Analytic network process-based multi-criteria decision approach and sensitivity analysis for temporary facility layout planning in construction projects

Abstract

In construction projects, the planning objectives include the safety and labor productivity of the activities, along with the cost influence affecting the overall performance of construction. Temporary facilities are critical in supporting structures and equipment that impact the direct task executions and resource transportation during various construction stages. The positioning of temporary facilities and the relative spatial relation between multiple facilities are critical factors that affect the success of construction delivery. To ensure the balance among safety, labor productivity and construction cost performance, all influencing factors associated with the construction objectives should be taken into account in temporary facility layout planning. This paper proposes a novel multi-criteria temporary facility layout planning model that integrates Analytic Network Process (ANP) modeling and simulation-based sensitivity evaluation, which effectively transforms the spatial layout planning problem into a mathematical decision problem. An application example is analyzed to demonstrate its capabilities of optimizing temporary facility layout planning. The proposed framework provides the construction managers and layout planners with a useful tool for selecting the optimal alternative of temporary facility layout plan on the construction site.