Analytic hierarchy process helps select site for limestone quarry expansion in Barbados

Area of Science:

• Geology and Mining Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Economics

Background:

• Quarry expansion is vital for cement production, requiring careful site selection.
• Factors influencing site selection include resource availability, logistics, costs, and socio-economic-environmental considerations.
• Sustainable economic growth depends on balancing industrial needs with environmental and social impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the site selection process for limestone quarry expansion in Barbados.
• To identify and evaluate alternate sites based on technical and socio-economic-environmental factors.
• To apply an integrated framework for optimal quarry site selection.

Main Methods:

• Identification of alternate sites with sufficient resources for a 25-year horizon.
• Development of a database for each site, incorporating technical and socio-economic-environmental factors.
• Application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) framework with pairwise comparisons and Expert Choice software for site ranking.

Main Results:

• A hierarchical model was developed to systematically evaluate potential quarry expansion sites.
• Relative rankings of alternate sites were derived through comprehensive analysis.
• The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the AHP framework in site selection.

Conclusions:

• An integrated framework utilizing the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is effective for quarry expansion site selection.
• The AHP facilitates a structured approach to balancing diverse factors in decision-making.
• This methodology supports informed decisions for sustainable quarry development in Barbados.