Analysing the Causes of Design Generated Waste through System Dynamics

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Analysing the Causes of Design Generated Waste through System Dynamics

Muzaffar, Sidra / Khan, Khurram Iqbal Ahmad / Tahir, Muhammad Bilal / Bukhari, Hamna

A drastic rise in construction waste observed has elicited a radical impact on the environment and economy of the world. It is, therefore, necessary to come up with waste minimization management strategies that reflect in-depth review of sources of waste. This in depth review demands understanding the intricacy of causative factors triggering generation of “waste at source” which is the main motive of study and is done through System Dynamics for design phase in context of developing countries. 8 most important causative factors in design phase were shortlisted along with their interrelationships via literature and questionnaire survey. Followed by system thinking approach that addressed the complexities caused by those factors in 2 stages. Firstly, a Causal loop diagram was developed that illustated interrelationship between factors in the form of loops. Later SD model built, evaluated the combinatorial effect of 3 evolved stocks over the fourth stock Design Generated Waste-an emanating phenomenon. Simulation result revealed increasing trend of the stock DGW over a course of time. Therefore, increase in effect of complexities of behavior of design waste causes, will consequently lead to increase in DGW. Managing the complex behavior of these design causes will help control over the DGW w.r.t. time.