Selection of Sustainable Facade Materials for Buildings Using Fermatean Fuzzy AHP & WASPAS Methodology

Abstract

The selection of sustainable facade materials is critical for achieving a sustainable built environment. Multi-criteria decision-making approaches can be used to determine the best alternative among the others considered in selecting sustainable facade materials. Fermatean Fuzzy Sets (FFSs) can represent the uncertainty in this selection and expand the parameter domain of this uncertainty. This study proposes an integrated analytical model based on the Interval-Valued Fermatean Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (IVFF-AHP) and Fermatean Fuzzy Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (FF-WASPAS) to address the uncertainty and complexity in this selection process. The model evaluates facade materials against environmental, financial, social, and technical criteria, comprising 13 sub-criteria. IVFF-AHP is utilized to calculate the weights of these criteria, with Environmental Criteria receiving the highest weight (32.9%), followed by Technical (30.7%) and Social (19.6%) criteria. FF-WASPAS is employed to rank four facade material options, with Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) identified as the most sustainable material, followed by Aggregated Natural Stone, Aluminium Composite Panels, and Concrete Cladding. The results highlight the approach's capability to provide objective and robust rankings, aiding decision-makers in identifying the most sustainable option. The outcomes underscore the model's novelty in integrating Fermatean fuzzy logic with multi-criteria decision-making techniques, offering enhanced flexibility in uncertainty representation and contributing to the advancement of sustainable construction practices through a more informed and structured decision-making process. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.