Management of Aggregate Base Course Wastage in Road Construction Projects

Abstract

The construction industry in a country contributes significantly to the national economy. Developing countries in Asia produce a huge amount of construction waste. Road Construction (RC) projects, which are quite risky, often end up with cost and time overruns. Construction materials account for a major portion of the cost overruns. Thus, the management of material wastage in construction projects is important. Aggregate Base Course (ABC) wastage affects the cost of RC significantly. Thus, this study was on the waste management of ABC in RC projects executed in Sri Lanka. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and the required empirical data were collected by interviewing 13 experts. The interview findings were analysed manually using content analysis. The interviews were conducted based on the findings of a literature review. The interviews findings disclosed that improper material storage in sites, material wastage during transportation, improper material utilization, and professional inefficiency as the major factors that contribute to material wastage in road projects. Material reconciliation and proper documentation were identified as the two most common strategies that can be adopted to manage the material wastage in RC projects.