Mapúa study on risks in green building projects in the Philippines recognized in the 2021 World Congress on Engineering

Dr. Dante L. Silva, Program Chair of the Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management (BSCEM) of Mapúa University’s School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering (SCEGE), and BSCEM students Ronissa Ann Gallardo, Jayrald Misiera, and Clarissa May Camposano were awarded with “Certificate of Merit” in the 28th World Congress on Engineering (WCE 2021)

The paper was presented in the International Conference of Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management Congress. This year’s congress has been represented by almost three hundred committee members who are mainly research center heads, faculty deans, department heads, professors, and research scientists from more than 30 countries.

The paper is a meta-analysis of risks in green building projects in the Philippines. Through risk management process, the paper: (1) identified risks present in green building projects through the Hierarchical Risk Breakdown Structure; (2) assessed the risk factors through the Analytical Hierarchy Method incorporating Fuzzy Logic Analytical Hierarchy Process; (3) developed mitigation strategies on targeted risk groups to eliminate risk probability and impact on a project; and (4) developed a risk management framework essential to green building projects that will help the construction industry (of any size) manage their risk holistically.

“With rapid community growth and development which leads to substantial environmental impact, it is important to address and reduce its negative impacts. The construction and operation phases of buildings in the country is accountable for global warming and climate change, and the increase of the general public's environmental awareness has influenced the construction industry to design and build by green principles,” said Dr. Silva.

“Although there have been several studies on green building projects and their benefits, there are only very few addressing their risks and how they can be managed. The green building momentum is continuing to grow, thus establishing the appropriate standard of care is becoming more significant,” he added.

To manifest its rich research culture and passion for knowledge generation, Mapúa has always been an active participant of local and international research-related colloquiums and gatherings to showcase the works of its faculty and student researchers. Despite the problems experienced due to the pandemic, Mapúa ensures that they are provided with strong school support to continuously engage themselves in virtual research gatherings in the country and abroad. Participating in international research conferences allow for local researchers to share newfound knowledge in their fields of study.

“It is not just standing in the podium to talk about what is learned. More so, it is about knowing and understanding what is yet to be and to come across insights and inquiries from other experts who have done their research on their own. Through these conferences, we are given a chance to intersect ideas and breach boundaries. This allows us to improve what we've already learned,” shared Dr. Silva.