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Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment
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Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 November 2021) | Viewed by 19645

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Blanco Álvarez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
Interests: engineering and construction; infrastructures; decision-making; sustainability; concrete technology; diagnosis and repair of civil infrastructure
Dr. Francesc Pardo Bosch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Project and Construction Engineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: multi-criteria and multi-attribute decision-making; sustainability and circular economy; smart cities and urban engineering; public governance; business models and strategy
Dr. Pablo Pujadas Álvarez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Project and Construction Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av/Diagonal, 647, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: construction and building materials; smart, sustainable, circular and digitalised built environment; decision making
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable decisions in the built environment are often complex and multifaceted problems, which involve addressing and balancing a broad range of considerations, incorporating not only environmental information, but also economic and social aspects, technological and scientific data, ethical and political concerns, and stakeholder interests.

All these considerations may make any decision process inherently multi-objective, limiting the individual or group capacity to decide. Consequently, decision-makers in the built environment demand systematic frameworks to integrate all this heterogeneous information facilitating a structured, understandable, and defensible decision. A systematic methodology that is capable of synthesizing these heterogeneous considerations in order to evaluate and prioritize among different alternatives is multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA).

In response to current sustainable decision‐making challenges in the built environment, this Special Issue will conduct a comprehensive updated review of the trends and applications of MCDA to support sustainability decision-making and provide recommendations for applying MCDA techniques towards a sustainable built environment.

Examining recent trends and applications may be useful and relevant not only for researchers and practitioners in order to identify new successful approaches and solutions to current challenges and limitations but also for potential users to understanding how can they effectively apply these trends in future decisions towards more sustainable development.

The editors will support a wide range of methodological and technical approaches. In addition to theoretical and applied papers, review articles are also welcome.

Dr. Ana Blanco Álvarez
Dr. Francesc Pardo Bosch
Dr. Pablo Pujadas Álvarez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • multi-criteria decision analysis
  • MCDA
  • decision making
  • sustainability
  • built environment

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 5339 KiB  
Article
Residential Vulnerability of Barcelona: Methodology Integrating Multi-Criteria Evaluation Systems and Geographic Information Systems
by Pilar Garcia-Almirall, Còssima Cornadó and Sara Vima-Grau
Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13659; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413659 - 10 Dec 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1715
Abstract
This article presents the methodology and results of a pioneering investigation in the determination and mapping of socio-residential vulnerability in the city of Barcelona according to a multi-criteria synthetic analysis. The methodology followed is based on a system of indicators elaborated from the [...] Read more.
This article presents the methodology and results of a pioneering investigation in the determination and mapping of socio-residential vulnerability in the city of Barcelona according to a multi-criteria synthetic analysis. The methodology followed is based on a system of indicators elaborated from the exploitation of habitual statistical Open Data complemented with specific unprecedented data elaborated and supplied by the Barcelona City Council. The analysis is based on secondary data and it is structured in georeferenced axes, components, and indicators, which allow determination of the sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and urban and residential space characteristics at neighborhood, population census unit, and urban block level. The objective of the research was to detect, determine, and establish a measure of differentiation relative to the degree of residential vulnerability of some neighborhoods with respect to others, in order to seek prioritization measures for action in the most vulnerable areas. The results of the research provide a series of maps that allow us to define the areas where the highest levels of vulnerability indicators coincide according to a synthetic multi-criteria analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment)
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25 pages, 10112 KiB  
Article
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Method for Sustainable Energy-Saving Retrofit Façade Solutions
by Ziortza Egiluz, Jesús Cuadrado, Andoni Kortazar and Ignacio Marcos
Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13168; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313168 - 27 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2094
Abstract
The increasing energy consumption levels of buildings within Europe call for controlled consumption and improvements to energy savings and efficiency and effective energy efficiency regulations. However, many aging and energy-inefficient buildings require energetic retrofitting that can employ various façades solutions and insulation materials. [...] Read more.
The increasing energy consumption levels of buildings within Europe call for controlled consumption and improvements to energy savings and efficiency and effective energy efficiency regulations. However, many aging and energy-inefficient buildings require energetic retrofitting that can employ various façades solutions and insulation materials. The selection of the most sustainable options in each situation therefore requires a decision-making methodology that can be used to prioritize available retrofit solutions based on economic, functional, environmental and social criteria. In this paper, both the methodology and the economic basis of the retrofitting process are presented. The methodology was validated in a case study, and a sensitivity analysis also demonstrated its validity, robustness and stability Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment)
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25 pages, 16604 KiB  
Article
BIMp-Chart—A Global Decision Support System for Measuring BIM Implementation Level in Construction Organizations
by Qurratulain Malik, Abdur Rehman Nasir, Rabiah Muhammad, Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem, Fahim Ullah, Khurram Iqbal Ahmad Khan and Muhammad Usman Hassan
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9270; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13169270 - 18 Aug 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3742
Abstract
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is recognized as one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. The pace of implementation of BIM in AEC has increased during the past decade with an enhanced focus on sustainable construction. [...] Read more.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is recognized as one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. The pace of implementation of BIM in AEC has increased during the past decade with an enhanced focus on sustainable construction. However, BIM implementation lags its potential because of several factors such as readiness issues, lack of previous experience in BIM, and lack of market demand for BIM. To evaluate and solve these issues, understanding the current BIM implementation in construction organizations is required. Motivated by this need, the main objective of this study is to propose a tool for the measurement of BIM implementation levels within an organization. Various sets of indexes are developed based on their pertinent Critical Success Factors (CSFs). A detailed literature review followed by a questionnaire survey involving 99 respondents is conducted, and results are analyzed to formulate a BIMp-Chart to calculate and visualize the BIM implementation level of an organization. Subsequently, the applicability of the BIMp-Chart is assessed by comparing and analyzing datasets of four organizations from different regions, including Qatar, Portugal, and Egypt, and a multinational organization to develop a global measurement tool. Through measuring and comparing BIM implementation levels, the BIMp-Chart can help the practitioners identify the implementation areas in an organization for proper BIM implementation. This study helps understand the fundamental elements of BIM implementation and provides a decision support system for construction organizations to devise proper strategies for the effectual management of the BIM implementation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment)
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16 pages, 3383 KiB  
Article
Sustainability-Oriented Multi-Criteria Analysis of Different Continuous Flight Auger Piles
by Irene Josa, Nikola Tošić, Snežana Marinković, Albert de la Fuente and Antonio Aguado
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7552; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13147552 - 06 Jul 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5052
Abstract
With increasing construction activity and concrete consumption globally, the economic, environmental, and social impacts of human activities continue to increase rapidly. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the choice and construction of each structure and structural component from a sustainability-based perspective. In this [...] Read more.
With increasing construction activity and concrete consumption globally, the economic, environmental, and social impacts of human activities continue to increase rapidly. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the choice and construction of each structure and structural component from a sustainability-based perspective. In this study, such a multi-criteria decision-making approach using the MIVES method is applied to the choice of grouped continuous flight auger (CFA) piles. Different alternatives of CFA piles are studied: length (10 and 20 m), reinforcement (steel cage reinforcement and structural fibers), and aggregates (natural crushed aggregates and recycled aggregate concrete sourced from stationary and mobile recycling plants), based on experimentally verified mix designs. All alternatives were analyzed considering economic, environmental, and social requirements, using a decision-making tree with eight criteria and eleven indicators, with weights assigned by an expert panel. The results of the analysis showed a clear advantage in terms of all three sustainability requirements for CFA piles with steel fibers and recycled aggregate concrete, with all solutions with steel cage reinforcement having significantly lower values of the sustainability index. Such results demonstrate the need for implementing innovative solutions even in structural members such as CFA piles that are often considered in insufficient detail. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment)
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15 pages, 1571 KiB  
Article
Study of Alternatives for the Design of Sustainable Low-Income Housing in Brazil
by Pollyanna Fernandes Bianchi, Víctor Yepes, Paulo Cezar Vitorio, Jr. and Moacir Kripka
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4757; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13094757 - 23 Apr 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3656
Abstract
Despite insufficient housing facilities, particularly in developing countries, construction systems are generally selected intuitively or based on conventional solutions sanctioned by practice. The present study aims to evaluate different options for the design of low-income housing in Brazil by integrating the life cycle [...] Read more.
Despite insufficient housing facilities, particularly in developing countries, construction systems are generally selected intuitively or based on conventional solutions sanctioned by practice. The present study aims to evaluate different options for the design of low-income housing in Brazil by integrating the life cycle assessment (LCA) into the decision-making process. To achieve this objective, three single-family projects with different construction systems were selected and analyzed. The most sustainable design was selected through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The considered parameters, which were obtained through a survey with professionals and customers, included cost, environmental impact, thermal comfort, construction time, and cultural acceptance. LCA and life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) were performed with the frontier’s system considering the cradle-to-gate cycle, which included the extraction of raw materials, manufacture of building materials, and housing construction. The projects were modelled using Autodesk Revit software with the Tally application for LCA evaluation. The results indicated that light steel frame houses present a better behavior than other conventional alternatives, and the integration of building information modelling with LCA and LCCA in the design phase can lead to the development of more sustainable houses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment)
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17 pages, 3001 KiB  
Article
The Right to Urban Streams: Quantitative Comparisons of Stakeholder Perceptions in Defining Adaptive Stream Restoration
by Chang-Yu Hong, Eun-Sung Chung and Heejun Chang
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9500; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229500 - 15 Nov 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2108
Abstract
Assuring healthy streams in the urban environment is a major goal for restoration scientists, urban planners, and city practitioners around the globe. In South Korea, many urban stream restoration efforts are designed to provide safe water to society and enhance ecological functions. We [...] Read more.
Assuring healthy streams in the urban environment is a major goal for restoration scientists, urban planners, and city practitioners around the globe. In South Korea, many urban stream restoration efforts are designed to provide safe water to society and enhance ecological functions. We examined the extent to which the individual interests and different values of multiple stakeholders were considered in previous decision-making in two urban stream restoration projects. The relevant data on stream restoration were collected through the nominal group technique (NGT) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for the two stream cases of a populated inland area and a coastal region in South Korea. The AHP results provide information about the comparative weights of the values of ecological restoration (priority score: 0.487), social restoration (priority score: 0.231), and landscape revitalization (priority score: 0.279) of the Ahn-Yang stream and ecological restoration (priority score: 0.527), social restoration (priority score: 0.182), and landscape revitalization (priority score: 0.290) of the Sahn-Jee stream. The stakeholders of the populated metropolitan area had a relatively high awareness of their role in environmental restoration, thus it was natural for them to place a high value on social restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Criteria Analysis to Support Sustainable Decision-Making in the Built Environment)
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