The 9th World Construction Symposium 2021 on “‘Reshaping construction: Strategic, Structural & Cultural Transformations towards the Next Normal” was successfully held virtually from 09 – 10 July 2021. The Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) and Building Economics and Management Research Unit (BEMRU) of the Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa jointly organised the 9th World Construction Symposium. The symposium aimed at providing a forum for exchanging ideas between construction researchers in the areas of sustainability with a view to fostering a better link between industry and academia. Further, the symposium provided a platform to discuss innovative directions in sustainability, so that the Sri Lankan researchers could be enriched in current knowledge to avoid reinventing of the wheel.
Forty-nine (49) papers were virtually presented at the Symposium by both local and international scholars pertaining to the main theme. Many researchers, industry practitioners and students from Sri Lanka, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Hong Kong, India, Dubai and South Africa took part in this symposium sharing ideas in the area of sustainability in built environment. The diversity of participants stimulated a rich debate of the agenda items.
After the four parrel sessions for paper presentations, a panel discussion was organised on the conference theme “Reshaping Construction: Strategic, Structural & Cultural Transformations towards the Next Normal”. The panel discussion was moderated by Ch. QS Suranga Jayasena, Head, the Department of Buildings Economics, University of Moratuwa and the panellists comprised of following eminent academics and industry professionals.
- Prof. Mike Kagioglou, Western Sydney University in Australia,
- Emeritus Prof. Andrew Ross, Liverpool John Moores University
- Eng. Nissanka Wijeratne, the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka
- Prof. Chitra Weddikkara, Emeritus Professor of University of Moratuwa
- Eng. Saliya Kaluarachchi, Secretary, CIOB
The symposium concluded with announcing of the following awards winners.
BEPAM Journal Best Paper Award:
- Comparison of skills between Sri Lankan and foreign construction labour by Kesavan Manoharan, Pujitha Dissanayake, Chintha Pathirana, Dharsana Deegahawature and Renuka Silva
BEPAM Journal Highly Commended Paper Awards:
- Dynamic supply chain capability analysis of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge construction: A topic modeling approach by E.M.A.C Ekanayake, Geoffrey Qiping Shen, Mohan M. Kumaraswamy and Jin Xue
- Development of a framework for flood mitigation in Fiji by Mingyuan Guo, Argaw Gurmu and Linda Tivendale
CIOB Best Paper Award:
- A new safety climate assessment tool for Gulf construction by Tariq Umar and Nnedinma Umeokafor
In conclusion, the 9th World Construction Symposium 2021 can be seen as another highly successful event for the organizers, particularly for Building Economics and Management Research Unit (BEMRU) of the Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa, even amidst the constraints imposed by the pandemic, with a good participation by both local and international academics and industry experts presenting papers addressing a range of sustainability issues within the construction industry.
