Constructionwhere

Constructionwhere is a term used in planning and architectural discourse to describe a framework for determining the most suitable locations for construction projects. It encompasses location analysis, siting criteria, and project feasibility, seeking to balance technical, environmental, social, and economic factors throughout a project's life cycle.

Origins and definition: The phrase is a relatively recent coinage in planning literature and professional practice, not tied to a single standard methodology but rather to a family of approaches that emphasize spatial decision-making with transparent criteria.

Methodology: Implementation typically combines geographic information systems with multi-criteria decision analysis, life cycle assessment, and stakeholder engagement. Data layers may include land availability, zoning, infrastructure, transportation access, flood or seismic risk, soil conditions, property values, and potential community impacts.

Applications: Used in urban redevelopment, infrastructure siting, housing development, and disaster-resilient construction. It supports site selection, permitting workflows, and risk mitigation by providing structured comparisons of candidate locations.

Benefits and criticisms: Proponents cite improved cost efficiency, reduced environmental footprint, better equitable outcomes, and faster approvals. Critics warn that results depend on data quality and the weighting of criteria, and that governance and transparency must be addressed to avoid biases.

Relation to other concepts: It overlaps with site selection, urban planning, and smart-growth frameworks, but its focus on an explicit decision-making process for construction siting distinguishes it from broader planning approaches. Not standardized, usage varies by author and project context.

See also: site selection, GIS, urban planning, life cycle assessment, multi-criteria decision analysis.