Developing a Systematic Approach to Evaluate and Predict Building Service Life

Abstract

Analyzing the reasonable service life of buildings is a critical step to evaluate the decision for building utilization, reuse, or disposal. If buildings manifest service value, sustainable refurbishment and reuse methods can be employed to extend their service life. Previous studies on building service life largely focused on physical obsolescence. Few studies have analyzed other aspects. The objective of the present study was to propose a systematic approach to evaluate and predict the reasonable service life of buildings. First, the Fuzzy-Delphi Method (FDM) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were adopted to determine the final evaluation criteria and weights. Second, a mathematical model for predicting building service life was developed by combining the evaluation criteria, six obsolescence factors, and diagnostic scores. Finally, the model was applied to four case studies. The results produced by the model were consistent with those determined by an expert panel, verifying its effectiveness as a tool for decision making for formulating favorable suggestions concerning asset disposal, urban renewal, and renovation. Later obsolescence of buildings can be reduced by taking into account the proposed obsolescence criteria in the construction of new buildings to avoid implementing designs that are prone to obsolescence, thereby enhancing building service life.

A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model to Choose the Best Option for Sustainable Construction Management

“…The most popular hybrid MCDM methods demonstrate the advantages over traditional ones to solve complicated problems which involve stakeholder preferences, interconnected or contradictory criteria, and uncertain environments. Decision-makers could use multi-criteria decision-making methods [46] such as analytic hierarchy process [47], fuzzy analytic hierarchy process [48,49], fuzzy Delphi [50], analytic network process under intuitionistic fuzzy set [51], Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) [52], simple additive weighting and game theory [53], discrete two persons' zero-sum matrix game theory [54], Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS), COPRAS, TOPSIS [55], as well as developing original models [56].…”

Impact of Service Life on the Environmental Performance of Buildings

“…In addition, the accelerated tests are quite expensive. There are also some other approaches to predict SL by considering service life models and obsolescence factors [1,34]. This method can be used for existing buildings or to be built buildings with the same material.…”

Prediction of Concrete Structure Service Life Based on the Principle of Neural Connections in Brain Circuits

“…According to the literature (Chen et al, 2017), the reinforcement corrosion is mainly related to the diameter of the steel bar, the thickness of the protective layer, the strength of the concrete, and the width of the rust crack.…”