Key Research Projects

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

EURASIA: The programme initiated a vision for Building Ampara, to envisage a series of rural community capacity building initiatives. An integrated sustainable communities’ framework (ISCF) was adopted to provide embedded student learning in sustainable design and practice and a holistic eco- sustainable framework for short term and long-term capacity building, and infrastructure improvements. The programme was participated by students from Deakin University, Australia; International Islamic University Malaysia and Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa.

ISLAND: Inspiring Sri-Lankan renewal and Development. RICS funded project for increasing the effectiveness of disaster management strategies by sharing knowledge and good practices about post-tsunami programmes in SRI Lanka. Partners were University of Salford, UK and BEMRU, University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka from 2006-2007.

COWAM: The European Union funded Construction Waste Management (COWAM) project in Sri Lanka in 2009. 

PROCEDURE MANUAL: Preparation of a standard manual to be used by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) on construction project management.

iDiDE SRI LANKA BUILDING AMPARA PROGRAMME 2016:  The programme initiated a vision for Building Ampara, to envisage a series of rural community capacity building initiatives. An integrated sustainable communities’ framework (ISCF) was adopted to provide embedded student learning in sustainable design and practice and a holistic eco- sustainable framework for short term and long-term capacity building, and infrastructure improvements. The programme was participated by students from Deakin University, Australia; International Islamic University Malaysia and Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICIES IN DISASTERSCollaborative research project to review the disaster management policies followed in recent flooding and landslide disaster events in Sri Lanka. Project partners were Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, Australia and BEMRU, University of Moratuwa in 2017

iDiDE SRI LANKA BUILDING AMPARA PROGRAMME 2017: The programme was participated by students and staff members from Deakin University, Australia; Manipal University, India and students from the Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. The outcomes of Building Ampara in 2017 include the successful adoption of a design proposal by the CBO Community leadership group, with supporting site survey, context analysis, and material study. Adjunct on the ground projects successfully delivered by the team included the design-build of several octagonal swings that were gifted and installed in six local Ampara region schools. The outputs of iDiDE 2017 culminated in a public exhibition held at Trace Expert City, Maradana.

CHOBE/RICS PROJECT ON THE STATE OF GLOBAL SURVEYING EDUCATION: International Partners include Robert Gordon University (UK); George Brown College, Canada; Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria; University of Western Sydney, Australia; and BEMRU, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2019

 

ONGOING INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

FADRIFacilitating Post-Disaster Recovery and Re-construction through Insurance – University of Northumbria

Project: Technology Enhanced Stakeholder Collaboration for Supporting Risk-Sensitive Sustainable
Urban Development (TRANSCEND)
Funded by: GCRF Funds, University of Salford, UK
From August 2020 to August 2023 uk

Project: A Collaborative Multi-agency Platform for Building Resilient Communities
Funded by: Global Research Challenge Fund
From 2018 to December 2022 fin

Project: User Requirements to Support Functional Characteristics of a Digital Early Warning System for Dam
Failures in Sri Lanka
Funded by: Quality Research (QR) Funds, University of Salford, UK
From September 2021 to December 2023 fin

Project: Transformational Homes for long-term disaster relief and recovery
Funded by: Quality Research (QR) Funds, Northumbria University, UK
From September 2021 to December 2023

Project: Cost Benefit Analysis of Physical Defences against Natural Hazards
Funded by: Quality Research (QR) Funds, Northumbria University, UK
From September 2021 to December 2023

 

LOCAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

MARKET SURVEY Industry led market survey for mixed development projects with special reference to Majestic City and Crescat developments in 2002

PROPERTY MARKET SURVEY IN SRI LANKA: Industry funded research project for identifying the demand for different property types in Sri Lanka and explore the project management trends in 2002

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT MANUAL: Industry led project on the development of a Facilities Management Manual in 2011

SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT: Research Project on the preparation of Green Building Guide and Sustainable Accreditation Manual for Sri Lanka.

CHALLENGES IN CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENTS: Identification of problems of condominium projects especially low income category in Sri Lanka.

CAREER ADAPTIVITY: The effective adaptation of Quantity Surveyors to changing demands, a project collaborated with Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL) in 2019-2020

ONLINE PLATFORM FOR COST INFORMATION DATABASEProject collaborated with Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL) in 2019-2020

Project: Investigate contractual challenges and constraints faced by the construction industry in a
pandemic situation.
Funded by: Senate Research Committee (Long-Term), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
From May 2021 to July 2022

Project: Investigate skills and competencies of construction equipment operators should be well
equipped to serve the upcoming demand and trends in Sri Lankan construction industry
Funded by: Senate Research Committee (short -Term), University of Moratuwa
From April 2021 to September 2022

Project: Fostering Lean Construction through Human Capacity Building: An Empirical Study in
Construction Industry

 

ONGOING LOCAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

Project: The Professional Identity Crisis: The Case of Quantity Surveyors
Funded by: Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL)
From August 2021 to 2023

Project: Abstracting Standard Forms of Contracts to Support Contractual Decision Making Towards e-
Construction Administration.
Funded by: Senate Research Committee (Long-Term), University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
From November 2020 to November 2023

Project: Development Orient Research (DOR) Project- Assessing Urban Comfort, Safety and Security of
Public Realm for Sustainable Urbanisation in Sri Lanka,
Funded by: Under the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD)
From 2019 to 2023

Project: Economic Feasibility of green walling used in commercial buildings
Funded by: University of Moratuwa Senate Research Committee Long Term Grants,
From 2021 to Date

Project: Analysis of construction cost trend of low-rise houses in Sri Lanka
Funded by: Tokyo Cement Group PLC
In 2021

Project: Assessment of Waste heat recovery in hotel buildings
Funded by: University of Moratuwa Senate Research Committee Long Term Grants
From 2021 to Date

Project: Assessment of demand and supply of Quantity Surveyors in Sri Lanka
Funded by: Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL)
In 2019

Project: A policy review to improve the engagement of marginalised communities during post-disaster
reconstruction in Sri Lanka
Funded by: Senate Research Grant (SRC - Long Term)
From June 2021 to November 2023

Project: Enhancing the Green Construction through Artificial Intelligence
Funded by: Senate Research Grant (SRC)
From September 2020 to December 2023

Project: Teaching and Research Capacity of Built Environment Higher Education in Sri Lanka in the field of
Disaster Resilience
Funded by: Senate Research Grant (SRC)
From September 2020 to December 2023

Project: Gender and Disability Inclusion in Post-Disaster Rebuilding ‘Build Back Better’ Programme – A pilot
study in Trincomalee
Funded by: Senate Research Grant (SRC)
From September 2020 to August 2023

Project: A framework for effective transformation towards building energy efficiency retrofits(BEER) in
the Sri Lankan Hotel Sector
Funded by: Senate Research Committee of University of Moratuwa long term grants
From 2018 to Date

Project: Investigate the changes in construction cost, prices of construction materials and labour for
residential construction projects in Sri Lanka
Funded by: Tokyo Cement Group PLC, Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL) and University
of Moratuwa
From December 2020

 

LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS 

LOW-COST HOUSING PROJECT: Low-cost houses for the flood affected areas in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, funded by Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) (October 2003)

LOW-COST HOUSING PROJECT: Low cost housing scheme for the “Tsunami victims” in Sri Lanka, funded by Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) (December 2004)

TURNKEY FOR WATER SUPPLY: Preparation of Documentation for Turnkey Water Supply Contract for Disaster Reconstruction for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC)

PREPARATION OF BOQS AND COST ESTIMATES for Proposed Renovation and Refurbishment of National and Navodya Schools Project in Sri Lanka, funded by Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka (2005)

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH FACILITIES: World Bank funded project on the assessment of Tsunami Damages of Health Facilities in Sri Lanka: Case studies on four mostly affected districts Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa and Galle.