The topic of this paper is the description of the General Contractor Selection procedure using the AHP method. Another aim of this paper – within the scope of decision-making – is the determination of the potential General Contractor’s evaluation criteria and the selection of the best Bidder using the AHP method. We included the description of the conducted tender proceeding for the purpose of the procurement’s subject. As the decision-making options, we adopted four construction companies that submitted their bid. A key element of the studies was the paired comparison of all hierarchical structure elements. We estimated the local weighting coefficients and global priorities of particular decision-making options as well as analysed the vulnerabilities of the obtained results.

In the authors’ opinion, the issue of incorrectly functioning water insulation of foundation walls in the existing buildings in Poland is currently rather common. The paper includes a multicriteria analysis aimed at arranging the selected options of the foundation wall vertical water insulation technology in an existing model historic building using the weighted sum, entropy and AHP methods. Each of the studied solutions was evaluated in terms of the following criteria: costs of construction works, time of execution of construction works, popularity of using particular insulation options by other contractors, durability of the executed insulation and the degree of nuisance of the executed works

Renewable energy from solar power plants is becoming more and more popular due to the depletion of raw materials and reduction of dependence on oil and gas and is also harmless to the natural environment. The management and rational use of land resources is currently a pressing problem in the world, including in Ukraine. One of the solutions is the development of technologies for the use of these areas and the establishment of environmentally friendly technologies for reducing air pollution, namely electricity facilities – solar power plants based on the use of photovoltaic panels. Choosing the right location for obtaining solar energy depends on many factors and constraints. Optimal location of solar farms is important to maximize the beneficial features of projects while minimizing the negative. A method of finding places in the vicinity of large cities that could be suitable for installing power plants was developed. The proposed method uses an analytical hierarchical process, analytical network process, Boolean logic and weighted linear combination. It has been implemented in the QGIS program. The method was successfully used for the city of Zaporizhia, but it can be directly implemented in any other region. That is why the presented works constitute a scheme that can be easily used to estimate large areas in order to optimally choose a place for a solar park in the vicinity of large cities. Such a model can be very useful for investors to find potential locations for solar energy before conducting detailed field research.

The situation on the construction market is difficult. One way to improve it can be to implement modern methods and techniques related to the lean management in construction. The article presents an algorithm supporting the selection of appropriate Lean Management tools and techniques for construction companies using AHP method. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm is illustrated by a case study consisting of a small construction company performing insulation works in a multifamily house. The presented approach is part of the broader research work carried out by the authors in the field of improving construction processes and verifying the efficiency and effectiveness of Lean Management methods and techniques construction works.

The paper presents an approach for evaluation of the likelihood of damage to the transportation infrastructure in the context of the terrorist attacks on the example of a number of bridges located in Wrocław (Poland). Assuming that there will be only one bridge destroyed in a given area, in order to determine the probability of damage to one of the objects, there was one of multi-criteria optimi-zation methods used, i.e. the method of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The main advantage of the analysis carried out was that the accepted hierarchy of decision-making options could be easily explained in a scientifi c manner, not only with reference to personal knowledge, experience, and intuition.

The present study tries to quantify soil losses using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and analytic hierarchy pro-cess (AHP) in the Medjerda watershed (Algerian-Tunisian border). The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used in the quantification of erosion qualitative characteristics, through its weighting. It is used for many problems requiring decision-making. This catchment area is characterized by moderately consistent lithology, irregular rainfall, medium slope and low vegetation cover, which makes it very sensitive to erosion. Therefore we claim to develop a spatialization map of vulnerable areas, based on analytic hierarchy process and GIS that define the combination of specific factors. The integration of the thematic maps of the various factors makes it possible to identify the impact of each factor in the erosion, to classify the sensitive zones, and to quantify the soil losses in the basin. This mapping will be an important tool for land use planning and risk management. From the distribution map of erosive hazards, we have identified four classes of vulnerabil-ity, areas with very high to high vulnerability are mainly in the northern part of the watershed (where the relief is very important).

This article discusses in a simplified manner how to use the multiple functions of the Geographic Information System (GIS) to support the engineering decision for vital and important sites that require the decision-maker to have a high degree of certainty, such as the decision related to choosing the best location for the airport among several sites. This paper aims to provide a practical model that allows for a decision support system on how to adopt a GIS software by both its part Arc-Map and Arc-Catalog combined with analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method to make strategic decisions by spatial and non-spatial analysis to choose the appropriate site for the project as those related to choosing an airport location. Nineteenth criteria were considered to analyze the study area which is represented by three governorates of the middle Euphrates region in Iraq, Babil, Kerbala, and AL-Najaf. Finally, the research presented a practical and efficient approach for the decision maker to select the appropriate location for the airport based on the value of the highest suitability index.

The present research aims to address the drinking water crisis in the Mahan River catchment area resulting from the disruption of groundwater availability due to extensive coal mining. The study uses GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to map the groundwater potential of the area by analysing several factors that affect groundwater availability, including rainfall, water depth, geomorphology, geology, soil, land-cover/land-use, and topographic characteristics derived from DEM. The groundwater potential map created using the MCDA technique classified the area into low, moderate, and high groundwater potential zones. The map was validated and verified using water table depth and electrical conductivity values available in the region, indicating that it can be used to identify groundwater recharging sites. The study’s results show that about 30% of the area has high groundwater potential, and more than 45% of the area has moderate groundwater potential. The information derived from the study can be used for sustainable management and proper planning of groundwater resources in the Mahan River catchment area. Overall, the study presents a useful approach to address the groundwater depletion problem resulting from coal mining activities in the Mahan River catchment area.

A concern about the current state of relations between industry and the environment is

often neglected. However, it is important to underline that industry and sustainability are

not mutually exclusive. There are many industrial processes to blame when analyzing the

negative impact on current socio-ecological environment. The emerging question is whether

companies nowadays are ready to face challenges in the name of sustainability, the future

of the planet and generations to come. In addition, an assessment of industrial processes

may be very time-consuming and costly in financial terms. This fact allows developing sustainability

assessment approach and its measures for keeping track on to evaluate scale of

environmental, social and economic changes. The goal of the paper is to develop a multicriteria

decision-making approach for sustainability assessment of renewable energy technology.

A sustainability assessment approach combines life cycle-based methods integrated with

multi-criteria decision-making method based on analytical hierarchy process. The resulting

assessment method allows finding a compromise between industry and the environment and

identify potential intervention points for further research. As a result of decision-making

process, string ribbon technology was considered as the most sustainable. The applicability

of the proposed method is assessed based on photovoltaic panels.

This research provides a tool to select and prioritize new comers to work based on their preentry organizational commitment propensity through examining links between the big five personality factors: extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness; and three component model of organizational commitment: affective commitment, continues commitment, normative commitment. Findings show that extroversion and openness respectively have positive and negative effects on all three components of organizational commitment. Results gained by Structured Equation Modelling (SEM) indicate neuroticism is negatively related to affective and continues commitment and positively to conscientiousness effects on continues commitment. In the second part of the study, the received results are applied to extract the general equations that enables to estimate new comer’s pre-entry organizational commitment and to rank them using TOPSIS and AHP. The AHP is used to determine the relative weights of commitment criteria and TOPSIS is employed for the final ranking of new comers based on these criteria’s.

This publication presents the research aimed at developing statistical models, on the basis of which it was possible to prepare credible forecasts of unit cost and coal net output for longwalls in 5 hard coal mines in P oland. The argument has been verified that there is a dependence between the level of nuisance and the level of costs, as well as longwall production results.

A research procedure has been developed for that purpose, which aimed at developing two statistical models connecting the nuisance due to geological and mining conditions with costs and longwall production results. The multiple linear regression technique has been used to develop statistical models. The set of data taken into account in the analyses comprised 120 longwalls mined in the years 2010–2019. Two models have been developed – one for forecasting unit costs, the other for forecasting coal net output. Subsequently, the models’ forecasting ability has been verified on a sample of historical data. A relative forecast error for 75% of observations has been in the range of (–25%; +37%). That result has been considered satisfactory. Subsequently, using those models, forecasts of unit costs and coal net output have been prepared for 220 longwalls planned for mining in the years 2020–2030. Those forecasts have been prepared in the stipulated ranges of geological and mining nuisance influencing mining process, by means of dedicated W Ue and W Ut factors. The nuisance models for forecasting purposes have been developed using the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method. The research hypothesis has been confirmed on the basis of the obtained results. An increase in the level of nuisance leads to an increase in the unit costs for longwalls and the deterioration of production results. Unit operating costs for longwalls in specific ranges of nuisance may differ by up to 30%, being in the range of 52.0–120.3 zł/Mg. Likewise, the coal daily output of longwalls may be even 22% lower, having the average level in the range of 1.89–3.61 thousand Mg/d.

This paper presents a study conducted using the Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) to explore surface irrigation potential zones in the Didesa sub-basin of the Abay basin in Ethiopia. Physical land features, such as land use / land cover (LULC), slope, soil depth, drainage, and road proximity, along with climate factors like rainfall and evapotranspiration, and population density, were identified as criteria for the exploration. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a powerful structured decision-making technique commonly used for complex multi-criteria analysis problems where multiple criteria need to be considered. The importance of the criteria was prioritised and ranked in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Five qualitative-quantitative based surface irrigation potential zones were identified, namely highly suitable (48.40%), moderately suitable (27.26%), marginally suitable (13.27%), not suitable (4.91%), and irrigation constraints (6.16%). The consistency of the AHP technique in the exploration of surface irrigation potential zones is evaluated by the consistency index at CI = 0.011 and confirmed the correctness of weights assigned for the individual key factor in the AHP. The accuracy of the potential zones generated in the AHP was evaluated with ground-truth points and a supervised LULC classification map. Moreover, a good agreement was made among the classes with the kappa index ( KI = 0.93). Therefore, the application of the MCA for the exploration of surface irrigation potential zones was successful, and the results of the study will be useful to strengthen the irrigation in the explored potential zones.

Land suitability assessment is an important stage in land use planning that guides the direction of optimal land use. The objective of this study was to select a suitable location for settlements in earthquake-prone areas using the integration of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographical Information System (GIS). In total, six maps were considered to determine a suitable location for settlements, namely topography, soil, geology, land cover/land use, a regional spatial planning pattern map, and an earthquake vulnerability map. The results showed that in medium earthquake-prone areas, the suitable land area which are available for settlement was 90.25 km2 (46.36% of the total land area available – 194.68 km2). Whereas in highly earthquake-prone areas, the suitable and available land area was 528.11 km2 (70.25% of the total land area in the high vulnerability zone – 751.81 km2). The research proved that AHP and GIS integration is very effective and robust for mapping land suitability in earthquake-prone areas. The results of the analysis can be used by planners to prioritize settlement development in the Sukabumi regency. The methodology developed is recommended to be applied in selecting locations for settlements in other parts of Indonesia.

The paper presents the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process technique to evaluate and choose the best alternative for acquiring hard coal for energy purposes by a potential Investor operating in the mining and energy sector. Six different sources supposed to provide hard coal were analysed, each of which might ensure a secure and independent supply of the material to the newly built coal-fired power plant. When choosing the best decision alternative, the positive and negative impacts of alternatives were considered through the BOCR analysis: benefits (B), opportunities (O), costs (C) and risks (R) analysis. For this purpose, 4 independent hierarchical models were developed. Different models have the same decision alternatives assessed, but they differ in criteria used to develop the models. In each of the models, in accordance with the AHP rules, were calculated final, global weights for the alternatives being assessed. Showing the best alternative was possible by applying the multiplicative formula (B ź O)/(C ź R), which value was used to rank and choose the best alternative from all assessed ones. The best decision alternative is the alternative where the (B ź O)/(C ź R) ratio is the highest.

Poland is characterized by a number of factors which adversely affect the agricultural economy, so this paper will aim to present the possibilities of using multi-criteria decision-making methods of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the analysis of the spatial structure of rural areas. AHP is a widely used tool for making complex decisions based on a large number of criteria, such as, for example, land consolidation works on fragmented agricultural land. The first step is to formulate the decision-making process, then the assessment criteria and the solution variants guided by expert knowledge are determined.

A ranking, according to which the order of land consolidation and land exchange works in the studied area should be determined, will be defined by using decision-making models of the AHP method. The basis for calculations will be the weights received for the factors/parameters defined for the five thematic groups. Calculations for individual villages will bemade, and then the obtained results will allow creating a ranking for the studied commune, allowing for the effective (in terms of economic and socio-economic) spending of funds for this purpose. The presented method can be successfully used to conduct analogous analyses for any area.

Municipal solid waste collection points (MSWCPs) are places where residents of municipalities can leave their waste free of charge. MSWCPs should operate in every municipality in Poland. The Geographic Information System (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were used in conjunction as tools to determine potential locations of MSWCPs. Due to possible social conflicts related to the location of MSWCPs, three variants of buffer zones for a residential area were adopted. As a result of the spatial analysis carried out using the GIS software, 247 potential locations were identified in variant no. 1 (which accounted for 7.1% of commune area), 167 for variant no. 2 (6.3% of commune area), and 88 for variant no. 3 (3.8% of commune area). The most favourable locations for MSWCPs were determined using the AHP method with additional criteria for which weights were calculated as follows: the area of a designated plot (0.045), actual designation of a plot in the local spatial development plan (0.397), distance from the centre of the village (0.096) and the commune (0.231), and population density of a village (0.231). The highest weights (over 50%) in the AHP analysis were obtained for 12 locations in variant no. 3, two of which had an area over 3 ha. The adopted methodology enabled to identify quasi-optimal solutions for MSWCP locations in the analysed rural commune. This research has the potential to influence future waste management policies by assisting stakeholders in the MSWCP location.

The article raised issues related to the design and execution of low-energy objects in Polish conditions. Based on the designed single-family house, adapted to the requirements of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management ("NF40" standard), the tools to assist investment decisions by investors were shown. An economic analysis and a multi-criteria analysis were performed using AHP method which had provided an answer to the question whether it is worthwhile to bear higher investment costs in order to adjust to the standards of energy-efficient buildings that fulfil a minimal energy consumption's requirements contained in Polish law. In addition, the variant of object that had optimal characteristics due to the different preferences of investors was indicated. This paper includes analysis and observations on the attempts to unify that part of the building sector, which so far is considered to be personalized, and objects in accordance with the corresponding idea are designed as "custom-made".

Successful mine planning is necessary for the sustainability of mining activities. Since this process depends on many criteria, it can be considered a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. In this study, an integrated MCDM method based on the combination of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) is proposed to select the optimum mine planning in open-pit mines. To prove the applicability of the proposed method, a case study was carried out. Firstly, a decision-making group was created, which consists of mining, geology, planning engineers, investors, and operators. As a result of studies performed by this group, four main criteria, thirteen sub-criteria, and nine mine planning alternatives were determined. Then, AHP was applied to determine the relative weights of evaluation criteria, and TOPSIS was performed to rank the mine planning alternatives. Among the alternatives evaluated, the alternative with the highest net present value was selected as the optimum mine planning alternative. It has been determined that the proposed integrated AHP-TOPSIS method can significantly assist decision-makers in the process of deciding which of the few mine planning alternatives should be implemented in open-pit mines.

In recent years, we have been able to observe a dynamic development of MCDA (multi-criteria decision analysis) methods, which have become widely used in various sectors, including construction. These methods are characterised by simplicity and one of their key advantages is their simple modelling of non-linear dependencies within decision problems and their analysis under the conditions of incomplete, uncertain and hard-to-measure information. The universality and simple use of these methods does not, however, free the decision-maker from the necessity to adopt the proper approach to modelling and analysing specific decision problems. To highlight the fact that it is the character of the problem that should determine the selection of the method of analysing it and not the other way around, the authors assessed the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and the ANP (Analytic Network Process) method in terms of verifying the impact of the different decision model structures on analysis outcomes and analysed their sensitivity to input data changes. This analysis was based on the example of selecting a telecommunications tower footing reinforcement alternative. The findings confirmed the significant impact of decision model structure on the ranking of the analysed alternatives.

Cost overrun during construction is one of the most common problems occur in construction projects around the world, which also includes the area of Chongqing in China. At present, there are few studies related to cost overruns at the construction stage of high-rise residential building projects (HRBPs) in Chongqing. The purpose of this study is to develop effective control measures from the contractor’s perspective to help projects to minimize cost overruns during the construction phase of HRBPs in Chongqing. Firstly, through the literature review and semi-structured interviews, 65 cost overrun-related risk factors in construction projects were identified. All the risk factors have been prioritized through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) based on their importance to project success. Out of the 65 factors identified, 12 were classified as the critical ones that have a great potential to instigate a cost overrun during construction to take place in the real project. There were four risk factors that have the greatest impact on cost overruns, and their weights were 0.04 or above, including low bid, force majeure, undetailed/inaccurate geological survey data, and increased loan interest rates. Finally, control measures were developed for these four critical cost overrun risk factors (CCORFs). The measures developed provided a guideline to control the risk of cost overruns and clear control key points to help contractors minimize cost overruns on construction projects.

This article presents the use of a multi-criterion Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to assess

geological and mining condition nuisance in longwall mining operations in selected coal mines in Poland.

For this purpose, a methodology has been developed which was used to calculate the operational nuisance

indicator (WUe) in relation to the cost of mining coal in individual longwalls. Components of the aggregate

operational nuisance indicator include four sub-indicators: the natural hazards indicator (UZN), an

indicator describing the seam parameters (UPZ), an indicator describing the technical parameters (UT)

and an environmental impact indicator (UŚ). In total, the impact of 28 different criteria, which formed

particular components of the nuisance indicators were analysed. In total 471 longwalls in 11 coal mines

were analysed, including 277 longwalls that were mined in the period of 2011 to 2016 and 194 longwalls

scheduled for exploitation in the years 2017 to 2021.

Correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between nuisance and the operating costs

of longwalls. The analysis revealed a strong correlation between the level of nuisance and the operating

costs of the longwalls under study. The design of the longwall schedule should therefore also take into

account the nuisance arising from the geological and mining conditions of the operations. Selective

operations management allows for the optimization of costs for mining in underground mines using the

longwall system. This knowledge can also be used to reduce the total operating costs of mines as a result

of abandoning the mining operations in entire longwalls or portions of longwalls that may be permanently

unprofitable. Currently, underground mines do not employ this optimization method, which even more

emphasizes the need for popularizing this approach.

The main focus of this paper is to propose a method for prioritizing knowledge and technology factor of firms towards sustainable competitive advantage. The data has been gathered and analyzed from two high tech start-ups in which technology and knowledge play major role in company’s success. The analytical hierarchy model (AHP) is used to determine competitive priorities of the firms. Then knowledge and technology part of sense and respond questionnaire is used to calculate the variability coefficient i.e. the uncertainty caused by technology and knowledge factor. The proposed model is tested in terms of two start-ups. Based on the initial calculation of uncertainties, some improvement plan is proposed and the method is applied again to see if the uncertainty of knowledge and technology decreases. In both cases, the proposed model helped to have a clear and precise improvement plan and led in reduction of uncertainty.