ASTM E1765-16e1

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
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Designation: E1765 − 16 E1765 − 16
Standard Practice for
Applying Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to
Multiattribute Decision Analysis of Investments Related to
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Projects, Products, and Processes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1765; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
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ε NOTE—Adjunct title and stock number in 2.2 were updated editorially in May 2020.
INTRODUCTION
The 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 common
economic 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 options
perform with respect to nonmonetary attributes. This practice complements existing ASTM standards
on building economics by incorporating the existing economic/monetary measures of worth described
in those standards into a more comprehensive standard method of evaluation that includes
nonmonetary (quantitative and nonquantitative) benefits and costs. The AHP is the MADA method
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described in this practice. It has three significant strengths: an efficient attribute weighting process of
pairwise comparisons; hierarchical descriptions of attributes, which keep the number of pairwise
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comparisons manageable; and available software to facilitate its use.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice presents a procedure for calculating and interpreting AHP scores of a project’s/product’s/process’ total overall
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desirability when making capital investment decisions. Projects include design, construction, operation, and disposal of
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commercial and residential buildings and other engineered structures. Products include materials, components, systems, and
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equipment. Processes include procurement, materials management, work flow, fabrication and assembly, quality control, and
services.
1.2 In addition to monetary benefits and costs, the procedure allows for the consideration of characteristics or attributes which
decision makers regard as important, but which are not readily expressed in monetary terms. Examples of such attributes that
pertain to the selection among project/product/process alternatives are: a construction projects’s building alternatives whose
nonmonetary attributes are location/accessibility, site security, maintainability, quality of the sound and visual environment, and
image to the public and occupants; building products based on their economic and environmental performance; and
sustainability-related issues for key construction processes that address environmental needs, while considering project safety, cost,
and schedule.
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This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.81 on Building
Economics.
Current edition approved March 1, 2016. Published March 2016. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E1765 – 11. DOI:
10.1520/E1765-16.10.1520/E1765-16E01.
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For an extensive overview of MADA methods and a detailed treatment of how to apply two MADA methods (one of which is AHP) to building-related decisions, see
Norris, G A., and Marshall, H.E., Multiattribute Decision Analysis: Recommended Method for Evaluating Buildings and Building Systems, National Institute of Standards
and Technology, 1995.
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This practice presents a stand-alone procedure for performing an AHP analysis. In addition, an ASTM software product for performing AHP analyses has been developed
to support and facilitate use of this practice. Software to Support ASTM E1765: Standard Practice for Applying Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to Multiattribute Decision
Analysis of Investments Related to Buildings and Building Systems, MNL 29, ASTM, 1998.
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Projects also include analytical studies that identify alternative means for achieving organizational objectives as well as research and development activities that support
the deployment of new products and processes.
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Typical construction-related products for each product type are: (1) materials—concrete; (2) components—structural steel members; (3) systems—heating, ventilating,
and air-conditioning system; and (4
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