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Fuzzy AHP-based multi-criteria decision-making analysis for route alignment planning using geographic information system (GIS)

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Abstract

An approach for identifying and selecting the route alignment using GIS and fuzzy AHP is developed in the present study. Spatial multi-criteria decision analysis is applied to identify optimal route alignment with the consideration of criteria such as environmental, social, economic and technical spatial datasets. These criteria play a significant role in the identification and selection of optimal route alignment. Fuzzy set theory is used to handle vagueness-type uncertainty in the multi-criteria decision analysis. Fuzzy AHP is introduced to compare the fuzzy criteria for ranking purpose, and fuzzy criteria weights are used to develop relative surface cost maps. The least-cost path (LCP) method is applied to find alternate four route alignments from source to destination by considering several criteria in GIS. The criteria values of each four alignment and weight of each criterion on the basis of maximum priority weight are calculated. The designed four routes are evaluated using priority weight method and fuzzy-AHP method. The selection of optimum route is considered by maximum weight of the alignment. The technical route alignment (alignment 4) is considered as optimum route with weight value 80.38%. The proposed methodology is implemented for a study area, outer region of Allahabad city, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GIS Cell, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Allahabad, India

    Mukund Pratap Singh & Pitam Singh

  2. Department of Mathematics, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Allahabad, India

    Pitam Singh

  3. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

    Priyamvada Singh

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  1. Mukund Pratap Singh
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  2. Pitam Singh
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Correspondence to Pitam Singh.

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Singh, M.P., Singh, P. & Singh, P. Fuzzy AHP-based multi-criteria decision-making analysis for route alignment planning using geographic information system (GIS). J Geogr Syst 21, 395–432 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10109-019-00296-0

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