Developing a framework for target cost in post-disaster housing by minimizing time and optimizing cost using 3D model

Abstract

Natural disasters are one of the unchangeable phenomena on our planet. Throughout history, humans have witnessed and been exposed to the destructive impacts of disasters. Since there is no chance to prevent it from happening, people must take measures to avoid its devastating effects. The measures can be classified into two groups as precautions to be taken individually and collectively. There is no doubt that each person must take precautions for themselves. However, it is not enough to avoid all destructive effects of disasters only by taking individual precautions. At this point, professionals in some industries should be aware and work by fully considering the danger resulting from disasters. One of the industries responsible for this is the construction industry. Construction industry stakeholders are expected to prepare the buildings for earthquakes by constructing them in compliance with the earthquake regulations; otherwise, they may make way for the death of thousands of people due to earthquakes. When people and society are unprepared for an earthquake, tragic results may occur due to the disaster. People living in territories affected by earthquakes may lose their homes. As such, in the situation before the disaster, stakeholders of the construction industry are responsible for the post-disaster recovery period. Since many dwellings collapse or become unusable due to catastrophes, accommodation needs to occur for many victims. Accommodation, one of the most vital needs, must be satisfied promptly, and the satisfaction is expected to be provided by professionals in the construction industry. At this point, collective housing projects are constructed. In this thesis study, a framework was created to benefit the management of post-disaster collective housing projects. The framework is expected to serve as a roadmap for project management teams working on such projects. This framework specified time minimization as the primary objective due to the time pressure in post-disaster projects. Afterwards, cost optimization must be considered since post-disaster projects are a heavy burden for the state when disasters affect many areas. Quality was kept in mind within limitations during the time minimization and cost optimization processes. A sample building project from a post-disaster collective housing project after the earthquake in Turkiye in 2023 was used to demonstrate the application of time minimization and cost optimization. A comprehensive schedule and cost data provided by the project team were incorporated into the study for more realistic results. Thanks to this, the activities directly affecting project duration, called critical activities, were revealed. The materials for critical activities were changed to alternative materials based on extensive research to achieve the objectives. During the application, BIM tools were utilized to create a 3D model of the project, and the model was integrated into the Cost Breakdown Structure, which was created by using the cost data provided by the project team. After the application, results were explained and interpreted, and recommendations for future studies on this subject were expressed.