Decoding Social Sustainability in Construction Projects: Analysis of Project Dynamics and Impact

Junaid Akhtar; Khurram Iqbal Ahmad Khan; Muhammad Bilal Tahir; Fahim Ullah; Abdul Waheed

doi:10.3390/buildings14030682

Buildings (Mar 2024)

Decoding Social Sustainability in Construction Projects: Analysis of Project Dynamics and Impact

Junaid Akhtar,
Khurram Iqbal Ahmad Khan,
Muhammad Bilal Tahir,
Fahim Ullah,
Abdul Waheed

Affiliations

Junaid Akhtar: Department of Construction Engineering and Management, NUST Institute of Civil Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Khurram Iqbal Ahmad Khan: Department of Construction Engineering and Management, NUST Institute of Civil Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilal Tahir: Department of Construction Engineering and Management, NUST Institute of Civil Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Fahim Ullah: School of Surveying and Built Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia
Abdul Waheed: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, NUST Institute of Civil Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030682
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 3
p. 682

Abstract

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Sustainable development (SD) is of prime importance in the present world, where resources are depleting fast and causing conflicts among nations to control essential resources. Since the construction industry (CI) consumes most of these resources, Construction Sustainability (CS) is a key focus of SD. Among the three pillars of sustainability, i.e., economic, environmental, and social, the first two have been amply addressed by researchers. However, the social aspects have been neglected or under-researched so far. The current research humbly attempts to fill this gap. Accordingly, a System Dynamics Model (SDM) has been developed to address this issue. After a comprehensive literature review, questionnaire survey, content analysis, and gathering the opinions of ten experts from CI, 11 key factors of social CS were identified. Using the system thinking approach, a causal loop diagram (CLD) was developed to assess the intensity and polarity of these factors. The CLD encompassed eight reinforcing loops and one balancing loop. Based on the CLD, an SDM was developed and simulated over 3 years. Primarily, the SDM had two stocks: “Government support for sustainable construction” and “Stakeholder awareness and knowledge”. An additional stock named “Construction Sustainability” was added to observe the combined effect of the system. The results showed that CS increased over time. The CLD and resulting SDM help in understanding the complex interaction of the social CS factors and thereby addressing the associated complexity of the effects of these varied factors on a project. Such knowledge can be valuable for anyone dealing with projects where social factors play a significant role. The proposed SDM provides a structured approach to understanding and visualizing the intricate relationships and feedback loops within a social system, aiding in more effective decision making and problem solving.

Published in Buildings

ISSN: 2075-5309 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Building construction
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings

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