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Social Sustainability in Construction Projects—A Systematic Review of Assessment Indicators and Taxonomy

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  • Mozhdeh Rostamnezhad

    (School of Architecture & Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia)

  • Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem

    (School of Architecture & Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia)

Abstract

Despite its importance and appeal, the social dimension of sustainability in construction projects is less explored and lacks a comprehensive and standardized framework. This diminishes the holistic view of sustainability. The existing customized frameworks make the selection of factors challenging across different contexts. Eventually, the practitioners have to pick and choose the factors. This reduces the reliability of social sustainability assessments and makes them a procedural challenge. To fill this gap, the current review synthesizes a framework of social sustainability for construction projects. For this purpose, a systematic review of the literature published until 2021 is performed. The indicators are extracted from the selected 22 papers and their content is analyzed to check for similarities. The final set of 76 factors is synthesized into an assessment framework through a thematic analysis based on a bottom-up approach. The framework is organized into 7 enablers or themes, 27 indicators, and 76 sub-indicators. The enablers of social sustainability are stakeholder, safety and health, human resource development, project, industry, community, and government. The framework provides a comprehensive and precise view of social sustainability which can be leveraged to ensure better planning and sustainable development of construction projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Mozhdeh Rostamnezhad & Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem, 2022. "Social Sustainability in Construction Projects—A Systematic Review of Assessment Indicators and Taxonomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5279-:d:803742
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Omar Sharaf-addeen Alansary & Tareq Al-Ansari, 2023. "Developing a Strategic Sustainability Assessment Methodology for Free Zones Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-28, June.
    3. Candela Pedrero Zazo & Peter Gosselink & Rolands Kromanis, 2025. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Analysis of Adhesives in Block-Glued Laminated Timber," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-34, September.
    4. Kosa Golić & Vesna Kosorić & Tatjana Kosić & Slavica Stamatović Vučković & Kosara Kujundžić, 2023. "A Platform of Critical Barriers to Socially Sustainable Residential Buildings: Experts’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-33, May.
    5. Bingsong Tang & Nan Li, 2022. "Contractual Governance for Dispute Resolution and Construction Sustainability: Case Studies from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Mehri Aghdamigargari & Sylvester Avane & Angelina Anani & Sefiu O. Adewuyi, 2024. "Sustainability in Long-Term Surface Mine Planning: A Systematic Review of Operations Research Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-24, November.
    7. Plaček, Michal & Valentinov, Vladislav & Fojtík, Roman & Ochrana, František & Peřinková, Martina, 2024. "Bringing in ethics: A multi-stakeholder approach to manage the transition to low-carbon construction," EconStor Open Access Book Chapters, in: Strengthening European climate policy: Governance recommendations from innovative interdisciplinary collaborations, pages 111-123, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    8. Sinem Dağılgan & Tuğçe Ercan, 2025. "Developing a Sustainability Reporting Framework for Construction Companies: Prioritization of Themes with Delphi Study Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-25, March.
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    10. Sara Saboor & Vian Ahmed & Chiraz Anane & Zied Bahroun, 2025. "A Hybrid AHP–Fuzzy MOORA Decision Support Tool for Advancing Social Sustainability in the Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-31, May.

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