Transforming Building Criteria to Evidence Index

Abstract

There is increasing pressure from developers toward architects and engineers to deliver scientifically sound proposals for often complex and cost-intensive construction products. An increase in digitalization within the construction industry and the availability of intelligently built assets and overall sustainability make it possible to customize a construction product. This servitization of construction products is assumed to perform much preferably in satisfying stakeholders’ physical, psychological, and social needs. The degree to which these products are performing can be evaluated through an evidence index. This article aims to introduce a conceptual model of an evidence index and test it in the programming stage of a case study. The investigation follows the evidence-based design approach and renders evidence through key performance indicators in the programming stage of the building process. For testing the concept, a case study investigation was performed by simulating a novice research assistant, and the amount of evidence was collected and appraised for evidence index. The case study showed that key performance indicators of a servitized project could be evaluated on a four-point scale. The quality of the evidence index generation depended on the level of expertise the evaluator has in research and the skilful use of scientific databases.

1. Introduction

A typically assisted workflow by Building Information Modeling (BIM) process is the building performance evaluation [1], for instance, for energy consumption [2] and lighting [3], and air quality through simulations [4]. The optimal building performance can be achieved with technical considerations and a close fit between the building and its users’ needs, providing comfort, health, and safety [5]. In terms of a computer-aided approach, development toward an easy-to-use data input is emerging for human behaviour regarding the programming and design phase. For improving design, a variety of quantitative approaches surfaced, like the probabilistic method [6], which reflects variation in the energy consumption models and the agent-based model (see, e.g., in [2,7,8]) that is investigating complex systems composed of interacting agents. In connection to building performance evaluation, a knowledge-oriented value generation process [1,7] in which stakeholders find satisfactory proofs, concerning key performance indicators (KPIs), treated like evidence for reasoning their needs and activities had surfaced. Key performance indicators are instrumental for optimizing the goals of the organization. The organizational goals are usually higher; meanwhile, the KPIs operationalise these goals and make them measurable, understandable, and actionable [8,9]. Therefore, KPIs in the programming and design phase of the building performance evaluation are often connected to the developer’s detailed list of building criteria or physical attributes that are expected to be incorporated in the project. This detailed list of building criteria usually emerges through a long-term collaboration between the industry partners to ensure technical and functional service quality. One of this list is the Swedish Program for Technical Standard [8,10], used in the case study below, a database for optimizing healthcare facilities’ construction and design. The design criteria are set up with stakeholders, including the construction industry, to deliver a technical service solution to the users. This kind of servitization [11,12] is a key for delivering appropriate performance to stakeholders. In a traditional method, a building developer would provide a facility list that satisfies the needs in a technical/engineering approach, meanwhile, a servitized concept offers KPIs matching the stakeholders’ personal needs. Today’s technological possibilities allow building upon a new set of servitized construction products that are more efficient and less resource-intensive, connected through smart products and systems, and provide self-learning abilities that deliver an evidence-based optimization. For instance, lighting in an office is set to 200 lux as the general illuminance, but for well-being supportive lighting should include a glare-free setting that helps the individual. Furthermore, considering the daily intake of lighting energy for appropriate circadian rhythm functioning, the KPI should be supporting a human circadian rhythm. The critical issue here is how to assign the appropriate KPI for measuring the intended outcome. That is why researchers had turned their attention to evidence-based design (EBD) as a design method from the field of evidence-based medicine [13]. EBD for the built environment can be defined as the process of design decisions on credible research and lessons learned from previous design experiences as evidence to achieve the best possible outcomes [14,15]. EBD is the antecedent of the building performance evaluation [16,17] and recent research has shown how EBD can be connected to digital tools, like lighting simulations [18]. This research has identified the importance of selecting KPIs (or metrics) for identifying evidence [19] during the evidence-based optimization (EBO). EBO and the current development of cognitive abilities of the building system could lead to better servitization of construction products (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Servitisation of construction product in the context of BIM in Industry 4.0, Circular economy, and Intelligent Building Information Modeling (BIM) assets (Adapted from CPA, [20]; p 17).

Promoters of EBO may be representatives of developers, architecture designers, clients, users, researchers, and facility managers for improving an individual’s physical, psychological, and social qualities together with environmental sustainability. From this perspective, the attainment of stakeholders’ values would ensure the successful implementation of resources to the predefined goal. A possible measure of reaching the predefined goal is to assess an evidence index for all physical attributes or components listed in the building criteria; henceforth, early in the programming stage, the expected evidence index can indicate how well the predefined goals in the building criteria are in line with a scientific level of evidence.

Consequently, this article aims to introduce and, through a case study, test an evidence index capable of describing the level of evidence at the programming stage of a building process. It is assumed that a novice investigator can generate an evidence index, but the results need to be further scrutinized.

2. Methodology

In this section, the first conceptual method of an evidence index is described, and an enhancement of the EBD process with a cognitive building concept is suggested. Consequently, a case study focusing on an administrative office is tested with the suggested evidence index framework.

2.1. Establishing Evidence Index

The concept of an evidence index (EI) in a room or a building is complementing a post-occupancy evaluation method (POE) (see, e.g., in [21]). POEs have been around for several decades [16], and the depth of investigations is generally made on three distinct levels [22] (indicative, investigative, and diagnostic). A post-occupancy evaluation system arose for feedbacking stakeholders in building projects regarding how well the building performs after its inauguration in terms of user’s satisfaction, energy performance, indoor environmental quality, and sustainability. An EI’s conceptual development is originated in the EBD process [23]. The intention with a single value on a room/building project is to inform the stakeholders about the verified level of evidence that the building criteria is setting. As building criteria may arise from a previous POE and most likely a new project organization would introduce these additional values for the programming stage, this act of organizational learning [24] was the forerunner of a cognitive building. Cognition in terms of information processing requires working memory (POE) and long-term memory (building criteria, KPIs) in order to appraise information (evidence) for appropriate response selection [25] (project outcome). Consequently, the state-of-the-art understanding of the cognitive building solution is a sustainable building system that automatically integrates, analyses, and learns from the IoT-generated data [26]. The EI would be benefitting the cognitive building concept through the interconnectedness of scientific databases and machine learning of evidences in scientific publications to find and appraise a project-specific evidence index. For this to become a reality, more knowledge about EBD and EI is needed, and the work described here is a contribution to that.

2.1.1. Evidence-Based Design Process for Cognitive Buildings

POE is an integral part of the EBD process [3,18], which distinguishes between eight phases that refer to a continuous workflow stepwise progression. The modified EBD process fitted to a servitized construction product for cognitive building solution may include the following:

• Defining the key goals and objectives: A vision is developed for the intentions, directions, and goals for the project. The multidisciplinary project team and a cognitive building solution articulate the goals and objectives to be reached. This process includes similar project-specific digitalized POE results and KPIs that proved to be appropriate and accurate for the type of the planned project.
• Finding of sources for relevant evidence: A relevant evidence is obtained mainly from various digitalized scientific and expert testimonial databases to identify research results that may serve as evidence. This process requires robust digitalization and machine learning to locate evidence.
• Critical interpretation of relevant evidence: The validity and reliability of the evidence need to be established by review. The automatized process of finding and evaluating the level of evidence in every project related sources is due to the fine-tuned algorithms capable of understanding and interpreting scientific results and closing the gap between evaluators. Informing the design phase and creating hypotheses for value generation also starts here.
• Creation and innovation of evidence-based design concepts: The relevant evidence is translated into design guidelines and statements. Designers use guidelines for aesthetic, functional, or compositional decisions and incorporate digital tools to visualize the project. The cognitive building concept helps to prioritize among the possible design solutions due to its iterative design capabilities. The possible alternatives are tested in a parametric environment.
• Development of hypotheses: Design hypotheses are generated and tested by various means. The parametrized design solutions are being evaluated mathematically and/or visually in order to set the subjective and objective method for hypothesis testing.
• Collection of baseline performance measures: The building criteria with the embedded level of evidence are identified and assessed. The project values and requirements are translated into parametric design criteria expressed in terms of performance metrics and simulation results.
• Monitoring of implementation of design and construction: With the help of cognitive building solution, the construction is monitored, and the project team makes sure that the design strategies are executed and delivered. In terms of deviation from the planned action, the cognitive building solution is waiting for human approval of the deviations. At the end of construction, the project team and the cognitive building solution verifies that the project is ready for post-occupancy research.
• Measurement of post-occupancy performance measure: The project-specific KPIs are being analysed in situ or virtually. The necessary adjustments are made in the physical environment to match the stakeholders’ expectations.

The above-suggested EBD process for cognitive building solution is still ahead of the present reality. However, for the realization of the EI in a non-cognitive building solution, the first three stages of the original EBD process are considered in this article. Starting with the definition of goals and objectives that describes the planned building project’s intentions and direction. A team of decision-makers articulate project goals in terms of their desired outcomes. In the case of a well-known building typology to be delivered, the project goals and objectives are revisited from previous successful projects using POE. These building criteria may be industry standards and recommendations. In case of an innovative solution, building criteria are being set intuitively according to the team’s experience. When this preliminary programming of domain-specific values is set, the next stage is finding sources for relevant evidence.

2.1.2. Finding Evidence

Relevant evidence is gathered mainly from scientific literature to identify gaps in knowledge and determine what relevant research has already been performed and which needs to be researched. Peavey and Vander Wyst [27] differentiate between evidence that incorrectly refers to a proof of a design decision. This misconception is caused by the difference between the commonly used definition of evidence as proof and the scientific interpretation of evidence. The latter divide evidence into several levels. Another shortcoming of using evidence as a proof is reported by Cama [28] when the practitioner indistictively using the evidence for any kind of built environment. To overcome such a misinterpretation of evidence, a critical interpretation is needed.

The methodological framework for ranking evidence is combined from a series of research design methods that gradually decrease the need for scientific rigour, validity, and reliability. Therefore, the evaluation of the level of evidence prerequisites a qualified person to interpret the specific evidence in accordance with an EBD guideline. This guideline was moulded from Pati [29], Stetler [30], and Stichler [31] recommendations for healthcare design settings (Table 1).

Table 1. Levels of evidence as it is originated from healthcare design.

Ranking	Evidence-Based Design
1	Meta-analysis and systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials or experimental studies
2	Single experimental study (randomized, controlled)
3	Single quasi-experimental study (randomized, concurrent, or historical controls)
4	Systematic, interpretive, or integrative review of multiple studies of observational or qualitative research
5	Single non-experimental study, correlational, descriptive, mixed methods, and qualitative research
6	Published evaluation data (e.g., facility evaluations, mock-ups) that were systematically collected and were verifiable
7	Consensus opinion of authorities (e.g., a nationally known guideline group with strong peer review)
8	Opinions of recognized experts, case studies

Note. Adapted from Pati [29], Stetler [30], and Stichler [32]. These levels should be used in conjunction with a critical appraisal of quality at each level.

In a building project, ranking of evidence in the early project phase is imperative because it has a significant outcome for the programming stage that will impact the stakeholders’ physical, and psychological and social wellbeing. At the critical interpretation of relevant evidence, awareness about potentially misinterpreted evidence can still be resolved in time before the project is suffering from serious financial expenses. However, the level of evidence may require qualified personnel in research methodology who can rank the scientific evidence and still give credits for opinions and individual observations. A categorization of such a comprehensive source of information should be guided by a value-generation process that gives meaning to complicated interpretations of the scientifically produced evidence. Marquardt and Motzek [33] suggested a helpful algorithm for architects and designers to critically appraise the quality of evidence in EBD. By adopting a four-level scale instead of a six-level, as Marquardt and Motzek [34] suggested, the investigation of the quality of evidence may take less time to perform with less trained personnel. To appraise the level of evidence into a four-point scale, Evans (2003, p. 82) published a hierarchy to an indication of the validity and trustworthiness of different types of research. This process assists in the selection of the evidence to guide evidence-based clinical practice. However, a building delivery process is not seen directly as a comparable field of study to clinical practice, yet its systematic research-based approach to identification of evidence makes it possible to apply the principles of research to designers and engineering practitioners. Henceforth, the proposed four-point rating scale is the first attempt to measure the level of evidence in servitized construction delivery using EBD. The highest rating is excellent, when the evidence provides the strongest scientific base for the practice. This evidence level is at the least risk of error, therefore it is optimal for the development of practical design guidelines and recommendations. The next highest level is good. This rating provides a sound basis for practical cases and is at low risk of error. However, as it may have been generated by single studies, it also highlights areas where replication of research is needed. A less prefered rating is fair, which includes varying degrees of risk for error, and it does not provide a strong evidence for the practice. These studies usually represent exploration of interventions. The rationale behind this level is to accept a greater risk of error in the evidence, yet allow further identification of potentially beneficial KPIs that require additional investigation and evaluation. The least preferred and most common level of evidence can be ranked as poor, when there is a weak basis for practical use and is at serious risk of error or bias. The four-point scale rating has an advantage on the usability side as an evaluator is forced to avoid central tendencies and needs to be making a decision based on the criteria at hand [35]. The drawback of this four-point scale is tangible when the accuracy of the level of evidence is in question. In the EBD process, the scientific evaluations should be synchronized to laypersons or design experts too. A four-point category suggested on quality of evidence is summarized and retains the major scientific category differences and the contents (Table 2).

Table 2. Modified levels of evidence for quantitative research and EBD project.

Level	Determining the Level of Evidence
Excellent	Meta-analysis and systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials or experimental studies; Single experimental study (randomized, controlled)
Good	Single quasi-experimental study (randomized, concurrent, or historical controls); Systematic, interpretive, or integrative review of multiple studies of observational or qualitative research
Fair	Single non-experimental study, correlational, descriptive, mixed methods, and qualitative research; Published evaluation data (e.g., facility evaluations, mock-ups) that were systematically collected and were verifiable
Poor	Consensus opinion of authorities (e.g., a nationally known guideline group with strong peer review); Opinions of recognized experts, case studies

Note: Adapted from Pati [29], Stetler [30], and Stichler [32]. These levels should be used in conjunction with critical appraisal of quality at each level.

2.1.3. Critical Review of LOE

Two flow chart diagrams visualize the decision-making procedure evaluating the level of evidence (LOE) with a quantitative or qualitative study by Marquardt and Motzek [33]. These algorithms for rating the evidence distinguishes among six-levels LOE according to Stichler [32]. The step-by-step procedure follows “yes” and “no” options for the main methodological junctions. The answers on these methodological alternatives will eventually lead the rater to various level of evidence. A four-level LOE category is presented in relation to the major study types in Figure 2. When a qualitative or case study is investigated in an interpretative way, the rater evaluates if the study has a literature review, a framework, a clear method reported, and the diversity of views are represented, then the LOE might be reaching a fair rating. When these aspects are not addressed in the study, it is assigned as poor. For instance, a case study describing the renovation of a building is classified as poor, but if the study features several buildings with the same typology, including stakeholder interviews, and has a matching methodology, it is assigned to fair. The quantitative study employs statistical analyses and measures outcomes, therefore they belong to the observational study category. These can be a panel, cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. A sample is followed over a period in a panel study, and the effects of exposures are examined. All observational studies are assigned to fair, considering a set of samples compared to each other in a methodologically appropriate way. In an experimental study, when the participants are randomly allocated to at least two randomized selected groups and compared under two or more conditions, the study can be called a randomized controlled trial (RCT). In this type of study, one group receives treatment, while the other group does not. The measurements taken in both cases are before and after the treatment.

Figure 2. Study types in relation to the four-point scale of the level of evidence (LOE). Modified after Marquardt and Motzek [33].

When the groups are not randomized but grouped due to specific characteristics, the study is considered as quasi-experimental. In some quasi-experimental studies using within-subject tests, the measurements are taken before and after the intervention. If an experimental or quasi-experimental study is well-conducted, it is classified as good, otherwise as fair. These types of studies are well-conducted if (1) there are two separate groups of participants; (2) there is a low gradual reduction rate, under 20%; (3) the outcomes are analyzed according to initial treatment assignment; and (4) there are reliable outcomes with low dispersion. Additionally, an experimental RCT study is well conducted and can be assigned as good if there is a low ascertainment bias at sampling and the study maintain a high quality of blinding of participants and the researcher.

The right side of the diagram (Figure 2), deals with nonsystematic, systematic, and mixed methodology papers. The nonsystematic refers to studies from manufacturers or consultants, including experts’ opinions and guidelines of professional organizations and standards. The scientific robustness of the papers is lacking and the critical approach to the investigations is missing. Furthermore, these studies might have financial interest bias. These nonsystematic papers are all rated as poor. In contrast to this, the systematic reviews and meta-analyses identify, evaluate, and summarize objective and accurate approaches rated as excellent evidence. Meanwhile, in the systematic review and the integrative review with lower quality of study design, the studies summarize merely empirical or theoretical views, therefore they reach a fair level.

3. Case Study Application

The Real Estate (Regionfastigheter) organisation of Jönköping’s County Council in Sweden has developed an IT-based management system for controlling and supporting its building process, called Program of Technical Standard (PTS). PTS is a knowledge database containing best practice and specific knowledge about how the building of premises for healthcare should be carried out. PTS is a widely accepted building criteria recommendation in 20 of the 21 County Councils in Sweden [36]. Among other things, PTS contains standard room requirements for various interior amenities and functions.

The case study involved an administrative office (approximately 10 m²; but at least 4.2 m × 2.1 m, Figure 3) from PTS. The detailed list of building criteria for the single person occupancy administrative office was obtained through Regionfastigheter Jönköping, Sweden. The building criteria in the PTS are not explained or categorized in any specific way, making it rather difficult for formulating a prioritization about it. Therefore, the investigation of the list of building criteria was first categorized and later searched to find the value and possible evidence related to the particular criteria.

Figure 3. BIM model of administrative office typology visualized after the (After Program of Technical Standard) PTS building criteria. This visualization is done by ArchiCAD 22 Educational edition, Jönköping university.

The case study aimed to investigate the evidence index for this single office occupancy in the programming phase of the design process.

3.1. Procedure and Analysis

The case study procedure followed Table 3 steps to generate the EI. The manual steps are summarized which are set to make an EI for a servitized construction product. After identifying stakeholder as administrative personnel, the EBD process started. The building typology was set for a healthcare facility, and the building criteria were extracted from the PTS. The evidence and the domain of the evidence were described in each finding. The project relevance was chosen to be on a four-point scale: poor (1), fair (2), good (3), and excellent (4). The applicability of this four-point scale was earlier described. The priority of evidence to be used in the EI calculation was set between low (1), medium (2), or high (3). The assessment process did not aim to collect as many evidence as possible within one building criterion, instead as a general approach it aimed to provide at least one evidence for each criterion. The decision behind this category scale is the ease of use for the rater to set up a quick cognitive process. The LOE was appraised using the diagram of Figure 2 and the reference for the related evidence was indicated. The LOE was set between poor (1), fair (2), good (3), and excellent (4) depending on the scientific approach.

Table 3. Procedure to generate the Evidence index for a servitized construction product.

Procedure to Generate the Evidence Index
1.  Identifying Stakeholder	To whom?
2.  EBD process	1–8 stages
2.1 Category	Building typology
2.2 Building criteria (KPI)	Physical attributes
2.3 Values	What domain?
2.4 Evidence	What exactly
2.5 Relevance	1, 2, 3, 4 (Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent)
2.6 Priority	1, 2, 3 (Low, Medium, High)
3.  Level of evidence (LOE)	1, 2, 3, 4 (Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent)
4.  EI	(Relevance × Priority × LOE)/2
5.  Reference	Indicative

The appraisal of the EI resembled a novice research assistant searching strategy, implying that the person first uses Google or Google scholar engine and, if it is not successful, then uses a university library access for scientific literature.

3.2. Results and Discussion

The results are presented in Table 4. Altogether, 42 building criteria were taken into consideration when identifying 30 evidence. Among the evidence, best practice indicated a not identified evidence, therefore it was assumed that the building criteria is based on a practical need existing in the construction and use phases. The values for these items were not calculated and counted into the EI. Consequently, the final value on EI was 1.49, which is slightly better than a poor level but not reaching fair. Due to the high number of best practice designations, the novice research assistant had difficulties identifying the scientific evidence describing why specific building criteria exist. As a consequence of this finding, the level of expertise in evaluating healthcare buildings needs to be higher. Regarding the usability of the four-point scale LOE appraisal, it put a high demand on the evaluator to clearly identify the strength of evidence. However, when using internet forums or opinions for the search, the diagram could not be considered for appraising the evidence level. These building criteria were treated as best practices.

Table 4. Transformation of building criteria into evidence index.

Programming	Category	Building Criteria	Values	Evidence	Reference	Relevance	Priority	LOE	EI
Room is set up for administrative office work	Amenities	Cloth hangers	comfort	Best practice
		Window blinds	electricity saving	1. obtained electricity savings for lights (with the window system and controllable highly reflective venetian blinds plus light dimming) reaching 76% on overcast days and 92% on clear days	[37]	1	2	2	0.33
			best utilization of blinds	2. of daylight is achieved with horizontal slats, because this evens out the big differences in luminances between the window zone and the rear wall zone	[38]	4	3	3	3.00
			threshold value for action	3. a threshold value of 2000 cd/m2 was used, based on the assumptions that the primary task involved a LCD computer monitor with an average luminance of 200 cd/m2. The window was within the occupant’s peripheral field of view so that a maximum luminance ratio of 10:1 between window and task was just acceptable, and that the average background luminance was 50–100 cd/m2. It was also based on subjective survey results that found that there was a 50% probability that blinds would be lowered when the average window luminance was 2100 cd/m2	[39]	3	3	2	1.50
		Electrical wiring in walls, beside the door		Best practice
		Electrical outlet		Best practice
		General lighting: up and down	well-being	1. General lighting for writing task: Em = 500 lx;	[40]	4	3	1	1.00
			efficiency	2. Indirect light is more expensive to install, but 20% more energy efficient as indirect alone, light wall and ceiling color is needed	[41]	3	3	2	1.50
		Combined outlets (telephone, data)	comfort	Best practice
	Work support	Vertically adjustable desk	awareness	1. Desks may be an important remedy in this endeavor, particularly in office settings, while ergonomics awareness may be able to contribute to further changes in sedentary behavior if enhanced and if supported by the work organization.	[42]	4	3	3	3.00
			well-being	2. The ability to alter one’s position by sitting, standing, and walking is healthier than sitting continuously with 90 degree angles in knees and hips	[43]	4	3	1	1.00
		Bookshelf (L = 800 B = 420 H = 1700)	comfort	Best practice
		Visitor’s chair	comfort	Best practice
		Curtain rod	control	Best practice
		Curtain hanger	control	Best practice
	Activity	PC with 2 screens	job satisfaction	Best practice
	Functionality	Door, free size 840 mm	accessibility	Swedish standard for accessibility	[44]	4	3	2	2.00
		Adjustable room temp. 23 °C ± 1.5 °C	control, comfort	1. the need for temperature control is 4 K	[45]	4	3	2	2.00
			accuracy	2. 1 K is enough for accuracy in adjustment	[46]	4	3	2	2.00
		Min temp. 21 °C	stress, comfort	avoiding SBS, Recommended temperature 21 + −2	[47]	4	3	2	2.00
		Min. filtering F7	well-being, ozon indoors, bad odour removal	the particle size removal efficiency of the air filters for 0.4 mm particles were 14% (F5), 22% (F6), 65% (F7) and 82% (F8)	[48]	4	3	2	2.00
		Min airflows (L/s person) 15 L/s	well-being, staff turnover	avoiding SBS, min airflow 10 L/s	[47]	4	3	2	2.00
		Pressure conditions to other rooms: Balanced	well-being, staff turnover
		General lighting	well-being, job satisfaction	1. General lighting for writing task: Em = 500 lx;	[40]	4	3	1	1.00
		Lighting Strength. Lighting power according to industry recommendation for this type of room. Normal	well-being, job satisfaction	1. General lighting for writing task: Em = 500 lx;	[40]	4	3	1	1.00
		Color rendering index Ra > 80 Normal	well-being, job satisfaction	More accurate perception of color	[49]	4	3	1	1.00
		Color temperature 4000 K Neutral color temperature	circadian rhythm	stronger melatonin supression at 18.7 lux	[50]	4	3	2	2.00
			cognitive performance	general recommended light	[51]	4	3	1	1.00
			job performance	highest relaxation	[52]	4	3	2	2.00
		Glare-free lighting Normal	visual cofort, alertness and mood, pleasant view	greater tolerance under daylight, positive glare ratings, more sensitive to glare the less relaxed,	[53]	3	2	2	1.00
		Lighting control-switch. Normal requirements (manual control). Switches	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		Lighting control-dimmer. Light control-manual control via dimmer Dimmer	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		Lighting control-absence controlled. Manual ignition with absence-controlled extinction Absence	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		Sound-proofing. Room with requirements for adequate sound insulation during conversations with moderate voice strength and spaces for rest and sleep.	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		Expeditions located in administration unit 44 dB 48 dB R’w	Privacy at moderate voice strength	Sound class “B”;	[54]	4	3	1	1.00
		Step sound level Highest step sound level L’n, Tw (dB). 64 dB			[54]	4	3	1	1.00
		Room acoustics. Longest reverberation time (s) 0.6 s			[54]	4	3	1	1.00
		Noise from installations. Rooms with moderate requirements for sound levels. 35 dB (A)			[54]	4	3	1	1.00
		Daylight Requirements are required	visual cofort, alertness and mood	1. Reduced discomfort; 2. Improves circadian rhythm, 3. Max. visual performance, 4. Mood changes	[55,56]	4	3	2	2.00
		Power lighting. In% connected lighting ÖL 50% VL 50%	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		Power take-off 230 V. In% connected outlets or loads ÖL 50% VL 50%	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		Power take-off 230 V data. Very Important Last MVL 100%	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		Medical spaces. According to SS 436 40 00 ch. 710 Group 0	well-being, job satisfaction	Electrical installation rules	[57] ch. 710 Group 0	4	3	1	1
		Shooting signal. Indicator tab for busy marking. Switching on and off at the door	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
		View towards greenery	Stress reduction	Short-term visits to urban nature areas have positive effects on stress relief.	[58,59]	4	3	2	2.00
			Cortisol reduction	The salivary cortisol concentration decreases in all urban environments.	[58]	4	3	2	2.00
			Noise reducer	Accessibility may not reduce noise annoyance	[60]	2	1	2	0.33
		Hygiene class 2	Hygiene	Surface layers on walls must withstand cleaning agents and point disinfection	[61]	4	3	1	1.00
		Locking Mechanical lock	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
	Finishes	Flooring Carpet upholstered against the wall	safety	Best practice
		Wall. Painted, gloss value 20	well-being, job satisfaction	Best practice
Mean Value for the Evidence Index:									1.49

4. Discussion

Gedda [62] published an inspirational article on evidence index that is related to evidence-based medicine, in which the author refers to the evidence index as the “factual components on which the main decision-making is based” (p. 1) during a treatment. As evidence-based medicine gave rise to evidence-based design, the promoters of EBD rely on objective scientific data combined with stakeholders’ perspective and expertise in the building project. Considering a complex construction project where building criteria are detailed and consensus-based among the partners, an evidence index could be validating the objectivity of the criteria set to fulfil the stakeholders’ needs. However, the often servitized and multifaceted criteria in the era of digitalization can be the source of confusion with regards to prioritization between the building criteria to fulfil the project goals. Therefore, this study aimed to test an evidence index during the programming stage of a building process in order to understand the level of objective scientific data involved in the decision making. The study assumed that even a novice investigator could generate an evidence index.

The methodological development for the EI is fundamentally striving for a quantifiable measurement for the stakeholders’ interests. The building performance evaluation (BPE) had always been a building process-oriented approach, and on a larger scale, it incorporates the quantitative research characteristics and the EBD process model. The EBD process model is a combination of quantitative research and a building project process model. Therefore, the use of EBD as the primary process model for EI generation seemed viable (Table 5).

Table 5. The main steps for quantitative research (after Polit and Beck [63] and Stichler [31]), evidence-based design (EBD) [23], and building performance evaluation (BPE) [17] are shown.

Steps	Quantitative Research	BPE	EBD
1	Identify problem, research question, or hypothesis (es)	Market/Needs analysis	Define evidence-based goals and objectives (with client and interdisciplinary team
2	Perform literature review	Program review	Find sources for relevant evidence
3	Use of a theoretical framework to explain the relationships among variables		Critically interpret relevant evidence, assess evidence applicability, quality and strength
4	Select an appropriate research design to test the hypothesis	Design review	Create and innovate EBD concepts
5	Identify measurements to quantify variables	Effectiveness review	Develop a hypothesis
6	Select the sample		Collect baseline performance measures
7	Data collection and analysis	Commissioning	Monitor implementation of design and construction
8	Statistical data analysis	POE	POE
9	Disseminate results in publications and presentations

Note: POE = Post-occupancy evaluation.

The development of EI in this paper mainly focuses on the programming stage, which is an early stage of the building process, but this is the strategically important stage, where servitized construction products review scientific evidence on how well they can support the predefined goals. Theoretically, the EI could be extended throughout the entire EBD or BPE process and inform the stakeholders about the whole building process. The cognitive building solution for delivering EI for a building project is a challenging task. Today, the initial stages within the EBD process had been made by manual effort and resulted in a case study quality. However, the results showed that it was possible to generate an EI value between 1 and 4 on the rating scale and indicate the room EI, the process was time-consuming and often assigning best practice for reasoning for the building criteria. The frequent occurrence of best practices indicates that the level of evicence of the KPI used in a construction project is not measurable. This is troublesome in the present development where KPI based management of construction projects are promoted, mainly due to the new opportunities given by digitalization [1,9].

One of the main characteristics of this EI is the measurement scale on which it measures the scientific evidence. Literature used six to eight-level differentiation between the evidence while the current EI is reduced to four level in order to facilitate a quicker appraisal of the LOE and in the same time better correspond to the 8-point scale of LOE. Furthermore, the four-point scale measurement technic is supporting the evaluator for learning the basic differences when an LOE is appraised. In terms of a design project aiming to deliver a public building, the four-point scale seems appropriate for grasping the array of choices. What might be debatable is that the first level of evidence includes opinions of recognized experts and the use of case studies. In a business where all the experts are proud of their years of experiences, it may generate tension between the stakeholders, depending on who is more trusted in the process. The development of both EI and LOE, described above, has its theoretical background in research theory in general and having the fact that research theory is internationally applicable indicates that the framework could also be internationally applicable. However, more research on different types of buildings and their contexts is needed to evaluate the general applicability of the proposed framework. Discussion of results from a case study exercise is somewhat a straightforward activity now. As any case study, results bear a low-quality level of evidence. In this investigation, it is also shown that the level of evidence cannot exceed fair. However, the experience for the single investigator had been meaningful, as going through a number of building criteria without finding appropriate scientific relevance triggered the curiosity for criteria that cannot be easily found. Regarding the generalizability of the given case study, the findings should be carefully examined. The case study outcome would suggest that a more comprehensive investigation should take place with different background of the investigators and preferably in a randomized manner. As for the PTS, the building criteria is a country-specific knowledge that requires a culturally appropriate building tradition. Employing the same PTS criteria outside of Sweden would not mean failure, but adaptations of the criteria must be considered. With regards to using the building criteria in another building typology, such as, a culture center [64] it can indicate that the builing critera are similar for other building types.

In the future research, an expert pool evaluation of the building criteria may shed light on the various best practice designated findings in the search for evidence. Furthermore, as a concern for the industry regarding cost efficiency, if fresh graduates on first- and second cycle could contribute to the evaluation of evidence, it would generate a more economically feasible way to extend the EI related research.

5. Conclusions

This study presents the first steps of an EI for a built environment. The study conceptualizes on the basis of the EBD stages a cognitive building solution that is capable of automatizing a series of repetitive and research related tasks regarding evidence appraisal and evaluation. The procedure to establish an EI for the built environment was tested through a case study, in which a novice research assistant approach to evidence appraisal was assessed. The 4-point rating scale, together with a diagram of which studies may fulfil the level of evidence requirements, was used to assess the building criteria. The concept of a cognitive building solution is preferable due to the strenuous job a person needs to perform when evaluating building criteria. The limitation of this study entailed a single evaluator for the transition process of the building criteria into LOE and later to EI. The EI is an initial step for establishing the cognitive building solution for EBD, in which the technological solution is rendered to serve a servitized construction product.