A Simulation-Based Optimization Approach for Assessing Sustainability in a Multi-construction Projects Environment

Sustainability development has become widely applied specially when considering construction projects as a result of the huge leap in the global urbanization rates. Researchers are continuously attempting to find accurate and reliable sustainability construction performance measures. However, the majority of these researches focus on studying the sustainability in a single construction project, although it might be worthwhile studying sustainability in multiple construction projects in order to maximize the overall sustainability. In this paper, the authors developed a simulation optimization model using simulated annealing for scheduling the different phases in their right sequence of multi-construction projects while maximizing the overall sustainability. The previous is done while assessing the sustainability development and simulating the effect of external factors such as technological advancement and change in people’s perception on sustainability measures. Results showed that considering scheduling in multi-construction projects increased the overall sustainability performance compared to unscheduled ones.

[1]  Bruce Hannon,et al.  A physical view of sustainability , 1993 .

[2]  Vivian W. Y Tam,et al.  Dynamic modeling of construction and demolition waste management processes: An empirical study in Shenzhen, China , 2010 .

[3]  Desta Mebratu.  Sustainability and sustainable development: Historical and conceptual review , 1998 .

[4]  Hong Yao,et al.  Simulating the impacts of policy scenarios on the sustainability performance of infrastructure projects , 2011 .

[5]  Edwin H.W. Chan,et al.  Application of system dynamics for assessment of sustainable performance of construction projects , 2005 .

[6]  Tomás Echaveguren,et al.  Exploring the environmental modeling of road construction operations using discrete-event simulation , 2012 .

[7]  Vicente González,et al.  Integración conceptual Green-Lean en el diseño, planificación y construcción de proyectos , 2009 .

[8]  Paul Bowen,et al.  Sustainable construction: principles and a framework for attainment , 1997 .

[9]  Weisheng Lu,et al.  A computer-based scoring method for measuring the environmental performance of construction activities , 2005 .

[10]  Tarila Zuofa,et al.  Integration of Sustainability Principles into Construction Project Delivery , 2014 .

[11]  Martin Skitmore,et al.  A prototype system dynamic model for assessing the sustainability of construction projects , 2014 .

[12]  L. Y. Shen,et al.  A MODEL FOR ASSESSING THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE ATTAINMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT , 2002 .

[13]  D. A. Munro.  Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living , 1991 .

[14]  H. Althaus,et al.  Benchmarks for sustainable construction: A contribution to develop a standard , 2005 .

[15]  Zenonas Turskis,et al.  EVALUATION OF CONSTRUCTION SUSTAINABILITY BY MULTIPLE CRITERIA METHODS , 2006 .

[16]  J. Butlin,et al.  Our common future. By World commission on environment and development. (London, Oxford University Press, 1987, pp.383 £5.95.) , 1989 .

[17]  Vivian W. Y Tam,et al.  A checklist for assessing sustainability performance of construction projects , 2007 .

[18]  Vivian W. Y Tam,et al.  Project feasibility study: the key to successful implementation of sustainable and socially responsible construction management practice , 2010 .