The document presents a decision matrix comparing three potential designs - air mattresses, 2-liter bottles, and plastic bags - for a floating dwelling based on complexity, development time, materials used, longevity, buoyancy effectiveness, and cost. Air mattresses scored highest overall with low complexity, medium development time, moderate materials use, good longevity, high buoyancy, and low cost. 2-liter bottles was the next best option, while plastic bags scored lowest overall.

1. Decision Matrix – Floating Dwelling
Criteria
Comple Developm Materi Longev Buoyant Co
xity ent Time als ity Effectiven st
ess Tota
Ideas ls
Air Mattress 3 5 4 2 5 5 24
2-Liter Bottles 2 4 4 5 5 5 25
Plastic Bags 1 3 3 3 4 5 19

2. 1. Air
mattr
2. 2-litter
bottles
3. Plastic
Bags

3. Scale: The greater, the better
Complexity: 1 most complex, 5 least complex
A more complex design will be inefficient to build, whereas a less complicated design is
able to be build in must less time.
Development Time: 1 most amount of time, 5 least time
A design that needs more time to organize the details will not be worth the time put into it
while a simple design will be easy to follow.
Materials: 1 most amount of materials, 5 least amount of materials
Being conservative, even in a recyclable project is very important. The less waste the
better. As the number of materials and the quantity of materials becomes less, the efficiency of
the design is increased, making the eco-project even more environmentally friendly.
Longevity: 1 lasts for a short period of time, 5 lasts for a long period of time
Even the lifespan is important for a product. If the product will not last for more than a
few months than it isn’t worth the small cost put into it on top of the materials cost. The product
lifespan is to be maximized.
Buoyant Effectiveness: 1 not very effective, 5 very effective
The goal of the eco-project: Floating Dwelling is to float a small residence, if the design
is unable to float very much weight, then the design is not a good one.
Cost: 1 not very cost effective, 5 very cost effective
A net cost of the project, including outside materials, which is not ideal, shows how truly
eco-friendly the project is.
1 2 3 4 5
Complexity Most complex More Complex Less complex Least
complex complex
Development Most time More time Medium time Less time Least time
time A week 5 days 3 days A day 2 hours
Materials Most amount Medium Decent Less amount Least amount
of materials amount of amount of of materials of materials
100 pieces materials materials 25 pieces 17 pieces
50 pieces 30 pieces
Longevity Lasts for the Lasts for less Lasts for a Lasts for Last for the
less amount amount of medium more amount most amount
of time- a time – a year amount of of time- 10 of time- 20
month time- 5 years years years
Buoyant Least Semi Effective More Very effective
Effectiveness effective effective 100 Ibs. effective 250 Ibs.
50 Ibs. 100 Ibs. 150 Ibs.
Cost $300- $250 $200 $150 $120 $75 and under
By: John Tobias, Brian Jestice, Anthony Cairns, Diane Kohlin