ANP models and STEEP criteria

This paper and presentation aim to make a summary of research into the theory and application of Analytic Network Process (ANP) in multi-criteria decision making in construction and development since 2003 when the new area of ANP applications was initially explored by researchers in Hong Kong and UK. The paper and presentation focus on two main issues including the framework of ANP applications and the adoption of a novel set of decision-making criteria to cover social, technical, economic, ecological, and political (STEEP) issues related to project decision targets. In terms of ANP applications, a framework is introduced to summarise and further guide five progressive levels of contemporary research and development related to ANP in the construction sector. The entire relation between general needs and associated contents of assessment across stages of construction and development projects is then discussed based on industrial guides given by CIOB and PMI in order to highlight the importance and relevance of intruding a generic set of assessment criteria. An example based on the Royal Liverpool University Hospital project is given to demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating a set of STEEP criteria in an ANP model to deal with real world problem. It is expected to attract some interest in further research and collaboration in ANP applications.