Risk assessment using a new consulting process in fuzzy AHP

A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) is an effective risk assessment method in which a questionnaire is used to collect experts' responses. However, determining fuzzy numbers and establishing a consistent judgment matrix are difficult in the FAHP. This study proposes a new consulting process for solving the previously mentioned problems in the triangular FAHP. The proposed consulting process consists of a newly designed questionnaire and a new approach for determining fuzzy numbers. Experts' responses collected from the questionnaire are employed to determine fuzzy numbers and establish a consistent judgment matrix. The proposed method has been applied to the Jinan metro tunnel construction to demonstrate its validity. Both the traditional questionnaire and the new questionnaire are used to establish the judgment matrix in the case study. The results show that the judgment matrix determined from the new questionnaire can determine triangular fuzzy numbers and establish a consistent judgment matrix. Compared with the traditional questionnaire, the proposed questionnaire can be used to collect experts' opinions with greater convenience and in less time.