4.0 applications, studies show that the practical use of these technologies is significantly lower than their theoretical potential. This research investigates the readiness of the Sri Lankan building construction industry to implement Construction 4.0 technologies, with a specific focus on assessing the digital literacy of professionals in the sector. A qualitative approach was used, involving interviews with five experts, including academics and industry professionals, to evaluate the current level of digital literacy & awareness. This study followed four main objectives. The research was conducted in two phases: a thorough literature review and semi-structured interviews with five experts using snowball sampling. Data was analysed through coding techniques using NVivo 14 software. The findings revealed that while some technologies are being adopted in Sri Lanka’s construction projects, their use remains limited. BIM is the most widely adopted technology, while IoT, VR, AI, big data and cloud computing are only partially implemented. Technologies such as robotics, cobots, digital twins, AR,3D printing, and machine learning are scarcely used. Additionally, the study explored barriers to implementing construction 4.0 applications & strategies to overcome them.
item: Conference-Full-text
Review of circularity assessment tools in the built environment
(Department of Building Economics, 2025) Shende S; Anagal V; Manewa A; Karve S; Garud A; SiriwardenaKarve M; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Jayasena, HS; Wimalaratne, PLI; Tennakoon, GA
Adopting circular economy in the built environment requires a change in the approach of designing, constructing, operationalizing and deconstructing the buildings. The transition from a conventional building approach towards a circular economy in the built environment requires assessment tools that can evaluate environmental performance and the integration of circular economy (CE) principles across all building lifecycle stages. This study presents a comparative evaluation of 16 circularity assessment tools using two key dimensions: lifecycle coverage and circularity based on CE integration. In order to assess circularity, a standardized scoring system between 1 and 5 was developed, aligned with Ellen MacArthur Foundation's ReSOLVE framework. This study indicates that tools such as BAMB and Madaster offer high levels of CE integration, offering features as varied as material passports, lifecycle tracking, and design-for disassembly. Conventional Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools like SimaPro and GaBi, while good in modelling the environment, lack dedicated circularity indicators. Tools such as Circulytics and Level(s) show strength in strategic or organizational-level assessment, but do not provide technical detail regarding material recovery or component reuse. This comparative framework provides valuable insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to select or adapt circularity tools. In the Indian context, where sustainable urbanization is a national priority, contextualizing and integrating these tools with existing rating systems like GRIHA and LEED India could accelerate the adoption of circular construction practices.
item: Conference-Full-text
Review on technological interventions to enhance flood resilience in the built environment
(Department of Building Economics, 2025) Nayanathara RPT; Thayaparan M; Waidyasekara, KGAS; Jayasena, HS; Wimalaratne, PLI; Tennakoon,, GA
Floods are among the most common and destructive natural disasters worldwide, posing a substantial threat to the built environment and its socioeconomic stability. As climate change contributes to flood hazards, improving disaster resilience through technical means has become increasingly important. This paper aims to investigate the technological interventions that improve flood resilience in the built environment. Using a comprehensive literature review, the study investigates cutting-edge technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Twin (DT) highlighting their contribution to flood resilience in the built environment by improving risk assessment, enhancing early warning systems, facilitating real time monitoring, and supporting resilient planning and design strategies that enhance flood resilience in the built environment. To create a more resilient built environment, the paper concludes with recommendations for combining technology adoption with practice and policy.