Multi-Criteria Decision Making in the Social Sustainability Assessment of High-Rise Residential Buildings

Abstract

Factors such as global urbanization, scarcity of land, and rising land prices will increase the need for high-rise buildings. Population growth has led to dense life in residential high-rise buildings (RHRB). On the one hand, RHRB have benefits such as the maximization of land use. On the other hand, disadvantages such as ignoring features of cultural context, difficulties in guaranteeing natural ventilation and the high maintenance expenses are considered as their weaknesses. According to previous studies, most current RHRB do not consider social cohesion and local identity. Studies have proven that dimensions of social sustainability have been scarcely considered. The main objective in sustainability assessment of RHRB consist in reducing the environmental impact and increasing the efficiency and residents’ satisfaction. Recent studies have considered modern methods for assessing the sustainability; in this regard, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches are one of the most common alternatives to assess sustainability. The aim of this research is to develop a MCDM tool oriented to specifically assessing sustainability by using the Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment (MIVES). The MIVES approach allows minimizing subjectivity in decision making while objectively integrating economic, environmental and social factors. In this paper, a new sustainability assessment model, which has been specifically configured to analyse social parameters for high-rise residential buildings, is presented. The findings show that most of the RHRB aspects positively affect the characteristics of the buildings and surroundings, while also affecting the psychological needs of humans.