ASTM_E_1765_-_16.pdf

Designation:E176516Standard Practice forApplying Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)toMultiattribute Decision Analysis of Investments Related toProjects,Products,and Processes1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1765;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe analytical hierarchy process(AHP)is one of a set of multi-attribute decision analysis(MADA)methods that considers nonmonetary attributes(qualitative and quantitative)in addition to commoneconomic evaluation measures(such as life-cycle costing or net benefits)when evaluating project,product,and process alternatives.Investment decisions depend in part on how competing optionsperform with respect to nonmonetary attributes.This practice complements existing ASTM standardson building economics by incorporating the existing economic/monetary measures of worth describedin those standards into a more comprehensive standard method of evaluation that includesnonmonetary(quantitative and nonquantitative)benefits and costs.The AHP is the MADA methoddescribed in this practice.2It has three significant strengths:an efficient attribute weighting process ofpairwise comparisons;hierarchical descriptions of attributes,which keep the number of pairwisecomparisons manageable;and available software to facilitate its use.31.Scope1.1 This practice presents a procedure for calculating andinterpreting AHP scores of a projects/products/process totaloverall desirability when making capital investment decisions.3Projects include design,construction,operation,and disposalof commercial and residential buildings and other engineeredstructures.4Products include materials,components,systems,and equipment.5Processes include procurement,materialsmanagement,work flow,fabrication and assembly,qualitycontrol,and services.1.2 In addition to monetary benefits and costs,the procedureallows for the consideration of characteristics or attributeswhich decision makers regard as important,but which are notreadily expressed in monetary terms.Examples of such attri-butes that pertain to the selection among project/product/process alternatives are:a construction projectss buildingalternatives whose nonmonetary attributes are location/accessibility,site security,maintainability,quality of the soundand visual environment,and image to the public and occu-pants;building products based on their economic and environ-mental performance;and sustainability-related issues for keyconstruction processes that address environmental needs,whileconsidering project safety,cost,and schedule.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Perfor-mance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.81 onBuilding Economics.Current edition approved March 1,2016.Published March 2016.Originallyapproved in 1995.Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E1765 11.DOI:10.1520/E1765-16.2For an extensive overview of MADA methods and a detailed treatment of howto apply two MADA methods(one of which is AHP)to building-related decisions,see Norris,G A.,and Marshall,H.E.,Multiattribute Decision Analysis:Recom-mended Method for Evaluating Buildings and Building Systems,National Instituteof Standards and Technology,1995.3This practice presents a stand-alone procedure for performing anAHP analysis.In addition,an ASTM software product for performing AHP analyses has beendeveloped to support and facilitate use of this practice.Software to Support ASTME1765:Standard Practice for Applying Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)toMultiattribute Decision Analysis of Investments Related to Buildings and BuildingSystems,MNL 29,ASTM,1998.4Projects also include analytical studies that identify alternative means forachieving organizational objectives as well as research and development activitiesthat support the deployment of new products and processes.5Typical construction-related products for each product type are:(1)materialsconcrete;(2)componentsstructural steel members;(3)systemsheating,ventilating,and air-conditioning system;and(4)equipmentheat pump.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:6E631 Terminology of Building ConstructionsE833 Terminology of Building EconomicsE917 Practice for Measuring Life-Cycle Costs of Buildingsand Building SystemsE964 Practice for Measuring Benefit-to-Cost and Savings-to-Investment Ratios for Buildings and Building Syst