Optimal Space Layout Generation for Modular Offsite Construction for Whole Life Cycle Costs—Gaps and Requirements

Modular and Offsite Construction (MOC) is extensively accepted and utilized in the construction sector to enhance efficiency. Recent studies have shown that the key advantages of MOC are in the context of cost, quality, and time. With the construction industry shifting toward sustainable and circular practices, it has become critical to incorporate sustainability measures in the design of MOC buildings. Conceptual design is one of the most critical phases, where most decisions that affect the result of performance and cost are made. To involve Life Cycle Cost (LCC) optimization in space layout selection, several factors are involved from each phase of the life cycle. With the development of computational methods, automatic generation of Space Layouts Planning (SLP) helps to generate various layouts, which could help to investigate the involved design parameters on the total cost of MOC projects. Therefore, combining SLP with LCC is expected to be greatly helpful for cost-efficient design in MOC projects. This research investigates studies combining SLP and LCC on MOC projects and analyzes their gaps. Furthermore, we extend the analysis by conducting separate searches on MOC-SPL and MOC-LCC. SLP methods are categorized and discussed based on studies in the MOC-SLP area. Regarding MOC-LCC, the requirements for cost assessment and optimization are analyzed.