The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory Approach to the Assessment and Hierarchy of Factors Shaping the Costs of Facade Systems

Abstract

Cost estimation is the process of creating cost forecasts by quantitative determination and pricing of the necessary resources for a project’s implementation. This process is iterative, where estimates are regularly updated based on the available information. Studying the relationship between the costs of construction projects is crucial for establishing reliable practices of cost estimation and management. Variability in construction costs can significantly impact investors’ or clients’ decisions. Greater coherence and confirmed relationships between construction costs and factors influencing them can assist investors, developers, and contractors in making informed decisions and ensuring effective cost management. Therefore, the aim of this article is to identify the factors shaping the costs of facade systems of public utility buildings and to examine the mutual influences and dependencies that occur between these factors. The factors were selected based on an analysis of project documentation, and then their assessment was made through expert opinions. The DEMATEL method was used to investigate the mutual relationships and dependencies between the factors as one of the tools of multi-criteria analysis. Through the analysis, it can be pointed out that factors such as the height of the building, the type of facade analyzed, and the level of complexity of the facade have the greatest impact on the cost of facade systems. Moreover, the type of facade analyzed and the number of floors are the factors showing the greatest direct influence on the other factors of the cost of facade systems. The identification and prioritization of factors carried out by the authors provide a basis for future research, which are models that support the prediction of the cost of making facade systems.