Quantity surveyor’s role towards circular economic principles in the pre-contract phase of construction projects in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The pre-contract phase of construction projects may cause plenty of issues in post contract phase such as project cost overruns, schedule delays, lack of productivity, losses of benefits, and poor stakeholder relationships. The circular economy concept is to create an economic system that makes it feasible for materials, products, and component regeneration while ensuring the longest possible value retention of projects. This research aims to ascertain the role of quantity surveyors in relation to circular economic principles in the pre-contract phase of construction projects in Sri Lanka and consists of four main objectives. Accordingly, research was conducted through a comprehensive literature review, preliminary interviews, expert interviews, and a questionnaire survey. Primary data were analysed through statistical and content analysis using SPSS software and NVivo software. The questionnaire survey had an excellent respondent rate of 84%, which is adding additional credit to the study's findings. Based on the different experiences and their scope of work in the pre-contract phase of construction projects, the industry experts proposed a wide range of solutions. Further, the results of the study demonstrate the importance of quantity surveyors’ role towards circular economic principles throughout the pre-contract phase of construction projects in Sri Lanka.