A System Dynamics Approach to Optimizing Building Design for Constructability and Maintainability

Abstract

Many projects in Indonesia experience delays and budget overruns due to designs that do not align with field implementation and project cycles. This study introduces a System Dynamics (SD) approach as a breakthrough for modeling the complex, dynamic relationships among Design, Constructability, and Maintainability factors in building projects. The research's novelty lies in applying holistic, predictive dynamic simulation modeling to quantify the interplay among variables that have previously been analyzed only partially. Simulation results reveal that social, economic, and environmental aspects significantly influence design. A maintainability-focused strategy increases the Maintainability Index to 1.00, but reduces Constructability to 0.50. Conversely, prioritizing Constructability raises the Constructability Index to 1.00, while decreasing Maintainability by 30% (0.70). A hybrid scenario yields moderate improvements (Constructability 0.80, Maintainability 0.70), confirming that partial optimization results in suboptimal system performance. The implementation prospects are robust for the Indonesian construction industry. This model provides a quantitative basis for encouraging best practices such as early contractor and supplier involvement and more strategic integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Scenario simulations demonstrate that a balanced optimization strategy is significantly superior to a partial approach. Stakeholders can adopt these findings as a decision-making tool to allocate resources more effectively, improve construction efficiency, and ensure the long-term sustainability of building performance, thereby accelerating sustainable infrastructure development.

Keywords: System Dynamics; Building Design; Constructability; Maintainability.