Evaluating the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability of barrages using analytical hierarchy process with a rating approach
Discover Sustainability, vol.6, no.1, 2025 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 6 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2025
- Doi Number: 10.1007/s43621-025-01350-2
- Journal Name: Discover Sustainability
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
- Keywords: Analytical hierarchy process, Barrages, Decision tree, Environmental impacts, Socioeconomic impacts, Sustainability development
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Assessing the environmental sustainability and economic viability of barrage infrastructure is a critical challenge in water resource management. To address this, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach was applied to develop a novel model for three barrages in Punjab, Pakistan: Jinnah, Khanki, and Rasul. The model incorporates three impacts, nine parameters, and twenty-seven sub-parameters within a structured decision tree to rank the three alternatives (Barrages). Quantitative weights were assigned using pairwise comparisons to impacts, parameters, and sub-parameters. As a result, socio-economic impacts received the highest priority (64.10%), followed by environmental (28%) and other impacts (7.41%). Jinnah Barrage ranked first among alternatives with a sustainability score of 0.426, due to superior performance in irrigation potential, renewable energy generation, water quality, low carbon emissions, and recreational value. The proposed model provides a structured framework for the future design of barrages to enhance their environmental resilience and optimize socio-economic benefits.