Comparative analysis of environmental impacts of selected underground construction technologies using the analytic network process

This paper describes a multiple criteria assessment experiment using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) and the Super Decisions software. The assessment experiment was based on a case study of an underground construction project in the city of Osnabruck, Germany. The project involved construction of a new 700 m long sewer in the city centre. Three alternative underground construction technologies (open cut, conventional tunnelling, and microtunnelling) were evaluated using a set of multi disciplinary criteria that reflect impacts of the project on the urban environment. Results of the assessment experiment suggest that the ANP can be successfully used for assessing the environmental impact of underground construction technologies. Multiple criteria decision analysis, and the ANP in this particular assessment experiment, is relevant for evaluating construction technologies because of (1) the similar technological and economic performance of the alternative technologies; (2) the need to consider a large number of criteria reflecting the urban environment; (3) the possibility of needing to deal with incomplete data; and (4) the need for clear presentation of the results in a numerical form.

Research Highlights
► Three alternative technologies were evaluated using a set of multi disciplinary criteria reflecting the urban environment.
► Analytic Network Process was successfully implemented to integrate complex concepts into a decision making process.
► Results enable due consideration of criteria that would not be sufficiently visible in routine environmental assessments.