Kanagaraj, S; Thiyagarajan, H; Vasudevan, A and Moghul, M (2022) Road map for implementing circular construction practices in India: an overview. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Management, Procurement and Law, 176(4), pp. 166-175. ISSN 17514304
Abstract
Globally, the construction industry is considered as one of the biggest consumers of natural resources and is a generator of large quantities of demolition wastes. Hence, the full-scale adoption of circular economy (CE) in the construction industry would not only conserve natural resources but also reduce environmental pollution by reusing demolition waste. Despite the recognised potential of the concept of CE, the application of CE in the construction industry is still in its infancy and is limited, particularly in developing countries such as India. Although circularity elements are applied in the construction sector in India to a certain extent, there is still a long way to go for the large-scale adoption of CE practices. Improvements in the supply chain system, incorporation of reused and recycled materials and minimisation of the use of virgin materials in construction, implementation of modular construction and use of digital tools are some of the solutions that can be adopted towards achieving CE in construction. In this context, the present study discusses the practices currently adopted in the construction sector in India towards achieving CE. Further, the methodologies adopted in other countries and limitations in implementing these technologies in India, towards circular construction, are discussed. Learning from the principles/concepts of other countries that are successfully adopting CE solutions, this study provides a road map for implementing construction practices in India to make this sector less resource intensive.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building information modelling (BIM); buildings, structures & design; circular economy; UN SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities |
| Index terms: | India, construction industry, recycled materials, implementation, natural resource, circular economy, sustainable city, circularity, pollution, building information modelling, construction sector, demolition waste, modular construction, methodology, minimization, developing country |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, environmental health, information systems, environmental resource management, contractual arrangements, sustainable materials, waste management, building construction, research methods, algorithms, Geography, sustainable design, health safety and environment, urban design, development economics |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Procurement, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, International Construction, Construction Technology, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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