Decision-Making Framework for Selecting Sustainable Prefabricated Residential Building Technology Schemes under Minimum Assembly Rate Constraints

Abstract

Prefabricated construction (PC) is a sustainable construction technology that is progressing worldwide. Nevertheless, there is a conflict between the policies’ high requirements for assembly rates and developers’ focus on maximizing project benefits, including cost, efficiency, and quality. Developers must address this conflict, under the constraint of a minimum assembly rate, through wise decisions regarding prefabricated residential buildings (PRB). Therefore, this study established a PRB technology scheme decision-making framework under the constraint of a minimum assembly rate from the perspective of the developers. First, the framework constructs a decision indicator system consisting of five primary indicators (construction cost, construction duration, structural performance, building performance, and constructability) and 15 secondary indicators and obtains the indicator weights using the combination ordered weighted average (C-OWA) operator. The quantitative and qualitative indicators of the individual construction techniques at the building element level are then quantified using the valuation mode of a bill of quantities (BOQ) and quality function deployment (QFD), respectively. The technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was used to integrate the decision information and scheme ranking. Finally, as a case study, a PRB project in Qingdao, one of the first prefabricated building demonstration cities in China, was selected. Then, the YJK building software was used to develop 10 PRB technology schemes that meet the assembly rate requirements. These schemes were evaluated and selected using a decision-making framework. The results provided a ranking of the different technology schemes and determined the best scheme that can balance policy requirements and project benefits. In addition, the indicator performance of the building elements using different construction techniques was demonstrated. This framework provides effective decision-making tools and theoretical guidance for the adoption and optimization of prefabrication technologies in PRB, which contribute to the healthy and sustainable development of PRB.