Fuzzy AHP approach for selecting the suitable bridge construction method

Selecting an appropriate bridge construction method is essential for the success of bridge construction projects. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method has been widely used for solving multi-criteria decision-making problems. However, the conventional AHP method is incapable of handling the uncertainty and vagueness involving the mapping of one's preference to an exact number or ratio. This paper presents a fuzzy AHP model to overcome this problem. The proposed approach employs triangular and trapezoidal fuzzy numbers and the alpha-cut concept to deal with the imprecision inherent to the process of subjective judgment. A case study that evaluates bridge construction methods is presented to illustrate the use of the model and to demonstrate the capability of the model. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.