A hybrid fuzzy-optimization method for modeling construction emissions

Construction emissions have become a major concern that has risen extensively in the last few decades. This paper introduces a building information modeling (BIM)-based model to evaluate the environmental and economic consequences of different project alternatives. The model calculates direct, indirect emissions and primary energy for the overall project life cycle. A hybrid fuzzy multi-objective non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) problem is designed to model the uncertainties associated with the quantification of the judging attributes, and consequently to find the most sustainable materials by minimizing the objective functions; project duration, project life cycle cost, project overall emissions and total project primary energy. Finally, TOPSIS is applied to select the most sustainable material for each construction component among the set of Pareto optimal solutions. A case study of an academic building in Saudi Arabia is presented in order to exemplify the practical features of the proposed model. (C) 2020 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada.