A comparative analysis of decision making methods for the seismic retrofit of RC buildings

Several different technical options are nowadays available to seismically upgrade an existing building. Selecting the best one with reference to a given structure generally represents a complex problem. In fact many and generally conflicting are also the points of view by which each alternative has to be judged. Decision support systems like the so called Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods may be very useful inorder to make an as much as possible objective and rational choice. The paper investigates the applicability and effectiveness of different MCDM methods for the focused decision problem. Some of the most widely adopted and consolidated methods are considered and compared one eachother, first in terms of suitability for the particular decision task, then in terms of simplicity of use, reliability of the results, degree of human (subjective) intervention in the process and other significant criteria. The comparison is also quantitatively made with reference to a case-study consisting of an underdesigned RC structure.