BIM-enabled decision optimization analysis for architectural glass material selection considering sustainability

The careful consideration and choice of Sustainable Architectural Glass Material (SAGM) is a crucial step towards reducing energy consumption and enhancing the overall sustainability of buildings. However, the current techniques employed for selecting architectural glass material do not take into account the aspect of sustainability in the ultimate adoption of material solutions, as perceived by the stakeholders. This study aims to develop a comprehensive evaluation criteria system and introduce a group decision support framework that utilizes Building Information Modeling technology to facilitate the selection of SAGM in large-scale projects, in accordance with the demands of various stakeholders. The proposed framework is utilized to address a selection problem related to SAGM faced by a large construction corporation in Wuhan. The findings indicate that the criteria of daylighting and thermal insulation performance hold significant importance, with insulating glass being a subtype of SAGM exhibiting superior performance. Ultimately, the proposed model is subjected to sensitivity and comparative analyses to validate its advantages over several existing methodologies. The proposed model in this study offers practitioners an optimized methodology for the selection of SAGM, while also providing a framework for the selection of other sustainable building materials.