Green Engineering Solutions In Construction Management: A Critical Literature Review Essay.

The industrial revolution has resulted in the development and growth of huge population growth, technological achievements and the increased in resource utilization. Harris and McCaffer (2013) illustrated the results of the huge resource utilization has shown its’ consequences with the increased in pollution, ozone depletion, non-renewable resource depletion, global warming, toxic waste and landfills. As a countermeasure, the world has focused in sustainable development process. The construction industry has significant contribution towards the increase in the carbon footprints and global waste. Wong and Zhou (2015) cited that the application of the green engineering and technical innovations contributes to the reduction and elimination of waste products and greenhouse gases.

The literature review chapter helps in evaluating the past studies, concepts and theories for evaluation the green engineering and its application in construction management.

Concept of Green Engineering 

Green engineering is defined as environmentally conscious values and principles, which are combined with technology, science as well as engineering practice.  It encompasses disciplines of engineering and compatible with proper design principles of engineering.  In other terms, green engineering can be referred as design, commercialization along with utilization of the procedures and products in such way, which can reduce pollution and promote sustainable development in construction management.

 Green engineering solution protects human health without having any issues regarding economic viability. In construction management system green engineering solutions use system analysis holistically and make integration of environmental impact with the help of assessment tools.  In addition, green engineering conserve and enhance natural ecosystem by using life-cycle thinking in the activities of engineering (Wong and Zhou 2015). Green engineering actively involves communities as well as stakeholders in development of the engineering solutions. One of the example of green engineering solutions is developing ethanol for gasoline. Ethanol from the fermentation of biomass is greater than 15 wt% kills yeast (Banawi and Bilec 2014). Kalundborg industrial park is one of the examples of using green engineering solutions in construction management (Zavadskas et al., 2016).

Use of Green Engineering Solutions in Construction Management

Greenness contradicts the instances of environmental pollution. Aligning this with the construction projects, green engineering solutions enables the company personnel to gift vast open spaces to the customers. Viewing it from another perspective, the attribute of greenness adds innovation to the services provided by the company. Along with this, effective application of green engineering helps the company to achieve sustainable development (Harris and McCaffer 2013). As a matter of specification, usage of environment friendly materials for constructing the buildings reflects the capability of the company personnel towards fulfilling the specific tastes and preferences of the customers (Poff et al., 2015). Apart from this, utilization of environment friendly materials adds to the quality of the raw materials, which results in the achievement of positive outcomes for the company.

Concept of Green Engineering

Engineering involves the usage of machines, which aggravates the health issues of the laborers. In view of the earlier sentence, green raw materials possess flexibility to mitigate the health complexities of both the company personnel and the customers. This usage reflects the conscious approach of the managers towards enhancing their bondage with the customers.  

Green symbolizes energy, which seems beneficial for the personnel in terms of exposing better performance. As a matter of specification, utilization of eco-friendly materials contradicts the excessive utilization of the materials, which preserves the natural resources for the future generations. This motive leads to the achievement of sustainable development. Along with this, this motive also enhances the parameter of corporate social responsibility for the company. The responsibility relates with the utilization of eco-friendly raw materials, which uplifts the social status of the company.

Advantages of Green Engineering in Construction 

Green engineering solutions have several numbers of advantages in construction management. It is inherently nonhazardous, which replaces virgin calcium carbonate filler with the ash of coal fly.  In addition, solutions of green engineering replace PVC as well as phthalate plasticizer with branched LPDE (Wang, Toppinen and Juslin 2014). In addition, it prevents wastes through recycling everything. Green engineering solutions embed complexity that separate and recycle the best things come in next. Green engineering solutions in construction management reduces diversity of materials. It is achieved through utilizing some backing for several products. There are certain advantages of green engineering over traditional process.

 

Figure: Traditional process and green engineering process in construction

(Source: Everard and McInnes 2013, p.58)

In traditional process, construction management is the process of transforming of raw materials and energy to chemical process, which leads to more pollution. On the other hand, in green engineering, raw materials and energy are transformed into modified chemical process and wastes are recycled. It results less pollution in the environment.

 Green engineering solutions integrate mass or energy in the process of construction. Recycling of polymer is closed in the loops for using green engineering solutions. Solutions of green engineering can be designed for commercial afterlife. It is expected that by 2020, the European countries can reduce emissions of greenhouse gas by 20 % by increasing the user of renewable energy sources by 20 % (Tennant and Fernie 2014). Green engineering solutions help to generate zero carbon emission that uncertainly assists to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, green engineering solutions separate carbon-dioxide at the time of generating electricity and buried in depth of underground without generating pollution in atmosphere.

Use of Green Engineering Solutions in Construction Management

Process for Implementing Green Engineering in Construction 

The sustainability in the construction project can be obtained through the application of various operations, maintenance, and construction procedure while limiting the negative impact on the economy as well as the environment. Shi et al., (2014) showed the various process that can be used in construction management process for promoting green engineering are discussed below:

Economically and Environmentally Balanced Construction Materials: The construction of a building comprised almost 40% by the material used for construction. Wu and Issa (2014) claimed that globally, 25% of woods, sands, stones and gravel are utilized in the construction project along with the 40% of total energy consumption. According to Banawi and Bilec (2014), the extraction of the raw materials leads to the loss of biological diversity and resource depletion. In addition to that, the utilization of energy for transportation and manufacturing process often results in the emission of the acid rain and global warming. Selecting building materials and techniques preferable to the economy and environment materials results in the reduction of toxic gases and non-degradable waste materials.  

Developing Sustainable Site Design: The construction of the building completely change the environment and the impact of the construction project on the environment. Zavadskas et al., (2016) explained that the selection of the appropriate cite for construction determines the design and techniques used for construction of the building.  

Developing Sustainable Building Design: Garza-Reyes (2015) illustrated that for the incorporation of the green engineering solutions in the construction process, the techniques and methods should be incorporated in the pre-design and planning phase of the project. the decisions taken in the planning phase has the potential of developing cost-effective solutions. Poff et al., (2015) showed that the integration of the design of the building results in the development of the sustainable design elements and optimized performance. Wang, Toppinen and Juslin (2014)  have showed the application of the solar design strategy results in the reduced energy consumption and the application of electrical energy.

Developing Sustainable Construction Procedure: Chen and Luo (2014) cited that during the construction process, the application of the green engineering process helps in implementing the cost-efficient process in the construction. Everard and McInnes (2013) showed that the cost of construction can be reduced with the installation of the energy-efficient lights and sensor for controlling the fixtures. In addition to that, the reusing of the water in the construction process helps in reducing the waste and non-renewable source of resource. The landfill can be reduced with the recycling of the materials and demolition debris. Tennant and Fernie (2014) illustrated that the selling the re-usable materials after the demolishing of the building contributed towards the cost-effective solution.  

Advantages of Green Engineering in Construction

Maintenance and Operation Procedure: Harris and McCaffer (2013) argued that the green engineering solution can be implemented even in the after-construction phase of the project. Wong and Zhou (2015) provided example by stating that collecting and processing the recycled materials from the buildings helps in reducing the waste. In addition to that, the application of the chute system in the building involved the application of the energy and cost efficient electrical appliances.  

Risks Involved in Implementing Green Engineering 

Shi et al., (2014) illustrated that in spite of the various benefits associated with the green engineering in the construction projects, there exists various risks and hindrance limiting the application in projects. The various risk identified are:

 Cost: Wu and Issa (2014) defined that the cost required for implementing the green engineering solution in construction is much higher when compare to the conventional process. Banawi and Bilec (2014) have proved the claimed by showing the estimated financial cost for green engineering project is higher and rages from minimum of 1% to maximum of 25%. The modelling and design complexity of the green engineering along with the application of green engineering technology and materials raises the cost. Zavadskas et al., (2016) cited that various green materials like wheat board cost approximately 10 times more for replacing the plywood used for construction. The limited budget allocated for the project created significant limitation for applying the green engineering solutions.

Technical difficulties: The planning for the construction of the project incorporates the various deliverables that will be implemented during the execution. Garza-Reyes (2015) claimed that the construction of the green building required the application of complex construction process and technologies. In support Poff et al., (2015) remarked that the inability to address the complexities in the construction results in the errors and mistakes in the constructions process. Moreover, Wang, Toppinen and Juslin (2014) claimed that the technical complexity in the applicability of the green engineering have limited the construction team in implementing the convectional process.

Contract: Chen and Luo (2014) claimed that the type of contract taken for the delivery of the construction project determines the success of implementing green engineering solutions in construction engineering. Everard and McInnes (2013) showed that the incorporation of the green engineering solutions are difficulties in the projects where the design of the building is developed before the contract. Multiple and significant changes done in the design for incorporating the green building solution ultimately results in the overrun of the budget allocated for the project.

Process for Implementing Green Engineering in Construction

Approval Process: Tennant and Fernie (2014) showed that the approval process for using the green technology solutions results in the prolonged process of planning phase in the building constructions. The additional times consumed for planning and obtaining approval for the green technology solutions results in increased time required for completing the project that ultimately results in increased cost.

Unfamiliarity: Banawi and Bilec (2014) reported that the insufficient knowledge, information and technical expertise among the contractors, clients and developers poses significant risks in applying the solutions. Apart from that, complexity present in green solutions have forced the construction team in following the conventional methods.

Lack of Interest: Harris and McCaffer (2013) have identified that the lack of interest among the contractors, construction team and suppliers have limited the construction industries in developing green solutions projects. Moreover, the lack of enthusiasm in limiting and eliminating the waste materials and carbon footprints have limited the progress of the application of the green construction solutions.  

Time: Most of the construction projects are conducted on a limited time. The pressure for completing the construction within the allocated time limits the application of green engineering technology.  

Conclusion

The detailed literature review conducted has presented the brief context about the green engineering and the need of application in the construction industry. In addition to that, various advantages of the application of the green engineering has been identified in this chapter. The various process that can be incorporated in the construction management are reviewed that contributes to reducing the negative impact on the environment. Moreover, the risks associated with the implementation of the green engineering have provided the readers with the significant factors that hinders the application of the green engineering in the construction industry.

Topic, Research Objective, Context and Rationale 

The exponential development and growth rate of the technocentric consciousness and industrialized countries has resulted in the dramatic impact on the drastic effects of the environment. Wong and Zhou (2015) have cited that the limited resources, waste absorption and materials has economic as well as social impact. According to Wu and Issa (2014), the significant climate change and the sustainable development has mutual interdependence and synergies correlation. Banawi and Bilec (2014) defined Green engineering as the procedure, commercialization and design of the products and methods that are economic and feasible in nature. The application of the green engineering aims at minimizing the pollution at the generation soured and reducing the human health risks during the construction process.

Economically and Environmentally Balanced Construction Materials

Research Objectives

The objectives developed for this research are:

• To identify the impact of the construction engineering procedure and techniques that results in raising economic as well as environmental issues;
• To evaluate the influence of green engineering for minimizing the carbon footprint in the construction management;

Research Questions

The research questions developed based on the objectives are:

• What impact the construction procedure and techniques has on the economic condition?
• What impact the construction procedure and techniques has on the environmental condition?
• How the green engineering solutions have helped in reducing the total carbon footprints in the construction management?
• To what extent the application of green engineering solutions has provided both short-term and long-term remedy for developing sustainable environment?

Context

Zavadskas et al., (2016) illustrated that the construction industry has significantly contributed to the increase in global warming and toxic gases through the utilization of fossil fuels in the construction procedures. Apart from that, after the construction of the building, the projects and building contributes to greatly contributes towards global warming through the application of electricity and other human activities. The human operations and activities after construction and the construction process leads to the emission of greenhouse gases. Wang, Toppinen and Juslin (2014) claimed the construction industry has the capability of reducing the carbon footprints through the application of the sustainable operation, techniques and maintenance process. Chen and Luo (2014) cited that the application of sustainable construction process aims at reducing the environmental impact of the construction and increasing the social benefits and economic viability of the construction process. The applicability of the green engineering aims at producing and designing construction design and procedure of the for minimizing the damage to environment and humans with the cost-effective and sustainable solutions.

Rationale

Everard and McInnes (2013) defined that the green engineering as the sustainable solution in the construction industry for creating resource efficient and environmental friendly structures and designs. According to Wang, Toppinen and Juslin (2014), applicability of the green engineering solution promotes the conversation of non-renewable energy sources. In spite of the various advantages and applications, the application to the green engineering solutions have not been widely used. In this particular study, the analyst aimed at evaluating thee different procedures and impact of using green technology solutions for sustainable development. The study will provide the personnel involved with the construction project in incorporating the green solution technologies and procedure in order to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment.

Analyze Research Paradigm

Flick (2015) defined research paradigm as the theoretical and philosophical framework within the scientific discipline for supporting the laws, theories and generalizations. On the other hand, Tarone, Gass and Cohen (2013) have described research paradigm as the common agreement and belief for understanding and addressing the problem occurred. The three major dimension of a research procedure comprises of methodology, epistemology and ontology. Vaioleti (2016) claimed that the all the three factors and interrelated and together comprised the research paradigm. The application of the research paradigm in conducting a study helps in explaining specific problem and related solutions with the application of convenient model and conceptual framework. Therefore, the research paradigm denotes structure, pattern with the application of assumptions, values and ideas.

Developing Sustainable Site Design

 

Figure 2: Research Paradigm

(Source: Smith 2015, p.59)

Ontology: The ontology in the research paradigm defined the procedure in constructing the reality according to the research domain. Lushey and Munro (2015) have stated through the ontological assumptions, the reality can be apprehended while incorporating the social cause and effect relations.  

Epistemology: The epistemology allows in establishing the existing relation between the knowledge inquired and inquirer. In the epistemology paradigm, the reality can be interpreted through the use of valid and reliable tools.

Methodology: The methodology paradigm allows the identification and establishment of various tools and methods for evaluating the study.

According to Dumay and Cai (2015), the epistemology and ontology focuses on the perceived importance and significant influence of the various accept of the undertaken reality. Moreover the research paradigm used influenced the beliefs that results in distinction of the critical postmodemist, interpretive and positivism. Mansell (2015) has integrated the research paradigm in four major divisions namely Pragmatic, Critical Postmodern, Constructive Qualitative and Positivism Quantitative.

 

Figure 3: Types of Research Paradigm

(Source: Riedl, Davis and Hevner 2014, p.257)

Pragmatic Research: In the Pragmatic Research, the intervention and practical effects of the ideas are evaluated. Khan (2014) showed that action research, design-based research and mixed method are used.

Critical Postmodern Research: Vamsi Krishna Jasti and Kodali (2014) showed that in critical postmodern, the study is directed and dominated by the social bias. The epistemology aims at revealing the distorted and hidden information with the utilization of historic review and critical analysis.  

Constructive Qualitative Research: Lather and St. Pierre (2013) claimed that the constructive qualitative paradigm aims at evaluating the questions and problems with why rather than the how much, when and what. In addition to that, this particular paradigm the distance between the researcher and participants increases the challenged during the study.

Positivism Quantitative Research: According to Munn et al., (2014), the positivism quantitative paradigm is governed by the behavioral laws. In the ontology, the objective of the reality is evaluated and the scientific discourse are obtained in epistemology. Deduction and experimental methods are used for analysis.

Impact on Your Research Question:

In this study, Constructive Qualitative Research for answering the research questions trough the contextual and social understanding. In addition to that, since the study is focused on observations, interviews and narration. Therefore, the application of Constructive Qualitative Research helps in using the raw data and statistical results for evaluating the undertaken topic.

Developing Sustainable Building Design

Describe the Chosen Methodology

Research Philosophy: Gummesson (2014) described that the application of the appropriate methodology allowed in evaluating and obtaining the relevant information according to the undertaken topic. The use of the appropriate research philosophy allows the analyst in determining the process for gaining information. King (2014) showed that the positivism philosophy utilizing the logic in determining the underlying information in a scientific method. Zou and Sunindijo (2015) argued that in spite of being controlled by the scientific procedure, the positivism philosophy aims at eliminating the metaphysics with the data collection and details on the observation.

In this study, for the “evaluation of the applicability of green engineering solutions in construction management”, the Positivism Philosophy assisted in identifying the underlying facts while mining the analyst’s role in data evaluation process.

Research Approach: According to Leiblein et al., (2016), the application of the research approach reveals the format required for conducting the study. The deductive approach has been selected in the study for conducting the research on the applicability of green engineering on the construction engineering. Baedeker et al., (2014) illustrated that the deductive approach utilized the practical application of the literature for retrieving information about the research topic. The deductive approach focuses on developing theory with the process of data analysis and specifications. Through the selected approach, the researcher has defined the application of the green engineering with the theoretical understanding of the collected information.

Research Design: Daudt, van Mossel and Scott (2013) cited that the utilization of the appropriate research design assist in defining the framework for choosing the data analysis and collection procedure. The analyst has selected the application of Descriptive Research Design defines and describes the events with relevant description and the occurrence time. In the study for the applicability of the Green Engineering in Construction Management helped in scrutinizing the process of application through decision-making process.

Strength and Weakness of Chosen Methodology  

Strength and weakness of positivism philosophy: 

Strengths of Positivism Philosophy: The positivism philosophy allows in generalizing the data obtained in respect of the social context in a larger degree of sub-pollution of respondents. Sessler and Imrey (2015) showed that, being dominated by the quantitative approach, the positivism allows in providing future predictions and scientific assumptions. In addition to that, data validation in positivism can be extensively improved through the statistical treatment, and careful sampling.

Weakness of Positivism Philosophy: Positivism Philosophy aims at concluding and interfering the study based on observation with indifference to the emotions of the respondents as well as the researcher. Although Ansara (2015) claimed that there is no guarantee on the human emotions during the analysis of the studies. Apart from that, Stephens et al., (2014) believed inaccuracy in the data often results to unauthenticated results when the respondents select random answers without any authentication.

Not selecting alternative philosophy: Due to the time limitation of the selected study, the selection of alternative philosophy, namely realism and interpretative philosophy was eliminated.

Strength and Weakness of Deductive Approach 

Strength of Deductive Approach: The deductive approach is powered by the huge variety of information resources that make the variety of applications and practice available abundantly. In case of time limitation characteristic of the study, the deductive approach is time saving and easy approach to follow.  

Weakness of Deductive Approach: The conclusion through the deductive approach are judged based on the validity of the deductive logic. In addition to that, the deductive approach limits the involvement of the analyst in the study for understating the theory.  

Not Selecting alternative approach: In the selected study for the applicability of the green engineering in the construction management, no new theory and concept were introduced the application of alternative approach, that is Inductive Approach has been eliminated.

Strength and Weakness of Descriptive Design 

Strength of Descriptive Design: Beckman (2014) illustrated that the descriptive design carves the opportunity of using both quantitative and qualitative data while conducting the study. In addition to that, the descriptive design provides the application of multiple data sources including survey, observation and case study. The multifaceted approach and several techniques used in data collection helps in providing statistical results to the concluded study.  

 Weakness of Descriptive Design: Guthrie (2015) claimed that confidentiality is the significant weakness in the descriptive deign. During the process of interview and survey for data collection, the respondents may be biased that can negatively impact the conclusion of the study.

Not Selecting Alternative Design: Due to the cross-sectional characterization of the study, the alternative design that is, explanatory and exploratory design was eliminated from the methodology.

Types of Data

Brún et al., (2016) defined data as the useful facts, records and information that provide better analysis of the undertaken research topic. In support, Carlsson and Walden (2015) claimed that the research data assist in deriving accurate conclusion for proving standard conclusion to the undertaken topic.

Vamsi Krishna Jasti and Kodali (2014) have classified data in two major types namely primary and secondary based on the source of data collection. The application of the appropriate data sources in revealing the relevant data allows extracting the information with the basis of the research requirements.

In this study, the analysis has considered the application of both primary and secondary data for analyzing the applicability of the green engineering in the construction management. According to Hamm et al., (2013), the primary data helps gaining raw information according to the requirement of the study. In this research, the analyst has chosen interview sessions and online survey for gathering the raw information.

On the other hand, Vaioleti (2016) claimed that the secondary data provides the analyst in using the theoretical concept in widening the green engineering concept and its application in construction engineering. Moreover, the secondary data involves the description of the information in analyzing the undertaken topic. In this particular study, the detailed literature review has been utilized as the secondary data for analyzing the research study.

Data Collection Procedure-

The identification of the data sources for gathering the information in accordance to the research study, the data collection procedure and techniques were evaluated.

Primary Data Collection: In order to gather the primary data from the respondents, the analysts have developed pilot questionnaire for designing the online questionnaire. Through the pilot study the analyst was able to identify the cause of “respondents fatigue” and efficiently eliminate them during the preparation of the online questionnaire. For the elimination of the human errors during the data collection process online questionnaire were developed using the Google Form. The analyst has used close ended questions with the options categorized on Likert’s scale from 1 to 5. In the survey, 1 stands for strongly agree whereas 5 stands for strongly disagree. Considering the time schedule of the respondents, the close ended survey has provided in collecting the feedback of the civil engineers within minimum time.

In addition to that, the analyst has developed semi-structured interview questions for recording the one-on-one interview session with the managers associated with the construction projects. Due to the limitation of the geographical location and tight schedule of the managers, telephonic interview session were arranges for obtaining the feedback of the managers.  

Secondary Data Collection: For the secondary data collection, relevant for the evaluation of the applicability of the green engineering in the construction management peered review journals were reviewed and studied. The tools that were used for gathering the secondary information includes various books, online journals, article and other offline sources like library.

Data Analysis Procedure-

Analysis of the Primary Data: The data collected through the close ended online survey and open ended interview questions, has been analyzed with two different data analysis techniques. For the analysis of the narrative data obtained through the one-to-one interview session, the grounded theory has been used. The application of the grounded theory in the analysis process allowed the integration of the social sciences and systematic methodology for identifying the codes, concepts, categories and theories related to the application of green engineering.

Furthermore, for the analysis of the data collected through the online, survey, the researcher has utilized “multiple regression model” for analysis the data. The application of the regression model helps in evaluating the impact of the green engineering in the construction management. According to Tarone, Gass and Cohen (2013) the application of the regression model allowed the analyst in identifying the relation between the various variable acting in the construction management for the applicability of the green engineering. Apart from that, the regression model provides statistical results in concluding the study.

Analysis of the Secondary Data: In order to analyze the secondary data, the analyst has utilize qualitative data analysis techniques. The application of the qualitative data analysis techniques helps in providing better description to the undertaken topic with the use of narration and past theories. Apart from that, Lushey and Munro (2015) showed that the application of the qualitative data analysis techniques helps in providing better understanding with the application of the various theories and concept relevant to the studies.

For the first research objective, the application of the literature review and one-to-one interview session has allowed in identifying the impact on the economic and environmental condition. The application of the qualitative analysis techniques has allowed in identifying the concepts and theories associated with the applicability of green engineering. In addition to that, the qualitative analysis of the literature review has provided support to the analysis of the raw data collected through the online survey.

For the second objective, the researcher has conducted online survey and the detailed literature review.  The statistical analysis will allow in providing facts in graphical representation and the qualitative analysis will provide theoretical concept in evaluating the objectives.  

The researcher could have used alternative method of data collection based entirely on the project reports of construction management and conduct the qualitative analysis of the obtained data.  

While conducting the data collection and data analysis method according to the chosen methodology. The following the ethical Implications that the researcher needs to follow while conducting the study:

Respondent’s Involvement: The researcher must ensure that no pressure was exerted on the respondents for participating in the online survey and interview session.  

Respondent’s Anonymity: The researcher should ensure the identities of the respondents should not be disclosed during and after the study as per the request of the respondents.  

Data Application: The data collected during the study is both sensible and valuable to the respondents. The researcher have to ensure that the data collected will be used only for the research purpose. Any application of the data in practical filed will be prevented through the study.

Potential Challenges during data collection and interpretation

The crucial challenge that analyst faced during the data collection procedure was the screening the duplicate data. Identification of any pattern in the online survey was eliminated from analysis. In addition to that, obtaining the number of respondents for conducting the survey poses a challenge during the study (Lather and St. Pierre 2013). Apart from that, during the interview session, the feedback collected from the managers have the possibility of biased about their organization while providing he feedback.

Presenting the data and conveying the results

For representing the data in a significant manner, the analyst used the graphical charts, like bar chart and pie chart for providing the reader a clear idea of the data analysis.  

Reducing the chances of data misinterpretation 

For reducing the chances of data misinterpretation, during the data analysis procedure, the analyst needs to authenticate the data sources during the data collection process for both the primary and secondary data. In addition to that, the analyst must ensure the elimination of biased information obtained.

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