Faculty of Built Environment & Spatial Sciences (FBESS) of Southern Campus contributed successfully to KDU IRC 2021 by holding the faculty’s research conference sessions under the theme of “Rethinking Structures and Spatiality under New Normal Transformations” on 09th & 10th September 2021 at KDU, Ratmalana. Citing the current countrywide health concerns, the FBESS sessions were conducted in a hybrid mode and a number of worthy research works on varied disciplines were presented in view of widening knowledge horizons of the scholars. The plenary session was chaired by Prof Samitha Manawadu, Senior Professor in Architecture at the University of Moratuwa and it was enriched by enlightening contribution by Dr Ravihansa Chandratilake – Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Prof NP Ratnayake – Professor in Geology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, & Prof Siegfried K Yeboah – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China. Technical session of Spatial Sciences was chaired by Dr HMI Prasanna whilst Prof (Mrs) Yasangika Sandanayake chaired Quantity Surveying technical session. Architecture & multidisciplinary technical sessions were chaired by Dr Ravihansa Chandratilake. Prof Chandana Jayalath, Dr Jagath Pusella & Dr Kasun Nandapala meticulously judged the research submissions of the faculty. The research titled “Study on Development and Implementation of Safety Inspection Drones with Machine Learning Algorithms to Improve Construction Safety in Sri Lanka” collectively presented by Mr DMNCT Dissanayake and Ms NDI Vithana bagged the best research oral presentation award whilst the joint research submission presented by Ms PDJD Premaratne & Mr MLNH Premarathna titled ‘Use of Urban Pockets to Enhance Walkability in Office Neighbourhoods in Colombo Urban Context Special Reference to Fort, Colombo’ was adjudged as the best poster submission. Lt Col (Rtd) TC Kathriarachchi SLAWC acted as the FBESS Faculty Coordinator supported by Mr KAM Chathuranga, Mr Kanchuka Withanage & Ms Himalshi Rupasinghe who facilitated the event in the capacity of Departmental Coordinators. Major General Prasad Edirisinghe psc, the Rector of Southern Campus and Dean – FBESS, Dr A Harinda Lakmal were the forerunners in the overall endeavour who fuelled the event with much might.
