Developing a Framework for Implementation of Sustainable Rating Systems in the Building Construction Using Systems Thinking Approach

Abstract

Traditional building methods were primarily concerned with the cost of the product, its performance, and ensuring that it reached a quality standard. The concept of sustainable development focuses on contemporary technologies while keeping current environmental concerns, socioeconomic issues, and human health in mind. Different stakeholders are involved in construction projects that creates issues like high unpredictability, miscommunication, and lack of the right information. These issues need to be managed effectively and efficiently to make the project successful especially to ensure sustainability. There are several Sustainable rating systems like LEED to manage the factors, in order to minimize the chances of project’s failure by managing the issues. The reason for the selection of the topic is to determine the drivers that are essential in sustainable rating system and to develop and suggest an appropriate strategy for the implementation of sustainable rating system in construction industry to ensure sustainable development. This research will also help to build the interaction between the underlying drivers by using the System Thinking Approach with VENSIM software. The author performed a content analysis to identify the drivers first then performed the surveys successfully to attain the primary data to finalize the drivers, perform influence matrix and Casual Loop diagram. The primary data was collected from the experienced construction professionals. The final survey helped the author to identify the polarity between the drivers that shows the relationships between them. The findings showed that the selected drivers are interlinked but they have to be managed effectively with the help of the proposed framework. In a nutshell, managing sustainability in construction is not one step process and the aspects, discussed in the sustainable rating framework should be considered to ensure sustainable construction.