Decision-making in a model-based design process

Decisions early in the design process have a big impact on the life cycle performance of a building. The outcome of a construction project can be improved if different design options can rapidly be analysed to assist the client and design team in making informed decisions in the design process. A model-based design approach can facilitate the decision-making process if the design alternatives' performances can be evaluated and compared. A decision-making framework using a performance-based design process in the early design phase is proposed. It is developed to support decision-makers to take informed decisions regarding the life cycle performance of a building. A scenario is developed in order to demonstrate the proposed framework of evaluating the different design alternatives' energy performance. The framework is applicable to decision-making in a structured design process, where design alternatives consisting of both objective and subjective evaluation criteria can be evaluated.