Factors influencing the safety enhancement and cost reduction in site layouts of construction projects

Abstract

As the foundation of national development, the construction industry is one of the most hazardous industries in the world, facing safety challenges and high rates of work-related accidents, especially in developing countries such as Iran, where 35% of all industrial accidents are related to construction accidents. In the meantime, construction site layout (CSL) design is vital in improving safety and cost efficiency, but the lack of comprehensive frameworks has limited its effective application. Traditional methods also create inefficiencies and additional costs due to the lack of flexibility in the face of project-specific constraints and unpredictable conditions. Significant research gaps exist, especially in Iran, where socioeconomic and cultural factors affect construction methods. This study aims to identify and analyze the critical factors affecting CSL in developing countries and provides a comprehensive framework that integrates regional constraints with global best practices. The main criteria identified in order of priority are hiring skilled professionals (weight: 0.32), hazardous materials management (weight: 0.25), and using advanced technologies (weight: 0.18). We first conducted a Delphi survey with domain experts using a hybrid approach to identify and refine key factors. Next, we utilized the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and fuzzy logic to examine causal relationships among the factors. Additionally, we prioritized the factors based on their relative importance using the fuzzy analytic network process (FANP). This research provides a practical framework for CSL optimization that helps improve safety and reduce costs in construction projects.