A multi-criteria decision analysis system for prioritizing sites and types of low impact development practices: Case of Korea

This study developed a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework to prioritize sites and types of low impact development (LID) practices. This framework was systemized as a web-based system coupled with the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Using TOPSIS method, which is a type of MCDA method, multiple types and sites of designated LID practices are prioritized. This system is named theWater Management Prioritization Module (WMPM). WMPM can simultaneously determine the priority of multiple LID types and sites. In this study, an infiltration trench and permeable pavement were considered for multiple sub-catchments in South Korea to demonstrate the WMPM procedures. The TOPSIS method was manually incorporated to select the vulnerable target sub-catchments and to prioritize the LID planning scenarios for multiple types and sites considering social, hydrologic and physical-geometric factors. In this application, the Delphi method and entropy theory were used to determine the subjective and objective weights, respectively.