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Multiple-Criteria Methods for Assessing Social Sustainability in the Built Environment: A Systematic Review

Author

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  • George da Mota Passos Neto

    (Management Engineering Department, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil)

  • Luciana Hazin Alencar

    (Management Engineering Department, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil)

  • Rodolfo Valdes-Vasquez

    (Department of Construction Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

Abstract

Studies related to social sustainability assessment have presented a variety of methods and criteria, but there is a need to better understand how these studies incorporate multiple criteria along with the issues addressed, the decision-makers, and the overall process followed to promote more socially sustainable outcomes. A systematic literature review methodology is conducted to identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly articles that use multiple criteria to assess the built environment’s social sustainability. This study explores types of problems, decision-makers, criteria, and methods adopted by researchers. The analysis involved 42 studies identified in the Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. The results revealed a diverse range of studies, covering various issues, project types, and methodologies, highlighting the multifaceted nature of social sustainability evaluation in the context of the built environment. The most considered social sustainability issues in the studies were ‘Impacts in Community’ and ‘Employment’. While most of the selected papers used multi-criteria decision-making/aiding (MCDM/A), not all engaged in these methods for decision-making purposes. Moreover, despite the prevalence of studies involving multiple decision-makers, issues related to group decision-making were often insufficiently addressed. The types of problems that the methods are used for are discussed, as well as the decision context and the process for selecting methods, thereby highlighting future research opportunities. Future studies should ensure that the criteria used are manageable but encompass all facets of social sustainability in the built environment, prioritizing methodological rigor when selecting MCDM/A methods and focusing on the nuances of preference aggregation in group decision-making scenarios.

Suggested Citation

  • George da Mota Passos Neto & Luciana Hazin Alencar & Rodolfo Valdes-Vasquez, 2023. "Multiple-Criteria Methods for Assessing Social Sustainability in the Built Environment: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-24, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:23:p:16231-:d:1286109
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paolo Rosasco & Leopoldo Sdino, 2023. "The Social Sustainability of the Infrastructures: A Case Study in the Liguria Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
    2. Mulliner, Emma & Smallbone, Kieran & Maliene, Vida, 2013. "An assessment of sustainable housing affordability using a multiple criteria decision making method," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 270-279.
    3. Lucas Borges Leal Da Silva & Evanielle Barbosa Ferreira & Rodrigo José Pires Ferreira & Eduarda Asfora Frej & Lucia Reis Peixoto Roselli & Adiel Teixeira De Almeida, 2023. "Paradigms, Methods, and Tools for Multicriteria Decision Models in Sustainable Industry 4.0 Oriented Manufacturing Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-27, May.
    4. George Passos Neto & Emilia Rahnemay Kohlman Rabbani & Rodolfo Valdes-Vasquez & Luciana H. Alencar, 2022. "Implementation of the Global Reporting Initiative Social Sustainability Indicators: A Multi-Case Study Approach Using Brazilian Construction Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    5. Matsatsinis, Nikolaos F. & Samaras, Andreas P., 2001. "MCDA and preference disaggregation in group decision support systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(2), pages 414-429, April.
    6. Giuseppe Munda, 2008. "Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation for a Sustainable Economy," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-540-73703-2, December.
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    2. Aikaterini Anagnostopoulou & Dimitris Sotiropoulos & Konstantinos Tserpes, 2025. "A Robust Sustainability Assessment Methodology for Aircraft Parts: Application to a Fuselage Panel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-33, April.

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