Introduction to Sustainable Materials in the Construction Industry
\nIntroduction
\nThe construction industry has a significant environmental impact due to the large amounts of raw materials consumed and waste generated during building projects (Flower & Sanjayan, 2007). As such, there is a growing need to adopt more sustainable practices and materials. This report aims to analyze recent scholarly literature on sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials that can help reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. Specifically, it will discuss the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as fly ash and slag, as partial cement replacements in concrete.
\nFindings
\nSupplementary Cementitious Materials in Concrete
\nA substantial body of research has explored using SCMs to enhance the properties and sustainability of concrete. Juenger and Siddique (2015) provide a comprehensive review of how SCMs like fly ash, slag, silica fume, and metakaolin can improve workability, strength development, and durability when partially substituting portland cement in concrete mixes. Similarly, Siddique and Klaus (2009) analyze over 100 studies on metakaolin concrete and find it increases compressive strength and reduces permeability compared to plain cement. More recently, Gollakota et al. (2021) propose a conceptual framework for a circular economy in construction using industrial byproducts like fly ash as supplementary binders.
\nEnvironmental Benefits of SCM Concrete
\nThe use of SCMs in concrete brings clear environmental advantages. Flower and Sanjayan (2007) estimate that a 10% replacement of cement with fly ash reduces CO2 emissions from concrete production by approximately 8%. Bernal et al. (2012) note alkali-activated slag concrete emits 70-80% less CO2 than ordinary portland cement concrete. Additionally, utilizing waste materials like fly ash avoids the need for landfilling (Castellanos et al., 2017). Gao et al. (2017) also found nano-silica and fly ash improved the abrasion resistance and reduced drying shrinkage of concrete, extending service life.
\nConclusion
\nIn conclusion, the literature strongly supports the use of SCMs like fly ash, slag, and metakaolin as viable, sustainable alternatives to partial amounts of portland cement in concrete. Not only do these industrial byproducts enhance engineering properties, but their incorporation leads to significant reductions in the environmental impacts of concrete production by decreasing CO2 emissions and diverting waste from landfills. Further optimization of SCM concrete mixes could help advance the construction industry toward more circular economy and sustainable practices.
\nReferences
\nBernal, S. A., Mej\u00eda de Guti\u00e9rrez, R., & Provis, J. L. (2012). Engineering and durability properties of concretes based on alkali-activated granulated blast furnace slag\/metakaolin blends. Construction and Building Materials, 35, 599-608. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.003
\nCastellanos, A. G., Mawson, H., Burke, V., & Prabhakar, P. (2017). Fly-ash cenosphere\/clay blended composites for impact resistant tiles. Construction and Building Materials, 134, 297-304. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2016.12.172
\nFlower, D. J., & Sanjayan, J. G. (2007). Green house gas emissions due to concrete manufacture. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 12(5), 282-288. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1065\/lca2007.05.312
\nGao, Y., He, B., Li, Y., Tang, J., & Qu, L. (2017). Effects of nano-particles on improvement in wear resistance and drying shrinkage of road fly ash concrete. Construction and Building Materials, 135, 1-8. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2016.12.083
\nGollakota, A. R. K., Volli, V. R., & Cleary, P. W. (2021). A conceptual framework for a circular economy in construction addressing circular economy. Circular Economy and Sustainability. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s43615-021-00029-6
\nJuenger, M. C. G., & Siddique, R. (2015). Recent advances in understanding the role of supplementary cementitious materials in concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, 78, 71-80. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cemconres.2015.08.013
\nSiddique, R., & Klaus, J. (2009). Influence of metakaolin on the properties of mortar and concrete: A review. Applied Clay Science, 43(3-4), 392-400. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.clay.2008.11.005
\n_________________________________
\nUO Introduction to Construction Management
\nASSESSMENT 2:
\nREPORT
\nThis assessment activity contributes to 50% of the total course grade.
\nRATIONALE:
\nThe purpose of this assessment is to develop core academic and professional capabilities for both professional and
\nacademicreadingandwriting. Readingisintegraltocommunicationandlearning,especiallyimportantwhen
\ncommunicating your learning. As you read, you reflect on current knowledge to pursue further knowledge. As such,
\nreadingforacademicpurposesinvolvesanalysing,interpretingandevaluatingtexts.Thismeansthatyouwillbe
\nrequiredtoreflectonthereadingtodeterminewhatthekeymessagesarethattheauthorisportrayingandtoinfer
\ntheunderlyingmessage.Itisimportanttodeterminethevalidityandcredibilityoftheinformationtheauthoruses
\nto persuade or influence the reader. This is what it means to select scholarly sources. Similarly when writing, you will
\ncarefully select and use information to persuade your readers. Written communication involves developing,
\nexpressing and sequencing ideas in a logical way and in an acceptable format, which forthis assessment, will be an
\nanalytical report.
\nThere are two parts to this assessment:
\nPart A: Reading Journal: 3 reflections on 3 scholarly sources in preparation for writing a report (Part B)
\nPart B: Analytical Report \u2013 drawing on your research to write an analytical response to a vision statement.
\nCOURSE OBJECTIVES:
\n– CO1. Outline the history, characteristics and external environment of the construction industry.
\n– CO2. Identify the key principles of sustainable development and the role of sustainable construction.
\n– CO3.Distinguishandexplaintheroles andinteractions of sectors,professions,business entities,
\nregulatoryand advisory bodies involved in the industry.
\n– CO4.Describethebuildingprocessandexplaintheroles,dutiesandrelationshipsofthemembersofthe
\nbuildingteam.
\n– CO5.Demonstrateanunderstandingofthekeyelementsofmanagementofconstructionorganisationsand
\nprojects.
\nASSESSMENT SUMMARY:
\nUO Introduction to Construction Management
\nTASK DESCRIPTION
\nPART A: READING JOURNAL (20% OF COURSE GRADE)
\nIntroduction
\nRead and reflect on six scholarly sources to be submitted as anAppendix with your analyticalreport(PartB). A
\nscholarly source is written by a qualified author who is an expert in their field and has usually been peer-reviewed,
\nby experts for accuracy and quality. You are to select three academic journal articles from the provided Scholarly
\nsources list and then select anotherthree Scholarly sources as you read more widely. The information gathered in
\nthese scholarly sources will be used to write theAnalytical Report(PartB).Thus, as you read, select those sources
\nthat provide information relevant to the \u2018statement\u2019 written below.
\nThe validity of this statement is what you will use to frame your response for the analytical report.
\nVision Statement
\nThere is a need to rethink and improve traditional ways of managing construction projects in order to adopt the
\nprinciples of the circular economy.
\nReading Journal Entries
\nYou areonly required to submitthree reading journal entries as anAppendix with your analyticalreport. In each
\nreflection you will need to include full citation details for the source that you have read, and address the
\nfollowing questions:
\na) WhathaveIjustread?[Yourresponsetothisquestionistoincludethefullcitationdetailsforthesourceyou
\nhaveread,withthesameinformationandformattingasthecitationincludedintheReferencelistofyour
\nreport.]
\nb) What were the key points?
\nc) How do they relate to my selected report topic?
\nd) What points may be useful to include in my report?
\ne) What questions does this reading raise for me to pursue further?
\nf) How do my own experiences or observations relate to this reading?
\nPlease refer to the reading journal template here.
\nFormative Reading Journal Entry
\nTo assist you in developing your reading journaling skills you can participate in an activity that allows you to submit a
\nformativereadingjournalentrytoadiscussionforum.Youcansubmityourformativereadingjournalentry
\nanytime from Week 1 up until Week 9. You will also be able to receive some feedback from the online tutor.Please
\nalso use this opportunity to learn from your peers.
\nUO Introduction to Construction Management
\nSCHOLARLY SOURCES LIST
\nUse and acknowledge appropriately three of the scholarly\/academic journal articles listed below.Please note that
\nthelinkstotheaboveacademicjournalarticleshavenotbeenprovidedtoallowyoutopracticelocatingarticles.
\nThe UniSA Library has created a Construction Management, Quantity and Building Surveying website to help you
\nget started and to find the below scholarly\/academic journal articles.
\n1. Charef,R., Morel, J.-C.,&Rakhshan,K.(2021).Barriers toImplementingtheCircularEconomy in the
\nConstructionIndustry:ACriticalReview.Sustainability.,13(23).https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/su132312989
\n2. Guerra,B.C.,Shahi,S.,Mollaei,A.,Skaf,N.,Weber,O.,Leite,F.,&Haas,C.(2021).Circulareconomy
\napplications in the construction industry:A global scan of trends and opportunities. Journal of Cleaner
\nProduction., 324.https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jclepro.2021.129125
\n3. Hossain, M. U., Ng,S. T.,Antwi-Afari,P.,&Amor,B.(2020). Circular economy and the construction industry:
\nExistingtrends,challengesandprospectiveframeworkforsustainableconstruction.Renewable&Sustainable
\nEnergy Reviews, 130. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.rser.2020.109948
\n4. Charef, R., Lu, W., & Hall, D. (2022). The transition to the circular economy of the construction industry:
\nInsights into sustainable approaches to improve the understanding. Journal of Cleaner Production.,
\n364. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jclepro.2022.132421
\n5. Yu,Y.,Junjan,V.,Yazan,D.M.,&Iacob,M.-E.(2022).AsystematicliteraturereviewonCircularEconomy
\nimplementationintheconstructionindustry:apolicy-makingperspective.Resources,Conservation,and
\nRecycling, 183.https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.resconrec.2022.106359
\n6. Yu, Y., Yazan, D. M., Bhochhibhoya, S., & Volker, L. (2021). Towards Circular Economy through
\nIndustrial Symbiosis in the Dutch construction industry: A case of recycled concrete aggregates.
\nJournalofCleaner Production., 293.https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jclepro.2021.126083
\n7. Nodehi,M.,&Taghvaee,V.M.(2022).ApplyingCircularEconomytoConstructionIndustrythroughUseof
\nWasteMaterials:AReviewofSupplementaryCementitiousMaterials,Plastics,andCeramics.Circular
\nEconomy and Sustainability, 2(3), 987\u20131020. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s43615-022-00149-x
\n8. Dewagoda,K.G.,Ng,S.T.,&Chen,J.(2022).Drivingsystematiccirculareconomyimplementationinthe
\nconstructionindustry:Aconstructionvaluechainperspective.JournalofCleanerProduction.,381.
\nhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jclepro.2022.135197
\n9. Charef, R.,&Lu,W.(2021). Factor dynamics to facilitate circular economy adoption in construction. Journal of
\nCleaner Production., 319. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jclepro.2021.128639
\n10. Nasir,M.H.A.,Genovese,A.,Acquaye,A.A.,Koh,S.,&Yamoah,F.(2017).Comparinglinearandcircular
\nsupply chains:Acase study from the construction industry. International Journal ofProductionEconomics,
\n183, 443\u2013 457. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpe.2016.06.008
\nFINDING OTHER SCHOLARLY\/ACADEMIC JOURNAL ARTICLES FOR YOUR ANALYTICAL REPORT
\nYou will also need to find another three scholarly\/academic journal articles to assist you in writing your Analytical
\nReport.TheUniSALibraryhascreatedaninteractivetutorialtohelpyouinfindingscholarlysources.
\nUO Introduction to Construction Management
\nPART B: ANALYTICAL REPORT (30% OF COURSE GRADE)
\nInPartBofAssessment2,youneedtowriteananalyticalreportthatdiscussesthevalidityofthestatementbelow.
\nYouranalyticalreport must be well informed, with reference to the sixscholarly sources selected.
\nVision
\nThere is a need to rethink and improve traditional ways of managing construction projects in order to adopt
\nthe principles of the circular economy.
\nANALYTICAL SKILLS
\nIn the building and construction sector, you will be required to critically analyse information. Decisions made based
\nontheanalysisoftheinformationcouldmakeadifferencebetweenamoresuccessfulorlesssuccessfulproject
\noutcome. This analytical report will help give you the skills for professional life.
\nAnalyticalwritingisusedtoshowrelationshipsbetweenpiecesofinformation.Itisusedtocompare,assessor
\nevaluate (for example, several approaches, theories, methodologies or outcomes). It has a structure based on the
\nordering of sections in the findings\/discussion in relation to each other and uses evidence from various sources. The
\nterms are explainedbelow:
\nAnalysis: examine closely; examine something in terms of its parts and how they are related to each other.
\nFindings\/discussion: consideringandofferingsomeinterpretationorevaluationofsomething;presentandgivea
\njudgment on the value of arguments for and against something (compare).
\nReport: clearly structure a document to present information about an investigation that has been undertaken. The
\nclearstructureallowsspecificpartsofthatinformationtobeeasilylocatedbythereader.Youwillneedtofollowthe
\nprovided structure for your report.
\nUO Introduction to Construction Management
\nREPORT STRUCTURE
\nFor this assessment you should structure your report as set out below:
\nSECTIONS STAGES COMPONENTS AND HEADINGS
\nPreliminary section:
\nProvides the context and
\nbackground information
\nTitle Page
\nTable of Contents
\nExecutive Summary
\nMain section of body of the
\nreport: Presents the key aspects
\nof the report \u2013 what was done,
\nwhat was found, and what this
\nmeans?
\nStage 1
\nIntroduces this section
\nIntroduction
\nStage 2
\nPresents the findings and your
\nanalysis of these findings
\nMainsectionsorganisedunder
\nappropriate headings and
\nsubheadings.
\n(Headingsareusedtoidentify the
\naspect
\ndealt with in each sub-section)
\nStage 3
\nStatestheimplicationofthe
\nfindings andanalysis
\nConclusion
\nSummary of main points and
\nprovides a statement of
\nconclusions.
\nSupplementary Section:
\nContains extra information
\nReference List
\nAppendices
\nInclude the reading journal as an
\nAppendix
\nPreliminary section:
\nTitlePage:Titleofthereport(attentiongrabbingandcoveysthethemeofthereportcontent),preparedfor
\n(Lecturer\u2019s name); prepared by (Your name, and student ID, course code, date)
\nTableof contents:Aseparatepagethatincludesallheadingsandsubheadingsandcorrespondingpagenumbers (the
\nheadings serve as a guidepost for your reader)
\nExecutive Summary: A summary of the report that is usually written last. It should be a standalone document and
\ndoesnotrequireheadings,quotesorbulletpoints.Itsummarisesthepurposeandscopeofthereport,typeof
\nanalysis and findings.
\nMain Section:
\nIntroduction:Contextualisesthereportforthereader.Itexplainsthepurposeofthereport,whatitaimedto
\ndiscover and how the information will be represented:
\n\u2022 a general statement about the topic to orient the reader
\n\u2022 a brief overview of the theoretical framework
\n\u2022 a clear thesis statement outlining your position\/s on the statement
\n\u2022 an overview of the themes covered in the report
\nUO Introduction to Construction Management
\nFindings:
\n\u2022 What did you find out?
\n\u2022 Are there similar or alternate views?
\n\u2022 Draw on your theoretical frame and the literature (your research) to discuss the statement.
\n\u2022 Organise your discussion into sections with headings and subheadings.
\nAdvice:
\nWhen researching and writing, it helps to organise your writing into sections. This involves organising
\nyour research into themes. As you do this you will notice that some authors write about similar
\nviewpoints and others may have contrasting views. Recognising these similarities and differences is
\nwhat an analytical researcher does.
\nIt is always beneficial to keep the course objectives in mind. The course objectives are a statement of
\nthe learning goals for this course and thus are inextricably linked to assessment.
\nHence, the objectives may assist your thinking when you are gathering your research and organising
\nyour research into \u2018themes\u2019 for discussion. This part of the research phase may take some time, but it
\nis well worth the effort as it will help you to analyse the information you have gathered into clear and
\nlogical sections.
\nOnce you have categorised your information into sections, you then complete the writing for the
\nsections.
\nConclusion: Summarise the report and reiterate your main arguments. Ensure that your conclusion is consistent with
\nthe introduction paragraph. Include a take home message, a clear statement that informs your reader about what all of
\nthis means and why it is important.
\nSupplementary Section: Reference list (APA 7) and Appendices (including your reading journal)
\nAppendices: Including your 3 reading journal entries
\nFORMATTING AND LAYOUT REQUIREMENTS FOR ASESSMENT 2 (PARTS A AND B)
\n\u2022 FormatPartA:ReadingJournaltotheguidelinesassetoutintheReadingJournalEntryTemplateprovided.
\n\u2022 Format Part B: Analytical Report according to the guidelines as set out in the report structure. Refer here for
\na TemplateExample.
\n\u2022 Word counts for assessments do not typically include title pages, bibliographies orreference lists. In-line
\ncitations in the body of the document are included.
\n\u2022 WordCountforPartAis3ReadingJournalsat300wordseach(900wordsintotal)andPartBis1500words
\n+\/- 10%. Word counts for assessments do not include title pages, bibliographies orreference lists. In-line
\ncitations in the body of the document are included.
\n\u2022 Typed, one and a half line spacing, with wide margins approx. 3 cms. It is preferable to use either Arial,
\nCalibri or Times New Roman.
\n\u2022 Applyappropriatesectionheadingsandsubheadingsandensureconsistentnumberingofsections.
\n\u2022 Keep paragraphs simple \u2013 one concept per paragraph.
\n\u2022 Part A and B are to be submitted as one document.
\n\u2022 Use the rubric in theAssessment 2 Resources to better understand how yourwork will be marked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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