SLIIT International Conference on Engineering and Technology [SICET]
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SLIIT International Conference on Engineering and Technology is organized by the Faculty of Engineering. SICET welcomes submissions from various disciplines, focusing on emerging trends in Engineering, Technology, and Applied and Natural Sciences. The conference will encompass research in theory, practical applications, and education. This event offers a unique platform for academics, student researchers, and industry practitioners to present innovative ideas and engage with professionals from diverse engineering fields
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Publication Embargo Driving Towards Sustainability During the Construction Phase of Roads in Sri Lanka by Mitigating CO2 Emission: A Systematic Literature Review Approach(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-10) Yaparathnea, I.H.G.Y.M. Udari; Guruge, KClimate change has become a pressing concern for humanity in the contemporary era. Scientists believe that the acceleration of global warming and climate change is directly linked to the rising concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). This has become a challenge for many developing countries. The construction industry is one of the sectors that significantly contributed to heightened carbon emissions into the environment. Road construction involves various activities and processes that release substantial amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Addressing these issues are crucial for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and fostering sustainable development. The development of road infrastructure generates CO2 emissions across various stages. Notably, the construction stage is responsible for a significant portion of these emissions. Despite this, research efforts in Sri Lanka have primarily focused on reducing CO2 emissions in building construction projects, with limited attention to strategies specifically targeting road construction projects. The construction phase of road development has thus far been overlooked in terms of CO2 emission reduction strategies. Consequently, this study seeks to raise awareness among academics, professionals, and practitioners involved in road development projects about the factors influencing CO2 emissions during the road construction phase. The objectives of this study are to examine the factors affecting CO2 emissions during road construction development, identify the activities and processes contributing to CO2 emissions during the construction phase of road projects, explore existing sustainable strategies used in road construction to mitigate CO2 emissions, and assess their applicability to the Sri Lankan Road construction sector. A systematic literature review was conducted to achieve these objectives, selecting the fifty-six most relevant past research studies.Publication Embargo Potential Use of Partnering Procurement to Minimize Project Delays in Private-Sector Construction Projects(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-10) Hasaranga, K.K.A.P; Bandaraa, R.P.H.S.Project delivery delays remain a critical factor for project success in private-sector construction projects. This research explores the potential of Partnering Procurement as a strategic approach to minimize project delays. Partnering Procurement emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and long-term relationships among project stakeholders, including clients, contractors, and subcontractors. The study aims to investigate Partnering Procurement's effectiveness in minimizing project delays in private-sector Construction projects. The research methodology encompasses a comprehensive literature review and quantitative data collection method. The survey will be designed to collect quantitative data on the benefits and challenges associated with partnering procurement and its effectiveness in minimizing project delays. The anticipated outcome of this research reveals key contributors to delays in privatesector construction projects. Financial problems and payment delays from clients, drawing submission delays from consultants, and improper project management from contractors stand out as critical factors. This research includes a deeper understanding of the benefits and challenges of partnering procurement in private-sector construction projects. The findings will contribute to the body of knowledge in construction management and guide project stakeholders on the effective implementation of partnering procurement to minimize project delays. By minimizing project delays, private-sector construction projects can enhance their competitiveness, deliver projects within budget and schedule, and ultimately satisfy the needs of clients and stakeholders.Publication Embargo An Investigation on the Reliability of Pile Toe Defect Rectification Method used in Sri Lanka(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-10) Hapugaswatte, M; Thilakarathne, T.M.D; Thilakasiri, H.SThe foundation is the vital part of any infrastructure as it will be the element that will eventually bear the superstructure load. In cases where the soil conditions are poor and structural loads are high, pile foundations are used more often. These piles should be defect free to not fail under the structural loads. So, the identification and rectification of such defects should be performed at early stages of construction. In this study, the reliability of the rectification method used for pile toe defect rectification in Sri Lanka (pile coring and grouting method) is studied. Raw data from 11 piles, found as defective through Cross-hole Sonic Logging (CSL) test, are analyzed. Six of these piles were retested after rectification using the same test while the remaining piles were retested using High Strain Dynamic (PDA) test. Out of the six piles, three showed an increase in the effective area, two still showed some defective areas and one was an incomplete test due to a blocked tube. Out of the five tested through PDA test, only one showed an acceptable β value, which is a parameter that represents the scale of the pile defects identified. Therefore, it was concluded that even though there is an overall improvement in the pile effective area, some defects could still exist within the pile that may require to be rectified and retested for integrity. It was also concluded that due to the comparatively lower accuracy of the PDA test, acceptance of a defective pile based only on this test without rectification is not acceptable. Future research suggestions were made to further refine the results of this research and to expand the scope to defects in other regions of the pile.Publication Embargo Data-Driven Bioclimatic Zoning in Sri Lanka: PCA and Clustering Analysis(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-10) Nadarajah, P.D; Singh, M.K; Mahapatra, SDriven by evolving lifestyles and the escalating demand for thermal comfort, Sri Lanka faces a critical absence of climate zone classifications necessary for constructing energy-efficient and climateresponsive buildings. This study addresses this gap by implementing bioclimatic zoning using a comprehensive 31-year weather dataset of 25 locations across the country. By applying Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering to the 31-year weather data, Sri Lanka was classified into three distinct bioclimatic zones: Z1 (Hot and humid), Z2 (Cool and humid), and Z3 (Warm and humid). Bioclimatic potential analysis for each zone reveals natural ventilation as the most effective passive design strategy, demonstrating potential percentages of 64 ± 13%, 63 ± 10%, and 83 ± 4% in a year for Z1, Z2, and Z3, respectively. These findings underscore the crucial role of bioclimatic zoning in guiding the design of energy-efficient buildings in Sri Lanka. The approach contributes significantly to achieving national energy efficiency goals by leveraging climate-specific passive design strategies and reducing reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems. Moreover, the study not only classifies Sri Lanka into three bioclimatic zones but also emphasises the broader impact of implementing such strategies on sustainable construction practices. This research, therefore, stands at the intersection of bioclimatic zoning, sustainable building practices, and the evolving energy landscape.Publication Open Access Microplastic Content in Non-Point Source And Point Sources of Colombo And Suburbs – Experimental Study on the Impact of Seasonal Variation(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2023-03-25) Ariyawansha, R.B.V.K.; Gomes, P.I.A.Microplastics, which can enter aquatic environments through various sources, are small plastic pieces that are less than 5 mm in length. There are two types: primary and secondary microplastics. Sri Lanka has limited studies on microplastics in inland water bodies, so this research aims to quantify the levels of microplastic pollution in Colombo's surface waters in a spatiotemporal manner. Samples were taken from Beira Lake, Dutch canal network, Talangama canal, in wet and dry seasons. Microplastic concentrations were determined using NOAA guidelines and an optical microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 21, including One-way Anova and Pearson correlations to identify significant differences and correlations. The study found that Dutch Canal had the highest average microplastic concentration of 12.7 mg/L during the wet season, and the lowest of 4.2 mg/L during the dry season. Both Dutch Canal and Talangama canal showed significantly higher microplastic concentrations during the wet season than the dry season, while the opposite was found in Beira Lake. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between microplastic concentrations in wet and dry seasons in all three water bodies. The microplastic levels in Beira Lake were higher on the surface water during the dry season (4.32 mg/L) and wet season (13.77 mg/L) compared to point sources (4.05 mg/L and 11.68 mg/L, respectively). Furthermore, Dutch canal's point sources showed higher during the dry season (8.47 mg/L) than the wet season (11.51 mg/L) and concentration of microplastics on the surface water was higher during the wet season (5.73 mg/L) than the dry season (7.16 mg/L). Talangama canal had similar patterns to Beira Lake. The study found microplastic contamination in urban and semi-urban surface waters at levels comparable to some industrialized countries, highlighting a concerning issue.Publication Open Access Health, safety, and environmental impacts of road infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka; Impact analysis on ongoing and temporarily suspended road works(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2023-03-25) Kariyawasam, D.D.S.A.; Gomes, P.I.A.Road networks are considered to be the primary mode of transport in Sri Lanka. Road infrastructure plays an important role in the country’s economy. The work environment of construction projects is generally considered one of the most dangerous places for work. The current economic recession faced by Sri Lanka has led to the temporary suspension of road works. The aim of this study is to identify the main types of health, safety, and environmental issues that occur in the construction of different ongoing and suspended road infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. Questionnaire surveys, discussions, and site observations were carried out to collect data from road projects of different classes. Data analysis was done using the SPSS (Version 28) statistical software. The findings of the research indicated that vehicle collisions were the most common type of occupational accident faced in road construction in Sri Lanka. The fatality rate caused due to poor health and safety management of road construction works was compared with the construction of buildings and other developing countries. The results obtained from the study also identified that negligence was the main factor that influenced low safety standards on-site, which in turn impacted the performance of the construction project. Measures taken by construction companies of different grades to improve health and safety standards were also studied in the research. It was also evident that suspended road projects had an adverse effect on the environment, as it was seen that these sites possessed a loss in diversity, high chances of sediment erosion, and a rise in mosquito breeding locations. The findings of this research highlight the need of prioritizing health and safety in road projects and also enable construction companies to handle construction work in a way that minimizes environmental damage occurs.Publication Open Access Effect on Time Management Due to Variations in Road Construction Projects in Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2023-03-25) Atapattu, A.L.S.O.; Bandara, R.P.H.S.Variations are reoccurring and inevitable incidents in construction projects. It alludes to any adjustment in project scope at any instance of construction process. There are numerous causes of variation depending upon different parties involved, complexity of project and the type of project. These variations are acknowledged to affect different viewpoints of the projects. The thesis evaluated the effect of time management due to variations in road projects in Sri Lanka to diminish them. In order to achieve the study objectives, a basic survey of literature review was done accompanied with a quantitative survey with industry experts were carried out to gather data on impact of time management due to variations in construction projects. Through the writing study, 50 causes of variation orders were recognized but, they were shortlisted since there were so many similar causes. Out of them design faults were identified as the major cause of variations. When it comes to the impact on time overrun, it was discovered that variations affect on time of a project adversely. Finally, mitigation strategies for variations have been proposed in the study. The recognized results from literature overview were moreover subjected to a test by the 33 specialists in the industry including contractors, consultants, and clients to be more precise. The results were analyzed using SPSS. The study's final recommendation is that to all parties to get involved, to reduce variation orders beginning with the initial design phase, manage variation orders during the construction phase using an efficient change management system, and adopt various technologies to speed up the variation management procedure.Publication Open Access Strength Gain of Organic Soil Deposits Subjected to Increase in the Effective Stress(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2023-03-25) Nanayakkara, D.A.S.; Thilakarathne, T.M.D.; Thilakasiri, H.S.Organic soil has weak shear strength properties in its natural texture. However, a significant gain in strength can be achieved in such soils by increasing the effective stresses using preloading techniques. This research focuses on the organic soil deposits in Sri Lanka by analyzing the data from Colombo- Katunayake Expressway (CKE) project and Elevated Highway (EH) project spanning from New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya. As a developing country, Sri Lanka is facing a huge challenge due to its limited land available towards the infrastructure development. Therefore, construction should also be directed on organic soils despite of considering its weak shear strength properties as the soil can be modified to enhance its properties. To predict the strength gain of organic soils subjected to effective stresses, empirical correlations are used such as Skempton and Bjerrum equation (1957). As depicted in such correlations, the ratio of undrained shear strength and effective overburden pressure is observed against the Plasticity Index (PI) using field data. From the results of the analysis, it is discovered that using empirical correlations is very conservative for organic soils within the Sri Lankan context. Particularly, use of empirical correlations is very safe but beyond the economic considerations. In the extension of the research, an argument is generated to validate the use of PI to predict normalized shear ratio. To validate the argument, SPSS statistical software was used to perform the multiple regression analysis having PI, natural void ratio and organic content as the independent variables. From the statistical analysis, it was found that using only PI to predict the strength gain is not conservative for Sri Lankan organic soils subjected to effective stresses. These generated results are identical to conclusions drawn governing the inorganic soils in the state of Missouri (2011).Publication Open Access Impact to the Quantity Surveyors Due to the Current Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2023-03-25) Manawasinghe, S.I; Gunarathna, N; Perera, SThis research focuses on the impact to the Quantity Surveyors due to the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka. The Easter bomb attack, covid 19 pandemic, and political instability can be seen as the proximate causes of the current economic crisis, while there were many structural issues of the local economy which had paved way for the same. As a developing country, the crisis had a stronger impact on the construction industry than other industries of the economy. The main reasons for the collapse of the construction industry are the suspension of construction projects by the government, the increase in the price of construction materials, the lack of investors to invest in new projects, and bottlenecks in terms of wrong policy directives. The professionals in the construction industry were severely impacted by the downfall. Among the professionals in the construction industry, this study focusses on QSs- (Quantity Surveyors). Thirty (30) semi-structured interviews were carried out in terms of data gathering. The survey findings demonstrated the type of organization and working experience of QSs. The collected data were analyzed using techniques of thematic analysis. Moreover, the findings identified factors which were the challenges due to current economic crisis and proposed strategies to help overcome those challengesPublication Open Access Critical Driving Factors Influencing Awareness and Application of Industrialized Building System (IBS) Technology Among the Building Contractors in Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, 2023-03-25) Chandrasena, S; Mallawaarachchi, HAs the commonly applied approach in building construction, conventional construction approach is linked to low quality and productivity, higher danger to employee safety, high reliance on labour and cost and time overruns. Hence, Industrialised Building System (IBS) has been emerged as an alternative for conventional construction by overcoming its shortfalls. Previous studies identified the lack of awareness and application can be taken as most critical factor influencing the application of IBS. Also, there are some of other critical factors which directly influence for this regard. Since a few studies has been focused on evaluating the significance of such driving factors, the purpose of this research was to assess the criticality of driving factors influencing awareness and application of IBS technology among the building contractors in Sri Lanka. In order to fulfil aim and objectives of the research, deductive approach under quantitative phenomenon was used. The Survey strategy was adopted as the most ideal research strategy as this research focused on evaluating the criticality of driving factors. Questionnaire survey was used as the primary data collection technique. Accordingly, the questionnaire was distributed to 50 randomly selected practitioners from the building contracting organisations, such as Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Engineers to collect the data. Data were analyzed by using Weighted Mean Average (WMA) and Relative Importance Index (RII) techniques. As derived through analysis, 13 factors affecting the level of awareness and application of IBS, which were identified through literature review were assessed to determine the significant factors. Results revealed that cost of construction is the most significant factor while small contractors’ involvement is the least significant factor. As the main implication this research provides a basis to further improve the use of IBS technology in Sri Lanka and introduce different methods to reduce the initial cost of the construction.