چکيده
Despite the significant contribution of the construction industry to a country's economy, the
industry at large is accused of undermining sustainability, particularly in terms of environmental
concerns across various dimensions. For instance, approximately 40% of global resources are
consumed and nearly half of pollutants are generated by the construction industry. However, the
nature and intensity of these impacts can vary based on project types and scales, often being regionspecific.
Since the emergence of the concept of smart construction, it has rapidly altered the landscape of
traditional construction, affecting many parameters within the construction industry. Notably,
environmental impacts have become a significant aspect. Undoubtedly, one of the foremost
contemporary challenges revolves around environmental issues and endeavors to mitigate risks,
negative consequences, and the overarching notion of sustainable development. In this study, our
objective is to first delve into the concept of sustainable construction and the developed models
within this realm. Additionally, we transition from the investigation of past pollution due to
construction and demolition activities to a scrutiny of emerging pollutants arising from the
advancements in construction technology. Ultimately, we strive to achieve a comprehensive model
of construction-related pollution.
The construction industry, through its substantial resource consumption and substantial waste
production, yields considerable environmental impacts. However, determining the relative
importance of various ecological indicators remains a pivotal challenge. This study sought to
establish a comprehensive weighted framework to evaluate the pollution impacts stemming from
construction activities using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). A meticulous review of
existing studies identified 21 distinct indicators, categorized into Air Quality, Water Quality, Land
Disruption, and seven other pertinent categories. To acquire expert opinions, a questionnaire was
devised to solicit pairwise comparisons of these indicators from 43 construction professionals in
Iran, representing diverse roles. The collected ratings were then consolidated into an AHP
comparison matrix. Subsequent analyses yielded both local and global weights for the indicators,
with Air Pollution, Noise Pollution, and Water Pollution emerging as the most significant
according to expert assessments. The results underscored a heightened focus on the management
of airborne emissions and noise, reflecting the region-specific context.
The weighted indicators offer a quantitative tool enabling contractors and regulators to
comprehensively assess the footprint of construction-related pollution. It is recommended to
further validate these findings through field audits and follow-up surveys. Overall, this study
highlights the applicability of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in navigating the
complexities of multi-criteria decision-making in sustainability-related issues. The data-driven
insights gleaned from this research can potentially guide more targeted planning and investments
into sustainable construction practices
