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Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects
Gombami, F. R. 2025. Investigating Environmentally Sustainable Practices During the Construction Phase Of Building Projects. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/44d77fc9-120e-421f-bff2-09eb95d9524d
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613851479965696 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Gombami, Fionah Rudo |
| author2 | Wium, Jan |
| author_browse | Gombami, Fionah Rudo Wium, Jan |
| author_facet | Wium, Jan Gombami, Fionah Rudo |
| author_sort | Gombami, Fionah Rudo |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Gombami, F. R. 2025. Investigating Environmentally Sustainable Practices During the Construction Phase Of Building Projects. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/44d77fc9-120e-421f-bff2-09eb95d9524d |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132388 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:41.823Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132388 Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects Gombami, Fionah Rudo Wium, Jan Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Sustainable construction Buildings -- Environmental engineering Construction industry -- Environmental aspects UCTD Gombami, F. R. 2025. Investigating Environmentally Sustainable Practices During the Construction Phase Of Building Projects. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/44d77fc9-120e-421f-bff2-09eb95d9524d Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sustainability is a continuously growing field in the construction industry worldwide. The focus of this research is on the environmental aspect of sustainability. The motivation for this research is the current state of unsustainable practices being implemented on construction projects. Sustainable practices are often not implemented due to a lack of knowledge and cost. There is a need for the continuation of construction as it contributes to the economy. The industry must however implement more sustainable practices. This research investigated how sustainable practices can be implemented in the construction phase of building projects in South Africa. The scope of the investigation was limited to the construction of buildings and the environmental pillar of sustainability. The research questions for this study were: (i) what incentives, policies and regulations promote environmentally friendly construction; (ii) how can the re-use and recycling of industrial, construction and demolition waste and use of sustainable materials contribute to sustainable construction; (iii) how can site conditions and operations contribute to sustainable construction; (iv) how can technology be used for sustainability purposes on construction projects and (v) can a framework be developed to assist contractors with implementing sustainability on construction projects. The objectives of this paper were achieved through a literature review, case studies, and interviews with professionals in the construction industry. Data collected was used in a framework which advises on implementing sustainable practices on building construction projects. The findings of this research confirm that the regulatory environment in South Africa currently does not adequately address the harm caused to the environment by construction activities. The development of sustainability policies and regulations to mitigate the environmental impact of construction activities is necessary. The re-use and recycling of industrial, construction and demolition waste and use of sustainable materials contributes positively to sustainable construction. However, long term research needs to be done, material demand and availability needs to increase, and standardisation of materials is required. Green practices must be implemented on construction sites. This can be done by training site personnel and management on what sustainable practices are and how to implement them. Technologies that can be used for sustainability purposes on construction projects include LCA, prefabrication, BIM, IoT, RFID and 3D printing. The factors discussed are not independent of each other but interact to ensure that the construction industry implements environmentally friendly practices which result in sustainable development. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volhoubaarheid is 'n voortdurend groeiende veld in die konstruksie bedryf wêreldwyd. Die fokus van hierdie navorsing is die omgewingsaspek van volhoubaarheid. Die motivering vir hierdie navorsing is die stand van onvolhoubare praktyke wat tans op konstruksieprojekte geïmplementeer word. Volhoubare praktyke word dikwels nie geïmplementeer nie weens 'n gebrek aan kennis en weens koste. Daar is 'n behoefte aan die voortsetting van konstruksie aangesien dit bydra tot die ekonomie. Die bedryf moet egter meer volhoubare praktyke implementeer. Hierdie navorsing het ondersoek ingestel na die implimentering van volhoubare praktyke gedurende die konstruksiefase van konstruksieprojekte in Suid Afrika. Die omvang van die ondersoek was beperk tot die bou van geboue en die omgewingsaspek van volhoubaarheid. Die navorsingsvrae vir hierdie studie was: (i) watter aansporings, beleide en regulasies kan omgewingsvriendelike konstruksie bevorder; (ii) hoe die hergebruik en herwinning van nywerheid-, konstruksie- en slopings afval en die gebruik van volhoubare materiale tot volhoubare konstruksie kan bydra; (iii) hoe terreintoestande en-bedrywighede tot volhoubare konstruksie kan bydra; (iv) hoe tegnologie vir volhoubaarheid doeleindes op konstruksieprojekte gebruik kan word en (v) kan 'n raamwerk ontwikkel word om kontrakteurs te help met die implementering van volhoubaarheid op konstruksieprojekte. Die doelwitte van hierdie studie is bereik deur 'n literatuuroorsig, gevallestudies en onderhoude met professionele persone in die konstruksie bedryf. Data wat ingesamel is, is gebruik in 'n raamwerk wat advies gee oor die implementering van volhoubare praktyke op geboue konstruksie projekte. Die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing bevestig dat die regulatoriese omgewing in Suid-Afrika nie tans voldoende aandag gee aan die skade wat deur konstruksie-aktiwiteite aan die omgewing veroorsaak word nie. Die ontwikkeling van volhoubaarheidsbeleide en -regulasies om die omgewingsimpak van konstruksie-aktiwiteite te versag, is nodig. Die hergebruik en herwinning van nywerheid-, konstruksieen slopingsafval en die gebruik van volhoubare materiale dra positief by tot volhoubare konstruksie. Langtermyn navorsing moet egter gedoen word, materiaal aanvraag en beskikbaarheid moet toeneem, en standaardisering van materiale word vereis. Groen praktyke moet op konstruksie terreine geïmplementeer word. Dit kan gedoen word deur terreinpersoneel en -bestuur op te lei oor volhoubare praktyke en hoe om dit te implementeer. Tegnologieë wat vir volhoubaarheids doeleindes op konstruksie projekte gebruik kan word, is Leeftydsiklusanalises, voorafvervaardiging, Gebouinligtingsmodelle, Iinternet van Dinge, Radiofrekwensie-identifisering en 3D-drukwerk. Die faktore wat bespreek is, is nie onafhanklik van mekaar nie, maar is in wisselwerking om te verseker dat die konstruksiebedryf omgewingsvriendelike praktyke implementeer wat volhoubare ontwikkeling tot gevolg het. Masters 2025-06-05T13:43:50Z 2025-06-05T13:43:50Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132388 Stellenbosch University xii, 141 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Sustainable construction Buildings -- Environmental engineering Construction industry -- Environmental aspects UCTD Gombami, Fionah Rudo Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects |
| title | Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects |
| title_full | Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects |
| title_fullStr | Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects |
| title_short | Investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects |
| title_sort | investigating environmentally sustainable practices during the construction phase of building projects |
| topic | Sustainable construction Buildings -- Environmental engineering Construction industry -- Environmental aspects UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132388 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gombamifionahrudo investigatingenvironmentallysustainablepracticesduringtheconstructionphaseofbuildingprojects |