AN AHP-BASED MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION-SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE CIVIL ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS: DEVELOPMENT AND CASE STUDIES

Abstract

Decision-making in civil engineering often requires the careful evaluation of multiple, frequently conflicting criteria, encompassing technical performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability considerations. Conventional approaches relying on intuition or single-factor analysis are increasingly insufficient for addressing such multifaceted challenges. This study introduces an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based multi-criteria decision-support system (DSS) designed to facilitate systematic, transparent, and sustainability-focused decision-making in civil engineering contexts. The research focuses on the creation of a user-friendly, Excel-based platform that allows practitioners to implement AHP without extensive computational expertise. The DSS enables the definition of criteria and choice, execution of pairwise comparisons, consistency assessment, and final ranking through weighted aggregation. Its effectiveness is demonstrated through two real-world case studies involving sustainable concrete material selection: recycled aggregate concrete and waste tyre rubber–modified concrete. These applications integrate technical, environmental, and economic factors to identify optimal choice within a sustainability-oriented framework. Findings indicate that the proposed DSS supports objective, structured evaluation, reduces computational effort, and enhances decision transparency. The study emphasizes the significance of applied practice DDS in promoting environmentally responsible practices, offering a versatile solution for researchers, engineers, and students seeking informed, sustainable infrastructure decisions.