Page 34 - IIMV Newsletter_30 May 2024

RESEARCH @ IIMV

The construction and building industry (CBI) is considered one of
the major carbon emission contributors to the environment and
faces various social and technical challenges in implementing
decarbonized and circular economy (DCE) practices. Resource
optimization can be achieved using the CBI product circularity and
carbon offset mechanisms for greater business sustainability. In past
studies, DCE practices have been loosely considered for improving

the sustainability performance of emerging economies’ CBI. To fill
this gap, this study uniquely focuses on CBI practices on DCE in
consideration of socio-technical system (STS) availability because STS
plays a vital role in adopting DCE practices. The proposed research
framework is based on STS theory to measure the inter-influence of
socio-technical challenges in achieving decarbonized and circular
CBI. The STS-based framework consists of six dimensions namely:

goals of circular construction (GCC), people barriers (PB), cultural
barriers (CB), infrastructural barriers (IB), technological barriers (TB),
and construction process and procedural barriers (CPB). The main
STS dimensions are further divided into 26 sub-dimensions to assess
interinfluencing mapping. The proposed framework is analyzed using
integrated grey information uncertainty theory with decision-making
trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), and interpretive structural
modelling (ISM), i.e., grey-DISM. The grey-DISM method measures
the driving power and dependence of the interdependencies of the

decarbonized circularity barriers of the Indian CBI. Fifteen industry
experts participated in the data survey, and their participation
consistency was more than 95%. Barriers IB and CPB were found
to be the major and minor challenges in implementing DCE in CBI.
The findings of this research reported that lack of decarbonized and
CE-based infrastructure hinders the adoption of DCE practices. This
paper’s results also highlight the construction design dependency

on infrastructure and machinery and low DCE practice perceptions
for improving circularity in CBI. The entire decision model is divided
into three levels of hierarchical mapping, which helps construction
practitioners and policymakers develop strategic planning for
improving DCE practices in CBI. The paper also presented managerial
and policy implications for CBI practitioners and policymakers.

Book Chapter:

A knowledge roadmap for digitally enabled construction and building
supply chain management: A sustainability perspective. In Evolution and
Trends of Sustainable Approaches Latest Development and Innovations
in Manufacturing Science and Technology. Elsevier Editorial.

31 VOL.5/ ISSUE 2, JAN-APRIL 2024