Comparison of AHP and FAHP methods in determining suitable areas for drinking water harvesting in Birjand aquifer. Iran

Due to the decrease in groundwater quality, as a result of irregular exploration of groundwater resources, the recognition of areas for obtaining groundwater suitable for drinking has become an important and significant topic. In this study, two multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods were compared to determine suitable areas for drinking water harvest (AHP and FAHP). Also, ten parameters were used for the decision criteria: applied sodium, calcium, magnesium, Nitrate, TDS, SO4, Electrical conductivity (Ec), Chloride (Cl), drawdown (S) and Transmissivity coefficient. Their values were calculated using AHP and FAHP Based on the influence of the value of each parameter on the raster layer, all raster layers in the GIS were merged into two final layers. By comparison, the final layer of the FAHP is more in conformity with reality as compared with the ultimate layer of AHP.