What factors influence building material supply for post-disaster reconstruction and recovery? A systematic review applying systems thinking

Abstract

Reconstruction and recovery projects after major natural disasters often face building material supply challenges, leading to schedule delays and cost overruns. However, extant studies lack a thorough investigation of these supply issues in a post-disaster environment. This paper aims to understand the factors influencing post-disaster building material supply and the mechanisms contributing to the supply problems. Thus, the authors analysed 49 publications from 2005 to 2023 and identified 42 influencing factors and 226 causal relationships. These factors were classified into three groups, namely, 1) contextual sub-system, 2) operational sub-system, and 3) stakeholder sub-system. Drawing on the data, a causal loop diagram (CLD) was developed, and numerous feedback loops were identified within and between systems. Through a network analysis of the CLD, five leverage factors were identified as systemic interventions for policymakers to consider in improving building material supply performance for post-disaster recovery, namely, regulatory arrangements and governance, competence and capability of stakeholders, stakeholder relationship, availability of local materials, and resource exploitation. However, CLD and network analysis also revealed the need for further investigation of the mechanisms and interventions related to building material supply in disaster contexts. To better understand and address post-disaster building material supply problems, ongoing studies can be further advanced by the better utilisation of extant knowledge, the application of systems thinking approaches and computational modelling methods.