Axiology-Based Valuation Modeling for Human-Centered Decision Making in Building Planning and Design
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 147, Issue 11
Abstract
Understanding and assessing the value of building systems to stakeholders and the impacts of decision making on this value has become a national imperative. However, there is still a lack of understanding and formalized modeling of what different stakeholders value (e.g., energy conservation, safety, economic growth) in buildings and how to valuate (i.e., quantify the worth) buildings based on these values. This paper proposes an axiology-based valuation modeling approach. Axiology is a theory of value (worth) that explores questions such as what are the objects that we value and how to measure their value. The paper focuses on presenting an axiology-based mathematical value quantification and aggregation model for quantifying the worth of a building object based on object properties and stakeholder values. The proposed model is theoretically grounded in formal axiology. It builds on two key notions in Hartman’s formal axiology. First, object valuation depends on its properties. Second, valuation has systemic, extrinsic, and intrinsic dimensions. The model was validated through predictive validation, which measures the correlation between actual stakeholder rankings of valuated objects and model-predicted rankings. The results of the validation show that there is a very strong and significant positive correlation between the two types of rankings, which indicates that the proposed valuation model is valid. The proposed model contributes to the body of knowledge by offering a way to assess the value of building objects based on stakeholder values; it could facilitate value-sensitive decision making by embodying stakeholder values in project planning and design toward better synergy between human values and the built environment.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the National Science Foundation (NSF). This paper is based upon work supported by NSF under Grant No. 1254679. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF. This journal paper is also based on the following Ph.D. dissertation: Zhang, L. (2016). “Axiology-based modeling and valuation for human-centered and value-sensitive building design.” Ph.D. dissertation, Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95460.
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 147 • Issue 11 • November 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 3, 2020
Accepted: Jan 11, 2021
Published online: Aug 17, 2021
Published in print: Nov 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jan 17, 2022
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