FACTORS INFLUENCING SUSTAINABILITY DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THE SMART CITY PROJECTS

Abstract

Nowadays, urban cities of developing countries mainly India, are facing rapid urbanization that has been resulted in issues such as, gap in demand and supply of infrastructure services and utilities, increased pollution, traffic congestions, reduction in land cover, etc., thus affecting the ecology negatively in wider extent. Smart cities are recognized as a sustainable world wide solution to the above mentioned urban issues, which emerges as a means to achieve more efficient and sustainable cities. India, has recently introduced smart city mission which aimed to build 100 smart cities all over India. The main aim of the study is to determine the most significant construction phase sustainability factors, enhancing the overall sustainability performance of the projects. This paper introduces 54 construction phase sustainability factors grouped under eight construction function. Although many researchers have suggested various strategies, checklists, practical guidance for practicing sustainable development principles in earlier studies, this paper has prioritized in overall and within each group the construction phase sustainability factors according to their significance for better implementation and to increase the overall sustainability performance of upcoming smart city projects through structured questionnaire survey. The sustainability benefits that can be derived from these factors are determined which results that environmental sustainability can be achieved through the implementation of these factors. Concluding that, how these construction functions can have a positive impact on the three dimensional aspects of sustainability i.e. environmental, social and economic aspects and the construction practioners should focus upon these factors in the upcoming smart city projects.