Abstract:
A country’s economic development fundamentally relies on its construction industry
that is notably resource intensive and generates extensive amounts of waste leading to
numerous environmental impacts. Wherefore, modular construction (MC) is known to
instigate circular economy (CE) for the sector’s circularity gap to be reduced. But there
is only a limited literature available focusing on their significant combined effect.
Hence, the following study aims to facilitate the convenient adoption of circularity in
modular construction practices. A system dynamics model (SDM) was prepared for this
purpose. The research initiates with a keen literature review, content analysis and
preliminary survey to sift down twenty notable factors for implementation. Then
through a detailed questionnaire survey and opinions of experts’ from developing
countries, the interconnectivity and functionality of these factors were established. To
address the complexity of these interactions, a systems thinking approach was
employed. Subsequently, a causal loop diagram (CLD) and influence matrix (IM) were
prepared to evaluate their intensity and polarity. One balancing loop and five
reinforcing loops constituted the CLD. The SDM formulated hinged upon the CLD and
IM was simulated for a period of five years. The SDM essentially had four stocks:
“Development of environmental policies”, “Proactive planning for circular MC”,
“Collaboration of project team” and “Circular use of recourses”. To contemplate the
converging effect of the system, an additional stock named “Adoption of Circular MC”
was introduced. The outcomes suggested the escalated implementation of circular MC
over time. Furthermore, the intricate interactions among the factors and their impacts
on the system were successfully portrayed by the CLD and consequent SDM. Such
illustrations could help the industry practitioners focus on the most vital of the factors
and to make knowledge-based decisions when envisioning a circular modular project.
