A Framework for Multi-Criteria Lifecycle Assessment of Building Systems in the Construction Industry
Samer Bu Hamdan
2018
The increasing awareness of the sustainable implications of the construction industry requires an expansion in the types of assessment criteria used to evaluate the systems deployed in building. This expansion allows engineers to consider several criteria of various natures (e.g., economic and environmental) in the process of evaluating the viability of the developed solutions for building systems. Furthermore, the increasing demand for quality pertaining to the products of the construction
more »
... stry necessitates greater integration in the development of the design of building systems. This implies the need to consider the interactions among building systems and the influence of these interactions on the potential technical performance of such systems during operations. The research presented in this thesis proposes a framework that accounts for (1) multiple criteria design assessment of building systems and (2) the interdependence among building systems to provide a decision support tool that ensures, at an early phase, a reduction in the impact of the end-product on the lifecycle cost, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions of a building. This research also presents two case studies to illustrate the application of this framework during the design phase. Tools that visualize the impact of building systems on value, such as cost, are common, but little attention has been given to visualize the collective contribution of the building systems to multiple values. This research proposes a visualization framework to bridge the gap in the practice of design visualization regarding the number of visualized criteria, visualizing throughout the entire lifecycle of the building, and achieving visualization that is concurrent with the design development. A case study is presented to demonstrate the application of the framework accounting for the lifecycle cost, energy consumption, CO2 emissions. iii DEDICATION To my mother, Sawsan Danaf For the love, trust, and continuous support throughout this long journey! iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As this chapter of my life comes to an end, amid the surge of feelings, I can't but remember all those who were part of this milestone of my life. Starting with Dr. Mohamed Al-Hussein, to whom I would like to express my profound gratitude for his continuous support and guidance, for his tolerance and understanding, for his mentoring and trust, and above all for believing in me and giving me the chance to achieve a long dreamedof goal. To my other supervisor, Dr. Ahmed Bouferguene, I would like to acknowledge all the long hours that he spent helping to shape this research and fine-tune its outcomes. I'd like to thank him for his patience and for all the ideas he shared, cultivated, and helped to harvest. I always consider myself lucky for the good friends life brings me, and I wouldn't find a better chance to express how grateful I am that you are part of my life in its bitterness and sweetness. Ziad, Beda, Aladdin, Regina, Hussein: Thank you for being a family for me. Claire and Jon, thank you for all the support, advice, collaboration, patience, and friendship you have provided.
doi:10.7939/r3c824w1k
fatcat:gf4ywybakna2pk7e34xpcrjfxu