Abstract
Seismic resistance and cost effectiveness are often two important building planning objectives for architects. However, these objectives nearly always share a negative correlation with each other, which can cause planning delays and confusion. The conflict between these two is a Multi-Objective Optimization Problem (MOOP). Besides, building planning often encompasses both subjective and objective factors. However, most current efficiency evaluation methods focus on the latter and underemphasize the former. Current efficiency evaluation methods are thus not optimized for actual building planning needs. The aim of this study is to develop a new planning efficiency evaluation approach to resolve the above problems. Research methods include the indifference curve, efficient frontier and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The indifference curve deduced the subjective planning preferences of architects; efficient frontier theory constructed the efficient frontier of school buildings; and DEA evaluated the efficiency of various building factors objectively. A total of 326 school buildings in Taichung City, Taiwan in an empirical study designed to illustrate proposed approach effectiveness. The results show that using only objective evaluation or subjective recognition is insufficient to explain the true nature of building planning. Findings can serve as benchmarks for inefficient school buildings at preliminary planning stage.
Highlights
Architects typically regard seismic resistance and cost effectiveness as two important objectives of building planning and design work (Cheng, Chen 2011) and they will work to achieve adequate structural safety using the minimum acceptable amount of material (Zekeriya, Yusuf 2010)
The indifference curve is deployed mainly to interpret the subjective planning preference of designers; efficient frontier serves as the basis for architects to benchmark the planning efficiency of inefficient school buildings; and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) helps evaluate the objective efficiency of buildings
Current efficiency evaluation methods focus on evaluating objective factor efficiencies and seldom address subjective planning preferences of architects
Summary
Architects typically regard seismic resistance and cost effectiveness as two important objectives of building planning and design work (Cheng, Chen 2011) and they will work to achieve adequate structural safety using the minimum acceptable amount of material (Zekeriya, Yusuf 2010) These two objectives are often in conflict. Seismic-resistant structures are typically not cost effective and buildings designed to conserve costs may provide inadequate seismic resistance This conflict, a Multi-Objective Optimization Problem (MOOP), poses a significant challenge to building planning and design work; efficiency evaluation methods discussed in the literature mostly evaluate objective building factors and ignore subjective factors related to architect planning preferences. This study attempts to develop a new planning efficiency evaluation method, which provides a preliminary solution when considering the tradeoffs of MOOP and planning preferences
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