Exploring sustainable factors during construction projects’ life cycle phases

Abstract

This paper explores the sustainable factors, which are taken into consideration by engineers during the holistic process of building Projects Life Cycle (LC) in the Gaza Strip. A total of 53 sustainable factors (economic, social, and environmental)) were identified from extensive literature review and were modified according to the pilot study. These factors are classified into 5 project LC phases: inception phase, design phase, construction phase, operation phase, and demolition phase. A questionnaire survey is adapted in this study. A total of 119 questionnaires were distributed randomly to engineers working in construction projects in the Gaza Strip to solicit their opinions regarding taking sustainability concepts into consideration. The results revealed 10 most important sustainable factors that were taken into consideration by engineers in the LC phases of the construction projects in Gaza Strip, which are classified as follows: 4 factors are classified under the inception phase, 3 factors under the design phase, 2 factors under the construction phase, and 1 factor under operation phase. The most common factors that are taken in consideration are: provision of services, standardization, community amenities, materials choice, and site security.