Application of analytic hierarchy process in selecting a biological indicator for a river flow restoration

Biological indicators play a vital role in monitoring and assessing river health and their selections are, consequently, directly related to the overall success of monitoring programs. In this study, we employed the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to select an appropriate indicator from several indicator candidates. The process was first to form a three level AHP model with four criteria and three indicator alternatives, and then to evaluate the indicator alternatives mathematically, and finally to obtain the most appropriate one with highest values. The use of the proposed model showed that it can be relatively easy to select the most desirable indicator from several candidates. Also, the selection process was performed mathematically which was somewhat transparent.