Title: Applying the AHP to decision-making about dam construction policy: the case of Korea

Authors: Seung-Jun Kwak, Gun-Woo Do

Addresses: Korea University, Korea. ' Korea University, Korea

Abstract: This study presents a standard of evaluation in constructing dams using the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method. As a result, the effect of dam construction was ranked in order of water control effect, natural environment effect, and human environment effect. From the 16 items, the priority of criteria related to environment having negative effects held high ranks, indicating much recent interest and importance in the environment. Weighting and priorities derived from this study can aid in deciding polices of dam construction and support arguments that social costs such as expenses required for environmental preservation should be considered in analyzing economic efficiency.

Keywords: AHP; analytical hierarchy process; decision making; dam construction; construction policy; Korea; water control; natural environment; human environment; social costs; environmental preservation; economic efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2003.053909

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2003 Vol.5 No.2, pp.212 - 229

Published online: 13 May 2013 *

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