Shelter Selection with AHP Making Use of the Ideal Alternative

Introduction

One technique with higher occurrence in the literature is the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). However it is a technique widely criticized. Two of these critiques are: 1.The dependence of the value achieved by an evaluated alternative, the number of alternatives being evaluated and 2.The impossibility to recognize the quality of an alternative selected by the method.

To solve this second problem, a variant of the AHP was generated: The Ideal Alternative (IA), which consists of resolving problems making use of AHP but including in the analysis an IA. To illustrate what it is and how to use the IA will take a social problem, the selection of shelters, where you can locate the affected population in case of catastrophe.

From the above, the main contribution of this article is show how to choose a shelter, using the IA to gain insight into the true quality of alternatives evaluated through AHP.

As methodology to reach the proposed objective it will be used the Integrated-Adaptable Methodology for the development of Decision Support System (IAMDSS, in Spanish, Metodología Integradora-Adaptable para desarrollar Sistemas de Apoyo a las Decisiones [MIASAD]), which has been presented in different works of investigation (García, Hernández, & Hernández, 2010, 2011; Hernández, García, & Hernández, 2010) and of which, given that the methodology promotes it, they are taken some of their essential steps:

• 1.

  To define the problem that, than indicated in the contributions of this article, is to show how to choose a shelter, using the IA to gain insight into the true quality of alternatives evaluated through AHP,

• 2.

  To prepare the first prototype, where the users of the final product were identified, that is to say the readers of the article. Who will be applicators or not of AHP, that desires to do a better use of this technique, to which we add all those interested in helping to solve social problems. It also established the structure of the article, which besides the introduction consists of three main chapters, the last and main one divided into three subchapters,

• 3.

  Obtaining data, in this case on AHP, DEA, TOPSIS, the use of the IA and applications of these techniques in a catastrophe situation,

• 4.

  Establishing the alternatives, that would be the different options that can follow to illustrate the use of the IA,

• 5.

  Evaluate alternatives, considering the facility of presenting and to show the use of the IA in AHP,

• 6.

  Selecting the best alternative, as product of previous evaluation process, and based on the secondary objectives, tacit or explicit, being considered,

• 7.

  Implementing the best alternative, illustrate through simple examples, preferably hypothetical, for more generality, the use of the IA in AHP and

• 8.

  Establishing controls, Establishing the mechanisms, probably indicators, that permit to recognize if the alternative selected, continues being valid in the course of the time.

With regard to limitations and reaches, in this article no work of field will be carried out, but the illustration of the use of the IA in AHP, from a pair of previous work (García, Hernández & Hernández, 2010; Hernández, García & Hernández, 2010).