Sustainable Construction

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 Table of Contents
1. Rationale for Sustainable Construction...................................................................................3

2. Topic 1: The analysis of the use of recycled materials of the construction projects of the UK

.....................................................................................................................................................3

2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................3

2.2 SWOT Analysis.....................................................................................................................4

3. Topic 2: The analysis of improving the safety of the construction site with the help of building

information modeling......................................................................................................................7

3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................7

3.2 SWOT Analysis.....................................................................................................................8

4. Topic 3: The impact of the modular construction on the commercial construction of the UK. 11

4.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................11

4.2 SWOT Analysis...................................................................................................................12

5. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................14

References......................................................................................................................................16

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1. Rationale for Sustainable Construction

Over the past few years, increasing pollution can be considered one of the most significant global

issues that need to be considered and focused on by industries all across the globe in order to

protect the global environment. The construction industry has a significant impact in affecting

the global environment. The construction sector specifically contributes to 40 % of water

pollution, 50% of landfill wastage, and 23% of air pollution. The effectiveness of sustainable

construction can perform a vital role in helping the construction sector to eliminate or reduce the

negative impact on the environment in many ways. The advantages of sustainable construction

can generally fall into three major categories such as social benefits, financial benefits, and

environmental benefits. With the help of sustainable construction practices, construction projects

are capable of reducing and eliminating the costs and the chances of experiencing different kinds

of wastage. Sustainable construction practices help the construction project to identify all the

areas that can be improved in order to save costs and time (Selcuk et al., 2022). On the other

hand, the effectiveness of Sustainable Construction can typically be considered very effective in

improving the effectiveness and performance of construction projects by influencing several

business areas such as traducing costs, bettering the quality of life, improving health, increasing

productivity, bettering the use of materials, and more.

2. Topic 1: The analysis of the use of recycled materials of the construction projects of the

UK

2.1 Introduction

The specific approach of incorporating biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable building

materials in a construction project can be considered one of the most effective and significant

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trends, which is recently considered and implemented my many construction projects all across

the United Kingdom in order to reduce waste, energy use, and pollution. There are some specific

recycled materials that are most commonly unitized in most construction projects. Some of these

materials are: recycled glass bottles, Cement-bonded fly ash blocks, vegetable crates, stabilized

soil blocks, and cement or fly ash, wood, earthen materials, copper, Iron, Aluminum, Steel,

Concrete, Bricks, dry wall, Linoleum flooring, and more (Aslam, Baffoe-Twum and Saleem,

2019). In this specific section, all the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats associated

with the concept of the use of recycled materials in construction projects in the UK will typically

be addressed and analyzed in order to identify the proper ways of utilizing recycled construction

materials in construction projects. 

Figure.1: Recycling Construction Waste

(Source: Di Maddaloni and Davis, 2018)

2.2 SWOT Analysis

 Strengths

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The effectiveness of considering and implementing recycled materials in construction projects

can be considered very effective and useful in helping the construction project to maintain

effective waste management throughout the operations. The approach of considering and

utilizing recycling within construction projects can also play a vital role in helping the projects

save costs (Hubbard et al., 2018). On the other hand, construction projects need to invest huge

amounts of costs and time in the process of collecting and managing the raw materials. The

effusiveness of utilizing the raw materials not only helps the construction project to save costs

but also saves time by eliminating and reducing unnecessary steps. The concept of using

recycled materials in construction projects can be considered very effective in helping the

projects to achieve string training and information programs to promote waste management.

Financial availability can typically be considered one of the most effective and significant

strengths of utilizing recycled materials in construction, which can help the projects invest the

money in more effective areas, leading to improved project performance (Evans, Farrell and

Mashali, 2020).

 Weaknesses

The specific process of manufacturing construction products from recycled material can be

considered one of the most complicated and hard jobs for construction projects to perform. Due

to this specific reason, it can specifically be stated that the approach of recycling construction

material consumes energy, which can be considered very effective in damaging the effectiveness

and performance of the instruction projects. Since construction projects have utilized the

effectiveness of construction recycling in order to reduce and eliminate the negative impacts of

pollution, sometimes the concept of recycling construction material specifically leads to

pollution (Collings, 2020). Electronic recycling generally consists of different chemical

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processes, which can be considered very effective in the process of increasing co2 emission and

leading to global pollution in a direct way. The approach of recycling construction materials can

also be considered very expensive, which can play a significant role in preventing construction

projects from considering and utilizing the effectiveness of construction recycling.

 Opportunities

With the effectiveness of using recycled construction material can be considered very effective

and beneficial in maintaining effective waste management throughout the entire project, which

can be considered very effective in the process of helping the project to identify all the areas that

lead to wasting materials, time, and costs. By the approach of utilizing the approach of recycling

construction materials can be considered very effective in making construction projects more

sustainable and environmentally friendly, which can play a major role in improving customer

satisfaction in a smart way (Awwad, Shibani and Ghostin, 2022). The project can utilize the

money saved from utilizing recycling in another area in order to, which can help the project

improve its productivity and performance.

 Threats

The sites of construction material recycling can typically be considered unsightly, unsafe, and

unhygienic, which can play a major role in making construction sites dangerous for construction

field workers. Unsafe and unhygienic construction sites can directly affect the health of

construction workers in a significant way. On the other hand, the products that have been

manufactured from construction wastage may not be durable to use, which can play a significant

role in increasing the chances of experiencing different kinds of construction site hazards.

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3. Topic 2: The analysis of improving the safety of the construction site with the help of

building information modeling

3.1 Introduction

BIM can be considered the structure of digital transformation in the engineering, construction,

and architecture industry. The main motive of BIM is to improve all aspects of construction

projects. The visualization techniques of BIM specifically employ conflict decisions, permitting

design mistakes to be amended and spotted at the initial stages. At the phase of pre-construction,

building information modeling is capable of keeping cost savings low and eliminating waste,

which can play a significant role in reducing or eliminating the possibility of missed deadlines

and cost risk in the entire process. The specific approach of considering building information

modeling has multiple advantages for safety such as visualizing, layout planning, and simulation

of construction materials and equipment, on-site safety control and monitoring, and effective and

fast decision-making (Collings, 2020). The SWOT analysis of considering building information

modeling in order to improve the safety of the construction site will typically be performed in

this section, in order o identify all the threats and opportunities that the construction projects

across the UK can experience after implementing BIM within projects.

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 Figure.2: Building Information Modeling in Construction Sector

(Source: Khalid, Sagoo and Benachir, 2021)

3.2 SWOT Analysis

 Strengths

The specific approach of building information modeling can be considered very effective in the

process of delivering a solid visual understanding of the working conditions and site to the

construction workers before starting the operations. It can play a significant role in helping the

construction workers to determine and measure all the construction issues that can take place

throughout the entire construction project (Awwad, Shibani and Ghostin, 2022). The concept and

the process of implementing and utilizing the effectiveness of building information modeling can

be considered familiar to most of the engineers. The approach of considering and implementing

BIM in construction can play a significant role in bettering on-site communication and

collaboration. Building information modeling can also be considered very effective in the

process of performing model-based cost estimation, which can play a major role in helping the

projects save costs (Newman et al, 2020). On the other hand, the effectiveness of building

information modeling across construction projects can also be very effective in improving

coordination and mitigating risks. Increased fabrication and productivity are other significant

strengths of considering BIM across construction projects.

 Weaknesses

Construction projects need to invest a huge amount of money in the process of implementing and

utilizing the effectiveness of BIM as building information modeling is expensive to

impermanent. Since construction projects need to have skilled and expert employees and workers
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in order to efficiently utilize BIM. Most of the workers in construction projects become

habituated and comfortable to work with the regular working process, which can play a

significant role in preventing them from adopting any new process or technique within the

projects as sometimes the employees are not mentally or technically ready to adopt new

techniques within the working process (Piroozfar et al., 2019). Lack of in-house skills can be

considered the other major weakness of utilizing BIM technology in construction.

 Opportunities

Resource and cost savings can be addressed as one of the most effective and significant

opportunities for considering implementing BIM technology within construction projects. The

BIM technology can play a significant role in allowing the projects to perform an effective cost

estimation, which can be considered very effective in helping the construction projects to

improve multiple areas by selecting more cost-effective construction materials, identifying

accurate time to purchase construction materials at the lowest possible price, reducing human

errors that cause costly re[pairs and project delays (Georgiadou, 2019). With the help of BIM

technology construction projects are also capable of shortening project lifecycles and improving

efficiency. Generally, the faster a project can finish the construction of the structure, the less

money will be spent on the project in total. Moreover, the approach of completing a project

within or before a specific time can play a major role in speeding up the eventual return. With

the help of BIM technology, the architects can manage to finish the construction project before

the time as it allows the architects to start construction earlier and design the building faster.

Besides all, higher quality results of construction projects can typically be considered one of the

most significant opportunities for considering BIM in construction (Newman et al, 2020). The

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particular approach of considering NIM makes the models and calculations more accurate and

detailed, which can play a significant role in leading to a higher quality structure.

 Threats

Since the specific approach of considering and implementing BIM technology is expensive,

construction projects may experience a huge loss throughout the entire process of using BIM

technology. The result of BIM across the construction project can typically be influenced by the

quality of given data. Sometimes, the BIM may generate low-quality and inappropriate results

due to the quality or quantity lack of the given information (Omotayo, Danvers-Watson and

Oyegoke, 2022). On the other hand, it can be considered very difficult for the workers to handle

and manage different kinds of operational issues associated with BIM as not all construction

workers are aware of the technologies within BIM. Due to this reason, the performance and

continuity of the construction project can directly be affected and hampered. Since construction

workers face different difficulties in adopting NIM within the instruction, it is very important for

all construction projects to deliver effective training sessions to the employees about how to

efficiently perform and handle BIM in construction (Piroozfar et al., 2019). The construction

sector also needs to invest a huge amount of money in the process of arranging training sessions

for the employees in order to help them easily adapt to the BIM, which can typically lead to low

business revenue.

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4. Topic 3: The impact of the modular construction on the commercial construction of the

UK

4.1 Introduction

The concept of modular construction specifically involves generating standardized elements of a

specific structure in an off-site factory and then assembling them on-site. Modular construction

can play a significant role in the process of allowing users to have more effective control

compared to conventional houses. In the case of modular construction, the prefabricated

compartments are typically constructed and designed in order to withstand extreme climates and

secure the whole structure from different kinds of external hazards. It can be stated that harmful

weather will never be capable of affecting or influencing the interior of modular construction.

Modular construction can be considered one of the most popular trends that have been

considered and implemented by many commercial construction projects all across the UK.

Modular construction specifically y focuses on reducing the time of the construction as it plays a

significant role in the process of allowing different sections of the project to be constructed at the

same period (Evans, Farrell and Mashali, 2020). The specific approach of modular construction

is extremely suitable for remote locations where the onsite construction could typically prove

expensive and difficult. Another focus of modular construction is the UK is to make the

construction projects to be more friendly and sustainable to the global environment by

eliminating or reducing the negative impacts of the construction sector on the global

environment.

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 Figure.3: Modular Construction in UK

(Source: Aslam, Baffoe-Twum and Saleem, 2019)

All the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the concept of modular

construction in the commercial construction of the UK will typically be addressed and analyzed

in this section, which can play a significant role in helping the construction section to find the

ways of developing the performance and effectiveness of modular construction.

4.2 SWOT Analysis

 Strengths

Saving time can be considered one of the most significant advantages of considering and

utilizing the effectiveness of modern constriction. The specific approach of saving time can play

a significant role in the process of helping the projects to complete the whole work within a

specific time limit by avoiding the chances of experiencing different kinds of construction

delays. With the help of Modular Construction, construction projects can also minimize or

reduce the chances of a weather delay. In the case of considering and implementing Modular

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Construction, the construction projects don’t need to store a bulk amount of raw material, which

can be considered very effective for the projects in helping them to save money and prevent

wasting (Hubbard et al., 2018). Lowering or decreasing labor costs is the significant advantage

of considering the concept of Modular Construction. According to the research of the UK, it can

be stated that almost 90% of materials reduction can typically be achieved with the help of

modular building.

 Weaknesses

The requirement of transporting all the modules can typically be considered one of the most

effective and concerning disadvantages of using and considering the approach of Modular

Construction. Due to the requirement of transporting the modules, the construction project isn’t

capable of constructing big modules. It can be stated that imitating the size of the modules is

another major disadvantage of considering modular construction. On the other hand, a lack of

flexibility and customization for the structure can also play a significant role in preventing

modular construction projects from being more successful and efficient (Selcuk et al., 2022). A

longer time of selling and reduced resale value can be considered the other two significant issues

associated with the concept of modular construction, which can perform a significant role in

affecting the effectiveness and performance of construction projects. It is very important for all

the modular construction on commercial construction all across the UK to efficiently identify all

the limitations associated with the concept of modular construction in order to identify the

appropriate way to improve the effectiveness of the specific approach.

 Opportunities

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There are different kinds of opportunities that the construction sector can be utilized by

considering and implementing modular construction in the commercial construction of the UK.

Construction projects can achieve a huge profit by saving money from different areas throughout

the entire process of construction projects (Khalid, Sagoo and Benachir, 2021). The specific

approach of considering modular construction can also be considered very effective in helping

the projects to achieve more population and image of the construction businesses as it directly

influences customer satisfaction by reducing delays, eliminating the chances of causing

pollution, and bettering clients’ experiences.

 Threats

The threats associated with the concept of modular construction on commercial construction

need to be addressed and solved in order to maintain the effectiveness and performance of

modular constructions in an efficient way. Modular construction generally tends to be less

durable, which can play a significant role in damaging business performance by affecting

customer retention.  Since such an approach can be considered very effective in the process of

lowering the construction value, it may play a significant role in affecting the value of the

construction sectors all across the select3d country in a specific and straightway (Di Maddaloni

and Davis, 2018). On the other hand, the effectiveness of modular construction may also be a

significant reason for damaging the global environment as sometimes it can play a significant

role in the process of increasing the waste that causes pollution in a direct way.

5. Conclusion

This specific research paper has typically focused on identifying and analyzing different kinds of

technologies and ways to improve the effectiveness and performance of the construction sector

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in a precise way. The study has also selected the case study of the UK construction sector in

order to make this whole study more effective and reliable. The study has analyzed all the trends

such as recycling construction materials, considering BIM technology in construction, and the

effectiveness of modular construction, which have been experienced by the construction sector

of the UK. The paper has also performed a SWOT analysis of all these trends in order to identify

all the opportunities and threats associated with the trends, which can play a significant role in

helping the construction projects to identify all the strategies and measures that can be

considered very effective in improving the effectiveness of the above-mentioned trends. The

specific approach of improving the effectiveness of all these trends can perform a vital role in

improving the performance of the UK’s construction.

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References

Aslam, M., Baffoe-Twum, E.E. and Saleem, F., 2019. Design Changes in Construction Projects

Causes and Impact on the Cost. Civil Engineering Journal, 5(7), pp.1647-1655.

Awwad, K.A., Shibani, A. and Ghostin, M., 2022. Exploring the critical success factors

influencing BIM level 2 implementation in the UK construction industry: the case of

SMEs. International journal of construction management, 22(10), pp.1894-1901.

Collings, D., 2020, June. A review of UK greenhouse gas emissions from recent built-

environment projects. In Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Civil

Engineering (Vol. 173, No. 4, pp. 171-176). Thomas Telford Ltd.

Di Maddaloni, F. and Davis, K., 2018. Project manager's perception of the local communities'

stakeholder in megaprojects. An empirical investigation in the UK. International journal of

project management, 36(3), pp.542-565.

Evans, M., Farrell, P. and Mashali, A., 2020. Influence of partnering on stakeholder’s behaviour

in construction mega-projects. The Journal of Modern Project Management, 8(1).

Georgiadou, M.C., 2019. An overview of benefits and challenges of building information

modelling (BIM) adoption in UK residential projects. Construction Innovation.

Hubbard, R., Ison, S., Yeomans, S. and Bryer, L., 2018, October. Distributed Leadership and its

Role in Improving Performance in UK Construction Projects. In ECMLG 2018 14th European

Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance (p. 89). Academic Conferences and

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Khalid, U., Sagoo, A. and Benachir, M., 2021. Safety Management System (SMS) framework

development–Mitigating the critical safety factors affecting Health and Safety performance in

construction projects. Safety science, 143, p.105402.

Newman, C., Edwards, D., Martek, I., Lai, J., Thwala, W.D. and Rillie, I., 2020. Industry 4.0

deployment in the construction industry: a bibliometric literature review and UK-based case

study. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment.

Omotayo, T.S., Danvers-Watson, O. and Oyegoke, A.S., 2022. Subcontractor trust issues on

payment and valuation practices in UK private projects. Journal of Financial Management of

Property and Construction.

Piroozfar, P., Farr, E.R., Zadeh, A.H., Inacio, S.T., Kilgallon, S. and Jin, R., 2019. Facilitating

building information modelling (BIM) using integrated project delivery (IPD): A UK

perspective. Journal of Building Engineering, 26, p.100907.

Selcuk, O., Turkoglu, H., Polat, G. and Hajdu, M., 2022. An integrative literature review on the

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