Highway Route Planning via Least Cost Path Algorithm and Multi Criteria Decision Analysis Integration, a Comparison of AHP, TOPSIS and VIKOR

Abstract

Highways are one of the main structures of cities in the field of economic, social, and environmental facilities that connect cities, regions, and people each other. Determining the suitable highway routes includes difficult and complex processes due to the construction costs. Additionally, priorities, expectations, and constraints for economic, social, and environmental parameters must be considered together to provide efficient solutions to requirements. Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques such as Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Ideal Solution Similarity Selection Ranking Technique (TOPSIS), and Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) and Least Cost Path Algorithm (LCPA) with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) combination are the most suitable way to overcome these complexities. In this study, slope, aspect, geology, elevation, distances to roads, settlements, water bodies, fault lines, buildings, natural disasters, protected sites, population, and land use were selected to determine most suitable highway construction areas and route. The AHP, TOPSIS, and VIKOR methods were applied to calculate cost surfaces for least cost paths generation with LCPA, and the generated three routes were compared. As a result of the comparisons VIKOR route was the most suitable route considering the topographical statistics and all the three methods consistent with each other and current road.