Using of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Disaster Management: A Review of Flooding and Landslide Susceptibility Mapping

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in site suitability analysis, with a particular focus on disaster-prone areas such as flood and landslide zones. AHP, a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method, has been widely employed in spatial planning to evaluate and prioritize alternative sites based on a range of environmental, socio-economic, and regulatory criteria. Its strength lies in its structured hierarchical framework, the ability to incorporate both quantitative data and qualitative expert judgment, and its integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The review systematically analyzes methodological approaches across numerous studies, highlighting best practices in criteria selection, pairwise comparison, consistency evaluation, and final suitability mapping. Key findings indicate that slope, lithology, and land use/land cover (LULC) are the most frequently prioritized factors in landslide susceptibility mapping, while flood susceptibility analysis consistently emphasizes rainfall intensity, proximity to rivers, and drainage density. This paper also explores sub-criteria weighting techniques such as straight ranking, reciprocal ranking, exponential ranking, and rank order centroid (ROC), evaluating their practicality in enhancing decision-making. A significant contribution of this review is its comparative synthesis of 20 landslide and 20 flood susceptibility studies across various global contexts. The results underscore the importance of context-specific criteria selection while advocating for standardized methodologies to enhance transparency and comparability. Despite its widespread use, AHP is not without limitations. Issues such as subjectivity in pairwise comparisons, sensitivity to inconsistencies, and methodological variability across studies may affect the robustness of results. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations to improve the consistency, reliability, and adaptability of AHP-based site suitability assessments, particularly in high-risk areas. This review thus serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners aiming to leverage AHP for evidence-based and sustainable spatial decision-making.