The “fuzzy” approach and the use of linguistic variables applied to the performance evaluation of office buildings

Abstract

This article is derived from a PHD thesis and describes the construction of an instrument of qualitative performance evaluation of office buildings, the Model of Hierarchical Analysis (MAH), based on Edgar MORIN’s complex thought, on the “fuzzy” approach and on the use of linguistic variables. Starting from a group of common attributes, the model confronts the demand of different organizations or groups of users for space and property resources, with the offer of a group of buildings. When presenting a basic outline of the Hierarchical Analysis Model, this paper indicates the advantages of the fuzzy approach in the building evaluation process and it proposes a new focus on the production and evaluation process of office buildings. Starting from a group of performance attributes (check-list), procedures are defined to identify the variables and the criteria used for the mensuration of attributes. At last, the suitable procedures for the construction of the evaluation rating scale index of each attribute are indicated, considered as a determinant factor for the success of a tool that joints great flexibility to the possibility of formal representation of the inherent subjectivism of the processes of decision, in more than two rating scale levels or behavioural patterns.