Integrated Methods for Selecting Construction Foundation Type Based on Using a Value Engineering Principle

Naif M. Alsanabani, Khalid S. Al-Gahtani (), Abdulrahman A. Bin Mahmoud and Saad I. Aljadhai
Additional contact information
Naif M. Alsanabani: Department of Civil Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 114, Saudi Arabia
Khalid S. Al-Gahtani: Department of Civil Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 114, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman A. Bin Mahmoud: Department of Civil Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 114, Saudi Arabia
Saad I. Aljadhai: Department of Civil Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 114, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: The cost of constructing foundations, on average, ranges from 10% to 15% of a project’s total cost. Therefore, selecting the appropriate type of foundation may result in a significant reduction in project costs. In this study, a value engineering ( VE ) approach was applied to select the best foundation type from seven alternatives that covered shallow and deep foundations. Selection was dependent on ten important criteria, which were classified into safety, buildability, flexibility of architectural design, and environmental impact. Foundation construction experts used the stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis ( SWARA ) method to determine the weights of these ten properties for six identified cases based on structure type and soil type. In addition, the weighted aggregated sum product assessment ( WASPAS ) method was used to determine the quality weight for each foundation option. The results show that adaptable architectural design requirements were more critical in selecting the foundation than the safety criteria for a bridge project. Additionally, the criteria for environmental impacts in the case of high-rise buildings have a more significant impact on foundation choice than low-rise buildings. The outcomes of this study may improve the adaptability of architectural design and the environmental impact of future structures and building codes in the construction industry.

Keywords: foundation; criteria; weight; stress; AHP; value engineering; SWARA; WASPAS; LCC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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