Minimizing the duration of repetitive construction projects such as high-rise buildings and highway construction often requires interrupting the work continuity of construction crews and/or utilizing overtime hours. Available scheduling models for repetitive construction projects can generate optimal trade-offs between minimizing project duration and crew work interruptions; however, they are incapable of minimizing the use of overtime hours. This paper developed a novel multiobjective optimization model for repetitive construction projects that is capable of generating optimal trade-offs among project duration, work interruptions, and overtime use. The model was developed in three main phases (1) a formulation phase that identified all relevant decision variables and formulated the three objective functions of the model; (2) an implementation phase that executed the model computations using multiobjective genetic algorithms; and (3) a performance evaluation phase. The results of this performance evaluation confirmed that the model outperforms existing models in minimizing the use of overtime hours, and generating optimal trade-offs among project duration, crew work interruptions, and overtime use.

1. The implementation of technologies that will guarantee customer satisfaction (real estate developers) concerning construction activities has progressively become a concern of building industry w...

Building façades represent one of the most critical elements affecting a city’s quality of life, and they impact the country’s economic income by attracting visitors. However, performance data on façades are limited or incomplete, making it challenging for designers to evaluate their effectiveness in energy efficiency, thermal performance, durability, and other key performance metrics. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating and prioritizing material selection criteria in building cladding, establishing the relationship with available alternatives, and integrating decision-making processes with Building Information Modeling (BIM) to automate the Value Engineering (VE) concept. The material selection criteria from the literature and international standard manual were identified, and their criteria weight was then evaluated using SWARA (stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis). Additionally, WASPAS (weighted aggregated sum product assessment) was utilized to evaluate the alternative cladding materials based on the defined criteria and their associated quality weight (QW). The life cycle cost (LCC) of the alternatives was computed. The VE was computed and then ranked based on the QW and LCC of the alternatives. The procedure was connected to the BIM model to automate the assessment, specifying the necessary parameters and the BIM computation. A case study of an office building façade was conducted to validate the proposed framework. In this study, the significant criteria were durability, wind load resistance, and thermal insulation. This approach enables executives to evaluate cladding selection, ensuring efficient decision-making processes. The proposed method and its results were subjected to expert testing, and the satisfaction rate exceeded 80%, confirming the framework’s reliability in evaluating alternatives. This paper enhances the understanding of material selection methodologies and provides a valuable contribution to the field of construction management.

The construction sector has seen a surge in publications over the years, indicating that construction technologies are gaining traction across all economic sectors as a result of rapid technology growth. The focus on construction technologies is evident in industrialized nations and those with high gross national product (GNP). This study was conducted to assess the success criteria of applying advanced construction technologies in residential projects. The research started with creating the evaluation criteria which were formulated by taking into account the analysis and findings of previous research and expert opinions. Then, these criteria have been evaluated according to their importance for real estate developers. To assess the contributions of construction technologies in bettering the current construction methods in residential projects, the success criteria of employing the new technologies are examined based on real estate developers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who are the target customers. Research findings illustrated that the most essential criteria for utilizing construction technologies in residential projects are “Reducing cost”, “Increasing the safety on-site” and “Reducing the time”. Research results asserted that the effectiveness of construction technologies used in residential projects relies on their ability to improve the management of essential construction operations and provide concrete advantages to homeowners. By implementing advanced construction technologies in the residential sector, there is a possibility of transforming the way we strategize, construct, and maintain our homes, thus making them better.

The effective selection of highway projects is essential for driving economic growth and facilitating trade in Saudi Arabia’s cities. However, current studies lack a comprehensive approach that assesses highways based on a full spectrum of economic, environmental, and social cost–benefit factors tailored to Saudi Arabia’s construction industry. This study addresses this gap by developing a framework that incorporates the aspects. The methodology comprises five steps: (1) a literature review to identify benefit and cost criteria; (2) expert surveys to select significant criteria; (3) the application of the stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA) method to determine criteria weights; (4) structured expert interviews to establish criteria quality weights; and (5) validation through application to three case studies, comparing the results with those obtained using the ANP method. The findings show that economically efficient road choices yield increased productivity and support industrial growth, while the most significant environmental benefit is reducing carbon emissions. Social benefits, as emphasized by experts, include accident reduction. Cost factors are also considered, with savings on vehicle operation costs identified as the most significant, as opined by the expert surveyed. Among the analyzed highways, Khurais Road, Riyadh, was the most efficient from the SWARA approach, with a value of 0.8, and the ANP case study conducted, with a normalized score of 0.045 and 0.230 for both benefits and cost criteria.