Using Analytic Hierarchy/Network Process (AHP/ANP) in Developing Countries: Shortcomings and Suggestions

Abstract

This article intends to shed light on the problems arising in the benefit–cost (BC) analyses through the analytic hierarchy/network process (AHP/ANP) in developing countries when analysts may encounter lack of data, deficient databases, defective information, and, more important, the lack of groups of specialists with considerable expertise. In this article, through a comparison between the AHP/ANP and conventional engineering economy techniques, the major concerns that may be encountered are theoretically addressed. Then, through a real case project appraisal, the specific developing country-related issues that can distort the AHP/ANP results from the BC analysis are demonstrated.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Navid Khademi

Navid Khademi, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Highway and Transportation Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, at the University of Tehran. He was accepted as the National Exceptional Talent by the Iran National Elite Foundation in 2012. He was graduated as the First Class Honors of M.S. and First Class Honors of B.S. He was admitted to the School of National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents within the secondary and high school periods. He has published in several international journals. Since 2003, he has been the technical manager/modeler of more than seven projects aimed at organizing and analyzing complex multicriteria decisions in the realm of transportation planning and traffic engineering. He earned his M.S. in highway and transportation engineering from the University of Tehran in 2005 and his Ph.D. in transportation planning from Iran University of Science and Technology in 2012.

Kambiz Behnia

Kambiz Behnia, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Highway and Transportation Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, at the University of Tehran. He publishes, teaches, and consults widely in most aspects of civil engineering, transportation planning, airport planning and design, and highway engineering. He is the author or coauthor of 15 books (mostly in Persian). His book Soil Mechanics (in Persian) was chosen as the book of the year in 1985. He is currently the head of the Department of Highway and Transportation Engineering at the University of Tehran and also the chairman and managing director of the Khaké Mossalah Institute of Iran. He became a civil engineer at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) Lyon in 1967. He earned a Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies in dynamic geology, hydrology, and hydrogeology from Université Paris VI in 1969 and his degree of Docteur Ingénieur in soil mechanics and foundation engineering from Université Paris VI in 1972.

Ramin Saedi

Ramin Saedi is a graduate in civil engineering from the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. He is currently an M.S. student of Highway and Transportation Engineering at the University of Tehran.