Identification of Influential Attribute for Prioritizing Wall Material Selection in Low-Cost Housing
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70609/g-tech.v10i2.9317Keywords:
Attribute Prioritization, Low-Cost Housing, Multi-Attribute Decision Making, Wall Materials, Life-Cycle CostAbstract
Selecting appropriate wall materials for low-cost housing is a complex decision-making process involving multiple technical, economic, social, and environmental considerations. This study aims to identify and prioritize the most influential attributes affecting wall material selection for affordable housing. A total of twenty-two attributes were derived from a comprehensive literature review and evaluated through a structured questionnaire survey involving 30 respondents, consisting of academics, decision-makers, and technical practitioners. A consensus-based weighting approach was applied using the mean value (μᵢ), normalized weight (wᵢ), and relative ratio (r) to establish the priority structure of attributes. The results indicate that all attributes are considered relevant (r > 0.1), with the highest priorities assigned to structural strength and stability (T1, w = 0.060), initial wall cost (E1, w = 0.058), life-cycle cost (E2, w = 0.057), durability and weather resistance (T3, w = 0.056), occupant safety and perceived security (S4, w = 0.056), and embodied carbon and energy (L1, w = 0.053). At the aspect level, technical factors contributed 34% of the total weight, followed by economic (26%), social (21%), and environmental aspects (19%). These findings provide a quantitative attribute-weighting framework that can support the development of Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) models for context-sensitive wall material selection in low-cost housing.
References
Adeyemi, A. B., Ohakawa, T. C., Okwandu, C., Iwuanyanwu, O., & Ifechukwu, G. (2024). Energy-Efficient Building Envelopes for Affordable Housing: Design Strategies and Material Choices. International Journal of Engineering Inventions, 13(9), 248–254. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18836.51842
Aghazadeh, E., Yildirim, H., & Kuruoglu, M. (2022). A Hybrid Fuzzy MCDM Methodology for Optimal Structural System Selection Compatible with Sustainable Materials in Mass-Housing Projects. Sustainability, 14, 13559. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013559
Al-zuriqat, M. H., & Obeidat, B. (2025). Computational Fluid Dynamics – Based Assessment of Thermal Comfort Parameters in Residential Buildings in Amman: Implications for Indoor Environmental Quality. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 26(5), 383–400. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/201997
Alavez-Ramirez, R., Chiñas-Castillo, F., Martínez-Reyes, J., Caballero-Montes, J. L., Caballero-Caballero, M., Morales-Dominguez, V. J., Ortiz-Guzman, M., Robledo-Taboada, L. H., Juarez-Arellano, E. A., & Serrano-De la Rosa, E. L. (2024). Thermal Performance of Novel Eco-Friendly Prefabricated Walls for Thermal Comfort in Temperate Climates. Sustainability, 16, 9349. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219349
Alfalah, G., Al Qahtani, N., Al-Sakkaf, A., Elshaboury, N., & Alshamrani, O. (2024). Assessing Life Cycle Cost and Environmental Impact for Office Building Construction in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 23(6), 1854–1873. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2023.2278461
Alfarawi, S., Omar, H., El-Sawi, A., & Al Jubori, A. (2022). Thermal Performance Assessment of External Wall Construction for Energy-Efficient Buildings. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 6(3), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejosdr/12039
Asdrubali, F., Grazieschi, G., Roncone, M., Thiebat, F., & Carbonaro, C. (2023). Sustainability of Building Materials: Embodied Energy and Embodied Carbon of Masonry. Energies, 16, 1846. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041846
Bajwa, A. U. R., Siriwardana, C., Shahzad, W., & Naeem, M. A. (2025). Material Selection in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Literature Review on Multi-Criteria Decision Making. Environment Systems and Decisions, 45(8), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-025-10001-w
Behr, D. M., Chen, L., Goel, A., Haider, K. T., Singh, S., & Zaman, A. (2021). Introducing the Adequate Housing Index (AHI) A New Approach to Estimate the Adequate Housing Deficit within and across Emerging Economies.
Bui, T., Domingo, N., & Le, A. (2025). Factors Affecting the Selection of Sustainable Construction Materials: A Study in New Zealand. Buildings, 15, 834. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15050834
Castillo, X. L., & Yepes, V. (2025). Multi-Criteria Decision Methods in the Evaluation of Social Housing Projects. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 31(6), 608–630. https://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2025.24425
Cruz, A., Chieffo, N., Karimzadeh, S., Ortiz, A., Sandoval, E., & Lourenço, P. B. (2025a). Earthquake vulnerability assessment of non-engineered URM residential buildings. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 122.
Cruz, A., Chieffo, N., Karimzadeh, S., Ortiz, A., Sandoval, E., & Lourenço, P. B. (2025b). Earthquake Vulnerability Assessment of Non-Engineered URM Residential Buildings. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 122, 105476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105476
Dormohamadi, M., Rahimnia, R., & Bunster, V. (2024). Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Different Walling Materials with An Environmental Approach (Comparison between Earth-Based vs. Conventional Construction Techniques in Iran). International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 29, 355–379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-023-02259-6
Ghamari, A., Powezka, A., Kytinou, V. K., & Amini, A. (2024). An Innovative Fire-Resistant Lightweight Concrete Infill Wall Reinforced with Waste Glass. Buildings, 14, 626. https://doi.org/10.3390/ buildings14030626
Gurupatham, S. V., Jayasinghe, C., Perera, P., & Lepakshi, R. (2024). Building Material Selection Framework for Tropical Climatic Conditions: Eco-Design-Based Approach. Green Technologies and Sustainability, 2, 100103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.grets.2024.100103
Hatefi, M. A. (2019). Indifference Threshold-based Attribute Ratio Analysis: A Method for Assigning the Weights to the Attributes in Multiple Attribute Decision Making. Applied Soft Computing Journal, 74, 643–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2018.10.050
Jangam, P., Sakhare, V., & Ingole, R. (2025). Enhanced Building Envelope Material Selection: a BIM ‑ MCDM Integrated Approach. Discover Civil Engineering, 2, 89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-025-00249-1
Jannat, N., Hussien, A., Abdullah, B., & Cotgrave, A. (2020). A Comparative Simulation Study of the Thermal Performances of the Building Envelope Wall Materials in the Tropics. Sustainability, 12, 4892. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12124892
Kathambi, E., Nille-Hauf, K., Fitik, B., & Schänzlin, habil J. (2024). Evaluating Sustainable Techniques for Earthen Wall Construction-A Qualitative Study. Journal of Earth & Environment Science, 390. https://doi.org/10.47991/2835-7868/JEES
Khan, H., & Niazi, A. J. (2025). An In‑Depth Study on Material Selection for Sustainable Residential Architectural Projects. Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities, 3, 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44268-025-00069-3
Kristiawan, S. A., Safarizki, H. A., Purwanto, E., Sangadji, S., Trisnawan, A. D., & Nugroho, T. S. (2024). Damage State of Non-Engineered Residential Buildings Owing To Earthquakes: a Case Study in Pacitan Regency, Indonesia. Civil and Environmental Engineering, 20(1), 426–439. https://doi.org/10.2478/cee-2024-0033
Li, C., Pradhan, P., Chen, G., Kropp, J., & Schellnhuber, H. J. (2025). Carbon Footprint of the Construction Sector is Projected to Double by 2050 Globally. Communications Earth & Environment, 6, 831. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02840-x Article
López-Almansa, F., Pujades, L. G., & Castillo, A. (2015). Urban Non-Engineered Buildings in Mérida, Venezuela. Seismic Performance and Proposals for Retrofit and for New Construction. Informes de La Construcción, 67, 537. https://doi.org/10.3989/ic.12.091
Manggaberani, A. A., & Darlis, A. M. (2024). The Effectiveness of Google Forms in Assessing and Evaluating Online Learning Outcomes: Meta-Analysis Study. Indonesian Journal of Social Technology, 5(10), 4561–4570. https://doi.org/10.59141/jist.v5i10.5305
Meireles, I., Martín-Gamboa, M., Sousa, V., Kalthoum, A., & Dufour, J. (2024). Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Partition Walls: Innovative Prefabricated Systems vs Conventional Construction. Cleaner Environmental Systems, 12, 100179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100179
Michelini, E., Ferretti, D., Miccoli, L., & Parisi, F. (2023). Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Masonry for Energy Efficient Buildings : State of the Art and Future Developments. Construction and Building Materials, 402, 132996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132996
Muhammed, F. Z., Yamaguchi, K., Handayani, K. N., & Hagishima, A. (2025). Affordable Housing in Developing Regions: A Systematic Review of Materials , Methods and Critical Success Factors with Case Insights. Buildings, 15, 4015. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings 15224015
Neusser, M., Dolezal, F., Wurm, M., Müllner, H., & Bednar, T. (2023). Evaluation of the Acoustic and Environmental Performance of Different Wall Structures with Particular Emphasis on Straw. Journal of Building Engineering, 66, 105922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2023.105922
Nkurikiye, E., & Ma, X. (2025). Green Building Design Strategies for Residential Areas in Informal Settlements of Developing Countries. Architecture, 5, 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/ architecture5040102
Park, C., Son, M., Kim, J., Kim, B., Ahn, Y., & Kwon, N. (2025). TOPSIS and AHP-Based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for Evaluating Redevelopment in Old Residential Projects. Sustainability, 17, 7072. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157072
Pham, V. H. S., Dau, T. D., & Tran, L. A. (2024). Application of Multi-Criteria Analysis in the Selection of Formwork Material for High-Rise Building Construction Projects. Cogent Engineering, 11(1), 2367121. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2024.2367121
Qian, J., Siriwardana, C., & Shahzad, W. (2024). Identifying Critical Criteria on Assessment of Sustainable Materials for Construction Projects in New Zealand Through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach. Buildings, 14, 3854. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123854
Ranganathan, P., & Caduff, C. (2024). Designing and Validating a Research Questionnaire - Part 1. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 15(1), 42–45. https://doi.org/10.4103/picr.picr_318_23
Reddy, L. S., Murthy, N. R. D., Srikanth, M., Reddy, S. S. P., & Keerthana, D. M. (2024). Selection of Building Materials Using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process. The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 18, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.2174/0118741495311020240708045927
Rocha-Tamayo, A., García-troncoso, N., Josa, I., & Fuente, A. D. La. (2025). Sustainability-Based Comparison of Local Bahareque and Conventional Reinforced Concrete Structural System for Social Housing Construction. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 7, 1634678. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2025.1634678
Roychowdhury, A., Sareen, R., Singh, M., & Harikrishnan CU. (2022). Sustainable Self-Built Housing Reinventing Local Material, Techniques and Skill Case Studies From Odisha and West Bengal (A. Shankar (ed.)). Centre for Science and Environment.
Saha, A., Rage, K., Senapati, T., Chatterjee, P., Zavadskas, E. K., & Sliogerienė, J. (2025). A Consensus-Based MULTIMOORA Framework under Probabilistic Hesitant Fuzzy Environment for Manufacturing Vendor Selection. Informatica, 36(3), 713–736. https://doi.org/10.15388/24-infor581
Siksnelyte-Butkiene, I., Streimikiene, D., Balezentis, T., & Skulskis, V. (2021). A Systematic Literature Review of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Sustainable Selection of Insulation Materials in Buildings. Sustainability, 13(2), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020737
Silva, L. P. P., Najjar, M. K., Costa, B. B. F., Amario, M., Vasco, D. A., & Haddad, A. N. (2024). Sustainable Affordable Housing : State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives. Sustainability, 16, 4187. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su16104187
Sinha, S., & Sudarsan, J. S. (2025). Building a Greener Future : How Earth Blocks Are Reshaping Sustainability and Circular Economy in Construction. Architecture, 5(25), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5020025
Štilić, A., & Štilić, I. (2022). Selection of Exterior Wall System and MCDM Derived Decision. Journal of Facade Design and Engineering, 10(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.47982/jfde.2022.1.01
Talaat, A., Ezzeldin, M., & El-dakhakhni, W. (2025). Life Cycle Assessment of Masonry Structures : Towards a Systematic , Standardized , and Transparent Calculation Approach. 15th Canadian Masonry Symposium.
Tanjung, N. E., Imanuel, I., & Bali, I. (2025). Comparative Structural Seismic Performance of a 10-Story Commercial Building Using Lightweight Precast Concrete Panels and Lightweight Brick Wall Systems. PRESUNIVE Civil Engineering Journal, 3(2), 96–105.
Valencia-Barba, Y. E., Gómez-Soberón, J. M., Gómez-Soberón, M. C., & Rojas-Valencia, M. N. (2021). Life Cycle Assessment of Interior Partition Walls: Comparison between Functionality Requirements and Best Environmental Performance. Journal of Building Engineering, 44, 102978. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102978
Vasic, M. V., Goel, G., Dubale, M., Živkovic, S., Trivunic, M., Pezo, M., & Pezo, L. (2023). Socio-Economic Analysis of the Construction and Building Materials ’ Usage — Ecological Awareness in the Case of Serbia. Sustainability, 15, 4080. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054080
Villalba, P., Sánchez-Garrido, A. J., & Yepes, V. (2024). A Review of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Building Assessment, Selection, and Retrofit. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 30(5), 465–480. https://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2024.21621
Vinolas, B., Casanovas-Rubio, M. del M., Pons-Valladares, O., Josa, I., Armengou, J., & de la Fuente, A. (2025). Sustainability of Wall Construction Techniques for Self-Built Rural Housing. A Case Study from Brazil. Cleaner Environmental Systems, 19, 100348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2025.100348
Weber, R., Cummins, P., & Edwards, M. (2024). Fragility of Indonesian Houses: Scenario Damage Analysis of the 2006 Yogyakarta and 2009 Padang Earthquakes. In Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering (Vol. 22). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-024-01930-z
Widyastomo, D., Simbiak, I. T., & Nion, W. M. (2025). Integration of Green Housing Principles in Urban Settlement Planning as an Effort to Mitigate the Impact of Climate Change in Jayapura. Journal of Hunan University (Natural Sciences), 52(9), 133–142. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.52.9.10
Yin, J., & Ai, X. (2024). Acoustic Performance Analysis of Wooden Structure Building Wall by Integrating BIM Technology and Impedance Tube Method. PLoS ONE, 19(8), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308481
Zhao, Q., Wu, Z., Yu, Y., Wang, T., & Huang, S. (2025). Exploring Carbon Emissions in the Construction Industry: A Review of Accounting Scales , Boundaries , Trends , and Gaps. Buildings, 15, 1900. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111900
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Wahyu Ari Pramono, Setya Winarno , Sri Kusumadewi, Fitri Nugraheni

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.








