COMPLETED RESEARCH
SOCIAL ASPECT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN CONSTRUCTION
by
Navneet Agrawal
ABSTRACT
The contemporary philosophy of Sustainability is based on three concerns of human evolution, i.e. economy, environment, and social equity. The trend among modern industries is to make this tri-dimensional concept into a more useable science. All industries have well defined mechanisms for operating under the Economy aspect. While most of them, including construction, have different methods for comprehending the dynamics of the environmental aspect, progress on the social front has been unsatisfactory and inadequate. This research focuses on the social aspect of Sustainability in the context of the construction industry. This study, primarily literature based, explores and analyzes various issues in the life cycle of construction product that either impact the applicability of the Sustainability philosophy in general or constitute its social agenda in particular. It further proposes a framework for understanding, formulating and benchmarking the social issues in construction.The research highlights the fragment structure of the construction industry. It reveals that the rigid legal environment and fragmented business setup restricts the construction industry from transitioning into a true Sustainability paradigm. It also points out that the practice of limited responsibility sharing of the key players in the life cycle of construction products is incoherent with the new philosophies of Sustainability accounting. Formulation of a framework for analyzing and developing a social benchmarking structure from a Sustainability perspective in the construction industry is an important milestone. This study provides a foundation for that framework.
