Shang, T; Hu, X; Ye, K and Tam, V W Y (2023) Will contractors pursue unsustainable practices following environmental recovery? A highway case in China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(3), pp. 1165-1182. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to map out contractors' thoughts on construction-related environmental recovery as an excuse for deliberately carrying on unsustainable construction. Design/methodology/approach: A typical highway construction project in China was investigated. Textual materials were collected through semistructured interviews. Content analysis was conducted to derive qualitative data from the textual materials. Findings: The research findings reveal a trend of environmental recovery associated with construction activities. It is found that contractors utilize this trend to maintain unsustainable construction. Furthermore, the effects of environmental recovery equip local governments with a tolerance for environmental degradation, and the environmental tolerance allows contractors to continue unsustainable construction without being discovered. Originality/value: This paper presents an environmental recovery-based perspective on unsustainable construction and sheds some light on the promotion of sustainable construction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | environmental recovery; environmental degradation tolerance; highway construction; sustainable construction |
| Index terms: | highway construction, promotion, environmental degradation, recovery, construction activity, degradation, methodology, China, sustainable construction, local government, interview, content analysis |
| Subjects: | administrative law, management, research methods, civil engineering, Geography, sustainable construction, operations management, data analysis and analytics, construction operations, material degradation and durability, data collection methods, environmental impact |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Construction Materials, Site Management, Human Resources, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here