Assessment of material wastage and material reconciliation practices in Sri Lankan road construction projects

Abstract

Road construction projects involve extensive use of materials such as asphalt, aggregates, and concrete, making them highly susceptible to material wastage and associated cost implications. Effective material reconciliation is therefore essential for monitoring material consumption, minimising wastage, and improving cost control. However, despite its importance, the application of structured material reconciliation practices in road construction projects in Sri Lanka remains limited and largely unstandardised. This study aims to identify wastage sensitive materials and examine the prevailing material reconciliation practices adopted in road construction projects in Sri Lanka. A quantitative research approach was adopted, where data were collected through a questionnaire survey administered among 54 road construction industry professionals using a heterogeneous purposive sampling technique. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis with the support of IBM SPSS software, employing statistical parameters including mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that asphalt is perceived as the most cost significant material in road construction projects. In contrast, aggregate and gravel were identified as the materials most susceptible to wastage due to factors such as transportation losses, handling issues, and storage challenges. The study further identified that material reconciliation in the Sri Lankan road construction sector is predominantly carried out through traditional manual practices. The adoption of advanced technological solutions and digital monitoring tools remains relatively limited. The study highlights the need for establishing standardised material reconciliation procedures and integrating digital technologies to enhance material monitoring, reduce wastage, and strengthen cost control in road construction projects.