Adopting Environmental Practices in Construction Sites

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In the last few decades the construction industry has grown significantly across the world. The demand for the residential, public and infrastructure projects has increased exponentially.  The growth in the demand of the construction projects put immense pressure on the natural resources along with degrading the overall natural environment (Campos et al., 2016). The discussion below focuses on the use of Environmental project management (EnvPM) in managing the construction projects.

Environmental project management (EnvPM) is a new term that has different interpretations. EnvPM covers the processes, knowledge areas and the principles along with tools and techniques that can be used for managing the elements of environment such as air, land, water and the living organisms (Huovila & Leinonen, 2000). Environmental project management is a concept that uses the processes, methods, principles for managing and improving the major elements of the ecosystem such as plants, air, land, water and the living organisms so as to achieve a sustainable outcome (Muhwezi et al., 2014). There are number of industries that are significantly affecting the environment and nature one such industry is the construction industry. The construction activities are having injurious impact on the environment and nature (Ab Rahman & Esa, 2014). The significant impact of the construction activities is because of the emission due to consumption of energy. In this context this study will focus on determining the role of environmental project management in construction industry.  This topic was chosen for the research because the environment is in danger; human beings are continuing to exploit the environment. The natural resources are being drawn out; unwanted chemicals are being added to the water, air causing serious concerns for the present and future generation. The processes and activities of the construction industry have to be modified so as to reduce its impact on the environment. This research topic will help in providing a solution to one of the biggest problem of environmental degradation because of the construction industry.

Thomas and Costa (2017) conducted a study on adopting the environmental practices for the construction sites. The authors stated that the construction sites are significantly affecting the environment as large quantities of energy, water, material along with other resources are being used on the construction sites (Thomas & Costa, 2017). The authors focused on the need of adopting the number of practices such as the Environmental project management so as to minimize the impact of onsite construction activities on the environment (Thomas & Costa, 2017). Sholari and Awange (2016) also focused on the application of EnvPM in the construction industry of the developing countries. The author highlighted the fact that the construction projects are accompanied with number of challenges associated with the environmental impact of the construction projects. The Environmental project management can be a useful tool in terms of the planning and tracking the construction projects (Sholarin & Awange, 2016). Campos, Trierweiller, and Carvalho (2016) also focused on the impact of construction activities on the environment. The findings of this study are consistent with the findings of (Ilse & Thomas, 2017) in terms of the impact of the industrial activities on the ecology. In this context the author has highlighted some of the major problems associated with the environmental degradation such as ozone depletion, global warming, scarcity of the natural resources, loss of biodiversity, toxic wastes etc. The author indicates that these problems will worsen in the future years. The author has focused on the role of Environmental Project Management for minimizing the impact of the construction activities on the environment. The study has discussed the role of Environmental Project Management Competency Framework (EPMCF) as a valuable tool that helps in assessing the experience, knowledge, training, development and the readiness of an individual to obtain the professional qualifications in the environmental project management (EnvPM) (Campos et al., 2016).

Role of Environmental Project Management in Developing Countries

Šelih (2006) also conducted a study in the area of managing the environment of the construction sites. The author also agrees with the studies discussed above (Campos et al., 2016) (Thomas & Costa, 2017) (Sholarin & Awange, 2016) that the construction is negatively affecting the environment. In this context, author focused on the need of sustainable development in the construction sites like other industrial sectors.  The author focused on the need of implementing the environmental management system (EMS) on the construction sites. According to the author the Environment management systems can be implemented in the construction projects for optimizing the resource utilization and reducing the waste. In addition the environment management system can also help in making the construction projects greener by reducing the energy consumption.  (Šelih, 2007).

Sza?ata and Zwo?dziak (2015) conducted a study in context of using the environmental project management as an important element for shaping the positive environmental image of the adjacent towns and urban agglomerations.  According to the author the environmental project management is essential for managing and protecting the resources along with using the space in the most effective way with the help of spatial planning.  The environmental project management works in line with the sustainable development principles. As a result the EnvPM helps in minimizing the negative impact of the construction activities on the environment (Sza?ata & Zwo?dziak, 2015). Teixeira (2003) also agreed with the fact that the construction industry is negatively affecting the environment and it is one of the largest industries that has its impact on the environment and nature. The author has suggested the use of construction technology as a remedy to prevent the environment from the negative impact of the construction activities. The author has focused on one of the biggest concerns of the construction industry i.e. emissions because of energy consumption. One of the technologies discussed by the author in the paper is the VTT Building Technology that helps in setting and managing the performance requirements so as to minimize the impact of construction activities on the environment (Teixeira, 2005).

Akyürek and A?da? (2017) also focused on the use of Environmental Management System in the construction projects. The authors focused on the fact the environment management system have the potential to improve the overall environment of the construction project but there is a need of environmental management policy and the stakeholder involvement in the process of management. The ISO environmental management system is one of the best systems that provide the standards and the policies to reduce the impact of construction activities on the environment, effective resource utilization and resource allocation. The authors focused on the major barriers associated with the environment management in the construction projects such as the material costs and labour use (Akyürek & Nuri, 2017). These barriers were also determined by the study conducted by (He, 2010).

Impact of Construction Activities on the Environment

He (2010) also emphasized on the role of environment management in the projects. The environmental management tools and technologies can help in improving the environmental management. The environment management helps in improving the overall environment of the project by minimizing the energy consumption along with optimizing the resource utilization (He, 2010).  The author has focused on the importance of recycling in terms of managing the environment of the construction projects. Recycling is one of the best ways that can help in reducing the overall pollution along with producing the beneficial material. Recycling has the potential to deal with the pollution concerns in the construction industry. Abarca-Guerrero, Maas, & Van Twillert (2017) also focused on the importance of recycling in terms of reducing the wastage along with minimizing the impact of construction activities on the environment. Apart from the advantages of recycling in the project environment management the author has also focused on the major barriers in managing the environment of the project. Some of the major barriers include the financial restrictions, improper allocation of the resources, transport costs, lack of skilled and trained workers (He, 2010).  

The above literature review has focused on the Environmental project management (EnvPM) in the construction. The authors in the above literature have focused on the impact of the construction activities on environment along with the role of technology in managing the environment.  The studies included in this are consistent with the finding that the construction activities and processes are severely affecting the environment. Ayarkwa, Acheampong, and Hackman (2014) also focused on the same and determined that the construction activities such as the earthmoving, site clearance and demolishing the sites are some of the major activities that are affecting the environment. The use of machines and equipments on the construction sites are also degrading the overall environment (Ayarkwa et al., 2014). The use of Environmental project management (EnvPM) in managing the construction projects is a new research topic that has been researched by only few of the researchers. This literature has highlighted few of the studies that were associated with the environment management in the construction projects. In this context the studies indicate that there is a need of implementing technology such as the Environment management system and the VTT Building Technology so as to minimize the impact of construction activities on the environment (Teixeira, 2005; Šelih, 2007). In addition the researches have also focused on the barriers associated with the implementation of environment management on the construction sites.  Some of the barriers were – lack of skilled worker, lack of funds, and transport costs (He, 2010).

Implementing Environmental Management Systems in Construction Projects

The major epistemological perspectives that have served as the foundations of these studies are the evidences that indicate that the construction activities are affecting the overall environment primarily by increasing the pollution in the environment along with adding harmful substances in the air and water (Ivaskovaa, Kotes, & Brodnan, 2015). The studies included in the research have employed both the qualitative approaches of research so as to study their research topic. He (2010) for example conducted a qualitative study so as to critically analyze the environment management in the construction projects. The qualitative approach to research is one of the best ways of exploring the in depth details. The qualitative study helps the researcher to discover the new aspects that are often missed by the positivistic enquiries (Anderson, 2010). The study conducted by Teixeira (2005), Ayarkwa, Acheampong, Hackman, and Agyekum (2014), and Thomas and Costa (2017) etc. have also employed the qualitative approach to research so as to understand the issue of environmental degradation cased by construction  projects in detail. Some of the major aspects that have been studies most include the impact of construction activities on the environment in terms of air, land and water pollution, ineffective use and allocation of the natural resources etc. The studies have also focused on the barriers associated with the implementation of the Environment management system on the construction sites.  The aspects that have not been studied by the researchers include the importance of Environmental project management (EnvPM) in the construction projects and the ways in which Environmental project management (EnvPM) can help in reducing the impact of construction activities on the environment. This indicates that there is a need of future studies so as to determine that how Environmental project management (EnvPM) can be used for managing the environment of the construction projects.  The literature review conducted above has provided me enough knowledge in terms of the importance of secondary research so as to understand and explore the research topic in detail. I will use the secondary research method in my management research project so as to understand the topic in detail and compare the findings of primary research with that of the secondary research.

The above literature review has helped in determining the important of managing the environment of the construction sites along with utilizing the technology for the same. The study has also helped in determining the barriers that can hinder the process of environment management on the construction sites. Technology plays a crucial role in reducing the impact of the construction activities on the environment along with reducing the wastage and utilizing the resources optimally (Ofori et al., 2002). The area of Environmental project management (EnvPM) is completely unexplored and the future researches need to focus on the ways (EnvPM) can be applied for improving the overall environment of the construction projects.

References

Ab Rahman, N.N.N. & Esa, N. (2014) Managing Construction Development Risks to the Environment. In Sustainable Living with Environmental Risks. Tokyo: Springer. pp.193-202.

Abarca-Guerrero, L., Maas, G. & Van Twillert, H. (2017) Barriers and Motivations for Construction Waste Reduction Practices in Costa Rica. Resources, 6(4).

Akyürek, A. & Nuri, O. (2017) Evaluation of Environmental Management System Implementation in Construction Projects. European Scientific Journal, 13(10), pp.322-31.

Anderson, C. (2010) Presenting and Evaluating Qualitative Research. Am J Pharm Educ, 74(8).

Ayarkwa, J., Acheampong, A., Hackman, J.K. & Agyekum, K. (2014) Environmental Impact of Construction Site Activities in Ghana. Africa Development and Resources Research Institute (ADRRI) Journal, 9(2), pp.1-19.

Campos, L.M., Trierweiller, A.C., De Carvalho, D.N. & Šelih, J. (2016) Environmental management systems in the construction industry: a review. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 15(2), pp.453-60.

He, Y. (2010) Environmental Management within Projects. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(1), pp.205-10.

Huovila, P. & Leinonen, J. (2000) Environmental management in construction. In Project Management Institute Annual Seminars & Symposium. Houston, TX, 2000. Project Management Institute.

Ivaskovaa, M., Kotes, P. & Brodnan, M.(2015) Air pollution as an important factor in construction materials. Procedia Engineering, 108, pp. 131-38.

Muhwezi, L., Kiberu, F., Kyakula, M. & Batambuze, A.O. (2014) An assessment of the impact of construction activities on the environment in Uganda: A case study of Iganga municipality. Journal of construction Engineering and Project Management, 2(4), pp.20-24.

Ofori, G., Gang, G. & Briffett, C. (2002) Implementing environmental management systems in construction: lessons from quality systems. Building and Environment, 37(12), pp.1397-407.

Šelih, J. (2007) Environmental management systems and construction SMES: A case study for Slovenia. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 13(3), pp.217-26.

Sholarin, E.A. & Awange, J.L. (2016) Challenges of Applying EnvPM in Developing Countries. In Environmental Project Management. Cham: Springer. pp.393-96.

Sza?ata, ?.W. & Zwo?dziak, J.W. (2015) Environmental project management as an element of urban environment component improvement. Meteorology Hydrology and Water Management, 3(1), pp.39-44.

Teixeira, J.M.C. (2005) Construction site environmental impact in civil engineering education. European Journal of Engineering Education, 30(1), pp.51-58.

Thomas, N.I.R. & Costa, D.B. (2017) Adoption of environmental practices on construction sites. Ambiente Construído, 17(4), pp.9-24.