Research Publications

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Embargo
Tactile Sustainability: Exploring Sensory Perception in Sustainable Building Design
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-10) Kudaligama, A.; Udawattha, C.
The built environment plays a pivotal role in shaping human behavior, emotions and well-being. Our sensory system demonstrates remarkable sensitivity in perceiving the textures of building walls, even when visual cues are absent. However, while the importance of material texture in the architectural perception is widely acknowledged, there remains a lack of empirical evidence regarding the specific influence of these textures on perceived spaciousness. This research explores the intricate realm of sensory perception within sustainable building design, with a focus on tactile experiences with spaciousness and material selection. Blindfolded participants tactually explored a range of sustainable building materials, including recycled wall putty, bamboo composite board, and rammed earth, characterized by varying textural qualities, smooth finish, semi-rough finish and rough finish respectively. Subsequent experiments introduced thermal stimulation, further enhancing participants' perceptual judgments. Findings demonstrate participants' ability to accurately identify these materials based solely on tactile cues, showcasing a pronounced preference for natural and eco-friendly options. The implications of these findings suggest integrating tactile considerations into sustainable design practices, promoting low-impact materials that offer tactile satisfaction and more spaciousness. These findings advance biophilic design principles, fostering connections with nature through tactile elements inspired by sustainability. Ultimately, the research highlights the significant role of tactile perception in shaping perceptions of sustainability and informs design strategies that prioritize sensory comfort and spaciousness and environmental responsibility in the built environment. These insights contribute to the ongoing evolution of sustainable design practices in the built environment not only meets functional needs but also enhances human well-being and ecological stewardship.
Open Access
CIRCULAR ECONOMY (CE) BASED MATERIAL SELECTION: DEVELOPMENT OF A CE-BASED ‘10R’ EVALUATION FRAMEWORK FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN SRI LANKA
(https://ciobwcs.com, 2022-06-24) Wanaguru, K; Mallawaarachchi, H; Vijerathne, D
The building construction industry is globally identified as one of the major consumers of materials. Thus, the material wastage in building construction projects is very excessive. In the Sri Lankan construction industry, it was identified that the main reason for generating material wastage is the absence of proper material selection criteria. The concept of Circular Economy (CE) has been obtained the world attention in reducing material wastage in the construction industry as it targets zero waste and pollution throughout the lifecycle of materials. Applying CE principles in the material selection not only reduces the wastage of materials but also reduces the use of virgin materials. Hence, this research aimed for developing a CE-based 10R evaluation framework for materials selection in order to reduce the wastage of materials in building construction projects in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive literature review was first conducted to review the concept of CE, CE principles and its importance for reducing material wastage in the construction industry. Deductive approach was chosen as the suitable research approach in this study. Survey method was applied as the suitable research strategy under quantitative phenomenon. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a conveniently selected sample of 58 industry professionals to collect the data. The collected data were analysed by using Weighted Mean Average (WMA) technique. As key findings derived through analysis, the level of importance of each CE principle for selection of materials was determined. Accordingly, the CE-based 10R evaluation framework for material selection was developed as the main implication of this research. Various strategies, such as reusing demolition materials, adopting prefabricated building components, developing plans to on-site recycle and using alternative materials were also proposed to implement the all identified CE principles assuring a successful application of the developed framework.

Research Publications

Browse

Filters

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results