Development of a multi-criteria assessment tool to choose between housing systems for the low cost housing market

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is well known that South Africa has a major housing backlog and that the population isgrowing every year. Consequently, more people are left homeless, without the finances toacquire a minimum standard house. The official backlog in 2012 was defined as 2.1 millionunits, of which 1.1 million households lived in informal settlements in South Africa.The purpose of this study is to develop a multi-criteria assessment tool that will help adeveloper to choose between housing systems that can be used in low cost housingdevelopments. Essentially, the tool will aid a developer to allocate funding more appropriatelyand effectively to develop sustainable communities.The research followed a procedure of identifying challenges experienced in the low costhousing industry, identifying the important factors to consider when assessing low costhousing systems and finally selecting a multi-criteria decision-making model to select asystem. The important factors that need to be considered for this study were gathered fromliterature and industry experience through using the interviewing technique for datacollection. The factors identified will be assessed using the multi-criteria decision-makingmodel, called the Evidential Reasoning Approach.This study focuses on housing systems as a whole. Specific attention is given to wallingsystems, but not to other elements such as the foundations and roofs. The primary factorsidentified are cost, time, quality, environmental performance, density, alteration capability,resource availability and additional features. These factors were then used to develop a userfriendlyassessment tool for choosing between housing systems for the low cost housingmarket.In conclusion this assessment tool will be available to public and private role players whointend to develop a low cost housing settlement. However, this assessment tool has someimperfections. These are discussed at the end of this study and show how they influence thismodel.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University