http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1678 THESE ARE RESEARCH ARTICLES OF ACADEMIC STAFF, PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND PROCEEDINGS ELSWHERE 2026-06-15T07:02:07Z http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/7930 Title: Building information modeling (BIM)-based evaluation system for the development of green buildings in terms of using local construction materials. Authors: Ahmed, S.S.; Mufeen, M.W.K; Ishqy, M.F.M.; Suja, A.C.A. Abstract: The construction sector is a major driver of socio-economic growth, particularly in developing countries such as Sri Lanka. However, it is also one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution. The use of local construction materials is recognized as a sustainable strategy for reducing the environmental impact of building construction. However, evaluating the greenness of buildings in terms of local material usage remains complex due to the lack of standardized methodologies and tools. Various green rating systems, which typically involve manual point calculations, are employed globally. The advent of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is revolutionizing the conventional practices of the construction industry and has reinforced the impact of the design process on the building project’s overall lifecycle. This paper proposes a BIM-based evaluation system to provide a comprehensive and standardized approach for assessing the sustainability of green buildings with respect to local construction material usage. The system involves applying alternative combinations of building materials to BIM models and analyzing them to determine embodied energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The results show that using locally available construction materials generally results in lower carbon emissions and higher recyclability, as well as reduced fuel consumption associated with transportation and raw material extraction. These findings contribute to advancing green building practices by promoting the use of local materials and reducing environmental impacts. The proposed system can assist architects, engineers, and other stakeholders in making informed decisions during the design and construction phases, thereby fostering the development of more sustainable buildings and informing revisions to green rating system labels. 2024-12-20T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/7929 Title: Enhancing Poultry Meat Quality: A Comparative Study of Conventional Vs Organic Cobb 500 Broiler Production Authors: Geethasuvani, I; Nikzaad, RM; Musthafa, MM Abstract: Driven by population growth, the demand for poultry meat is escalating. Customer perception of meat from free-range chickens is healthier and more flavourful than meat from poultry raised through intensive methods. This belief arises from insights into consumer awareness regarding chicken meat from free-range pro-duction. This study focuses on the quality of poultry meat of organic output using Cobb 500 broilers to assess carcass characteristics, nutritional quality, and sensory evaluation. 30 chickens from the organic production were slaughtered at ages between 42 to 45 days for conventional chickens and 65 days and older for organic chickens. The organic chicken had a protein content of 22.8% and a fat content of 1.6%, while they contained 72.7% moisture and 1.6% ash. The organic meat achieved a mean rank of 6.50 ± 0.51 for overall acceptability in sensory quality. Based on the measured nutritional composition and sensory attributes, organically reared Cobb 500 broiler meat exhibited higher protein content, lower fat content, and greater sensory acceptability compared to conventionally reared meat. These findings indicate differences in meat quality attributes between production systems under the conditions of this study. 2026-05-19T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/7928 Title: Bridging the divide: reconciling stakeholder values for payment for ecosystem services Authors: Partheepan, Kulasegaram; Musthafa, Muneeb M.; Bhavan, Thangamani; Murgante, Beniamino Abstract: Coastal lagoons are vital and productive ecosystems globally. However, recent anthropogenic pressures have substantially degraded these environments. The sustainability of lagoon resources critically depends on stakeholder engagement. Employing a choice experiment, this study quantifies the divergent preferences of key stakeholder groups–fishermen, tourists, and flood-affected residents–for preservation versus degradation scenarios in Sri Lanka's Batticaloa Lagoon. The survey targeted stakeholders using stratified sampling and reached 405 participants in the Batticaloa Lagoon Watershed. The analysis further assessed local perceptions of degradation and stakeholders' compensation expectations (WTA). The Choice Experiment and multinomial logit model identified significant conflicts between conservation valuations and compensation expectations. This novel empirical application directly compares within-subject Willingness-to-Pay and WTA measures, revealing significant valuation asymmetries that complicate Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) design. These results provide empirical evidence of pronounced preference diversity among lagoon users in the study area. This study argues that management decisions must account for heterogeneous stakeholder valuations, rather than universal conservation ideals. The findings demonstrate the inevitability of one-size-fits-all PES policy failure and propose a differentiated PES framework with tailored incentives for fishermen, tourists, and flood-affected residents. 2025-11-21T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/7927 Title: Ergonomic evaluation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in informal work on fish vendors in Ampara, Sri Lanka Authors: Mohamed Thariq, M. G.; Safna; Nikzaad, R. M. Abstract: Introduction: Fish vending, an informal work, is expected to cause WMSDs due to prolonged standing, shoulder elevation, bending and twisting, repetitiveness and high physical activities. The study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of WMSDs and the associated factors among fish vendors. Methods: In a cross sectional study, 202 fish vendors were selected using simple random sampling technique with face to face interview to solicit data on working conditions and WMSDs in the coastal areas of the Ampara district during June to August 2022. Fish vendors were video recorded for postural analysis using RULA. Results: The WMSDs among fish vendors in neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back, elbow wrist, hip, knee and feet were 52%, 55%, 53.3%, 49.1%, 52%, 65.3%, 56%, 57.4% and 46% respectively. The final RULA score of 7 was obtained for 56% of fish vendors. The awkward working posture was significantly associated with WMSD in wrist while heavy lifting was associated with WMSDs in neck. The humidity was significantly associated with WMSDs in shoulder, lower back and knees and thermal comfort was significantly associated with WMSDs in lower back and knees. The age and experience significantly associated with WMSDs in all the body regions investigated. Conclusion: The majority of fish vendors had WMSDs in different body regions. The awkward posture, heavy lifting, age, experience, humidity and thermal comfort were associated with WMSDS. Fish vendors are required to use a recommended size of boxes to lift and carry fish and to have correct standing work surface height and also to use knife designed with proper weight, handle size and shape. 2025-04-01T00:00:00Z