Developing a Decision Support Framework to Facilitate the Demolition versus Deconstruction Decision-Making Process at the End-of-Life Phase of the Building Lifecycle in New Zealand’s Construction Industry

Abstract

The activities of the construction industry during the End-of-Life (EOL) phase of the building lifecycle make a substantial contribution to the generation of Construction & Demolition Waste (C&DW), accounting for more than 50% of the total waste produced. The urgent need to address environmental concerns and the unsustainable practices prevalent in the construction sector has prompted the adoption of deconstruction as an alternative to conventional demolition when buildings reach the end of their service lives. Nevertheless, the decision-making process regarding the selection between traditional demolition and contemporary deconstruction is intricate and influenced by multiple factors. This research aims to identify and analyse the parameters that influence this decision while also developing a decision support platform to optimize the EOL phase of building lifecycle.

Through an extensive review of the relevant literature, five categories of parameters were discerned: Building-related, Cost-related, Material-related, Geographical-related, and Structural-related. A total of 21 parameters were identified within these categories. Verification of these parameters was accomplished through consultations with professionals from the construction industry in New Zealand, thereby confirming their significance in the decision-making process, with particular emphasis on building and cost-related factors. To determine the importance of each parameter both within their respective clusters and overall, a questionnaire survey was conducted. The survey enlisted industry experts with a minimum of five years of experience in demolition, deconstruction, or both. Based on the data collected, a decision-support framework was formulated, enhancing professionals' understanding of the critical factors influencing the decision-making process during the EOL phase. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to validate the framework and evaluate the interrelationships among the identified categories. The analysis results indicated that Cost-related parameters exerted the most significant influence on the decision-making process. It was also revealed that Building-related parameters exert significant impacts on all other categories, while Cost-related parameters are influenced by each of the other categories. This research contributes to the construction industry by providing a comprehensive comprehension of the factors that influence the decision between traditional demolition and contemporary deconstruction during the EOL phase. Furthermore, the developed decision support platform can facilitate informed decision-making among professionals, optimizing the EOL phase of the building lifecycle and promoting sustainable practices within the construction industry.