Sustainable Material Selection Criteria Framework for Environmental Building Enhancement

Abdulhafeez Ahmad M. Alwafi^1,

¹Department of Islamic Architecture, Faculty of Engineering and Islamic Architecture, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia

Cite this paper:
Abdulhafeez Ahmad M. Alwafi. Sustainable Material Selection Criteria Framework for Environmental Building Enhancement. American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture. 2022; 10(1):31-44. doi: 10.12691/ajcea-10-1-5

Abstract

The manufacturing and usage of building materials cause many environmental problems in the construction sector. Sustainable materials are more ecologically friendly than their traditional equivalents. However, determining the criteria for selecting building materials based on sustainability and their evaluation is complex. Consequently, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach was employed in this study to choose between various materials alternatives for bricks. The criteria for choosing and grading the importance level of sustainable materials were determined in the first step through literature analysis, expert perspectives, and a questionnaire survey. Through a scatter plot of mean and standard deviation values, 28 criteria were discovered and rated. The purposive sampling approach was employed in the second phase to identify specialists and professionals in material selection. They were asked to assess the various sustainability criteria and analyse and weigh the offered options. Results showed that hollow concrete blocks with a weight value of 0.5225 were a better alternative to common burnt clay bricks and burnt clay fly ash bricks. Therefore, this study created a decision-making model to assist stakeholders in selecting the materials needed to produce sustainable buildings. Consequently, the framework for analysing material selection criteria has been developed based on the suggested model. This framework may be used as a guideline for decision-makers to apply sustainable material selection criteria in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency. This study would be a benchmark for decision-makers to eliminate the unwanted cost and enhance project success by adopting SBMs in both Saudi Arabia and other developing countries.

Keywords:
sustainable building multi-criteria decision-making construction

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