APPLICATION OF CHOOSING BY ADVANTAGE (CBA) TO SELECT MOST SUSTAINABLE PROJECT, METRO EXTENSION CASE STUDY

Abstract

Sustainable construction aims to minimize harm and maximize value by achieving a balance between social, economic, technical, and environmental aspects, commonly known as the pillars of sustainability. In recent years, the construction industry has drawn increasing criticism due to its low productivity and high rates of energy consumption, generation of wastes, and greenhouse gas emissions. Traditionally, projects are selected based on return on investment and economic impact, whereas social and environmental considerations have received relatively little attention. When all pillars of sustainability are considered during the selection, taking a decision becomes more complicated. As such, in many cases, the owner opts not to employ a formal decision-making process in determining the most sustainable alternatives. This paper developed a multi-criteria Decision Support System (DSS) to aid stakeholders in deciding on the most sustainable option among many alternatives. Choosing by Advantage (CBA) has been used in this paper for developing a decision-making model considering the four pillars of sustainability. Multiple social, economic, technical, and environmental criteria are identified and evaluated through a case study. The selection of metro rail project from three alternative routes was assessed considering sustainability criteria using the CBA model. The case study stands as a valuable point of reference for identifying the best possible alternative for comparable future projects. Moreover, the developed DSS is expected to enhance objectivity and consistency in selection and to aid in making better decisions in terms of sustainability for any similar construction projects.