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SQuADS (Subjective Quantitative Assessment Decision Support Tool)

An interactive tool to select best-fit structural system

What is the context?

The primary objective of performance-based earthquake engineering design is the ability to deliver a building system that satisfies expectations of the client in terms of building performance while considering other factors such as cost and downtime in the event of an earthquake. At the initial stages of building design, a dialogue between the engineer and the client is preferable to strike a balance between the client’s expectations and the possibilities of providing appropriate engineering solutions. Essentially, there could be a number of criteria (wish-list) from a client’s perspective, and possibilities and constraints from engineer’s view point in providing design solutions. Such a scenario can be viewed as ‘multiple criteria decision making process’ that may be dealt with a subjective and a quantitative approach, particularly at a conceptual level.

To facilitate dialogues between clients and engineers at preliminary stages, a platform is developed in the form of an ‘interactive tool’ where multiple criteria that are relevant in decision making are considered to compare and choose the ‘best-fit’ structural system.

SQuADS: What is it?

It is an interactive tool that adopts a weighted scoring method, a technique used in multiple criteria decision making process which enables setting a measure of objectivity into a subjective process. This method is simple and flexible, yet a powerful method to compare different options of structural systems against a list of criteria or requirements representing performance or benefits expected. A numeric value is assigned as ‘weight’ to the criteria according to the importance as desired by the client.

Each main criteria can be linked to further sub-criteria related to engineering aspects and be given sub-weight factors.

A set of possible structural systems that are considered for comparison can be given a score against each sub-criterion considered, independently of its importance. The scoring indicators may be either descriptive that can be mapped to numerical values or direct numerical values.

The assigned scores and weights are used to calculate the total weighted score for each structural system options considered for comparison purpose.

How the tool should be used

The steps to be followed are explained below.

Assigning weights

First task is to assign 'weights' for main criteria that are of interest to the client. High importance criteria take on high weight values. Care is taken that the total sum of the weights assigned to main criteria is equal to 1.0. It is only then that the 'Next' button becomes active.
Next task is to assign 'weights' for sub-criteria under each main criterion; these sub-criteria represent the factors that contribute to the main criteria. The sub-criteria assume weights according to their importance towards contributing to each main criterion. Again, high importance factors take high values for weights. Note that the total sum of weight for each set of sub-criteria must also equal to 1.0.

Scoring for structural system options and comparison displayed

Select a structural system
Score the structural system against each sub-criterion independent of its importance/weight factors assigned; the best performance is represented with a high score and the score is reduced as the relative performance becomes poor.
Press 'Calculate'. This step computes the total weighted score for the structural system chosen.
Select the next structural system and repeat the above steps for scoring and calculating the total score.
A list of structures chosen for the comparison purposes is displayed with their total score and they are sorted from the 'best' to 'poorest'.

Export PDF

The comparison exercise with input values and the computed weighted score can be exported as a PDF by the user for future reference.

References

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Confidentiality Undertaking

I undertake to the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited (“GNS Science”) and agree with GNS Science as follows:

No Disclosure of Confidential Information - Except as provided under paragraph 3, the Recipient shall not disclose or permit to be disclosed to any third party any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of GNS Science.
Use of Confidential Information - The Recipient shall not use any Confidential Information for any purpose other than that for which the information was provided which is to provide support to GNS Science with respect to non-commercial testing of the SQuADS tool.
Disclosure to Employees & Agents - The Recipient may disclose Confidential Information on a strictly "need to know" basis to employees and/or agents of the Recipient. When such disclosure to employees and/or agents of the Recipient is necessary the Recipient shall ensure that such employees and/or agents are subject to equivalent duties of confidentiality and non-use as those set out in this Undertaking.
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Disclaimer - GNS Science and its funders give no warranties of any kind concerning the SQuADS tool and the risk evaluations therein, including accuracy, completeness, timeliness or fitness for purpose and accepts no responsibility for any actions taken based on, or reliance placed on the evaluations and the outcomes. GNS and its funders exclude to the full extent permitted by law liability for any loss, damage or expense, direct or indirect, and however caused, whether through negligence or otherwise, resulting from any person’s or organisation's use of, or reliance on, the SQuADS tool.

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