Mapping of construction waste for eco-costs per value ratio (EVR) index using Google My Maps in Shah Alam, Malaysia

Abstract

Construction waste is one of the major challenges faced in our world today. The residential, commercial and infrastructure industries in Malaysia are recognised as rapidly growing sectors that indirectly bring economic growth to our country. However, the generation of waste in the construction industry is increasing in proportion to the development of new construction. This increase has resulted in negative environmental impacts. To address these issues, the present study focused on the mapping of construction waste generation in low-rise residential construction sites in Shah Alam district, Selangor, using the Google My Maps application. Information on construction waste generation data such as coordinates, photos, types of materials, types of waste, quantity of waste, gross floor area, labour cost, material life-spans and eco-costing per value ratio (EVR) index for monitoring was gathered manually through case studies and site observations over 14 months—the contract period. The collected data was inserted into Google My Maps and AppSheet for the mapping process. The findings of this analysis were based on five selected sample sites in Shah Alam that were under construction from 2013 to 2017. The results identified a total of nine types of construction waste, i.e. rebar and BRC, concrete grade 25, timber formwork, bricks, plaster cement, tiles, drywall, metal deck roofing and ceiling. These types of waste accounted for varying values of the EVR index in the construction projects during the contract period. The system proposed by this study will help to monitor the total construction waste generated from the start of a project and will potentially result in the reduction of construction waste, thereby contributing to sustainable construction.