Abstract:
Rapid urbanisation and industrial expansion have intensified sustainability challenges in the construction sector, with global construction and demolition waste projected to exceed 2.2 billion tons by 2025. Addressing these challenges requires innovative approaches that bridge the gap between academic research and industrial practice. This study presents an integrated framework combining Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) with the AIS Framework – Adaptation, Innovation, and Sustainability – to enhance infrastructure resilience and promote sustainable development.
By embedding SHM technologies within the AIS Framework, the research illustrates how laboratory innovations can be translated into scalable commercial solutions. The approach enables real-time performance assessment, predictive maintenance, and optimised resource utilization, thereby reducing environmental impact while extending structural service life. The findings position SHM as a transformative tool for sustainable infrastructure, driving the transition from research to commercialization and fostering data-driven decision-making in the modern construction industry.
Bio:
Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake is a distinguished academic and visionary leader in engineering and sustainability. He serves as Professor Emeritus at the University of Peradeniya and is widely recognised for his outstanding contributions to civil engineering, innovation, and policy leadership. His leadership portfolio includes serving as the Immediate Past President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL), Immediate Past Chairman of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (GBCSL), and Vice President of the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI). He has also held key government positions, including Secretary to the State Ministry of Rural Roads and the State Ministry of Urban Development.
Internationally, Prof. Dissanayake has been honoured as a Fulbright Scholar (USA), Endeavour Fellow (Australia), and JASSO Research Fellow (Japan). His research excellence has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Young Scientist Award (2007) from NASTEC, the Overseas Prize (2007) from the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK), the Australia Alumni Excellence Award (2012), the *Tier 4 Research Award (2020)**, the Gold National Educator Award (2024), and the Global Sustainability Lifetime Achievement Award (2024).
Beyond academia, Prof. Dissanayake is an entrepreneur and founder of gapHQ, a multidisciplinary organization comprising Lego International (Pvt.) Ltd, ICB (Pvt.) Ltd, Lanka AAC (Pvt.) Ltd, GAP (Pvt.) Ltd, and Wrangler Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd.
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Time: 2:00 pm