Combining Analytical Hierarchy Process and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering in Search of Expert Consensus in Green Corridors Development Management

摘要: Environmental management and planning are instrumental in resolving conflicts arising between societal needs for economic development on the one hand open green landscapes other hand. Allocating corridors fragmented core areas may provide a partial solution to these conflicts. Decisions regarding corridor require assessment of alternative allocations based multiple criteria evaluations. Analytical Hierarchy Process provides methodology both structured consistent extraction such evaluations search consensus among experts weights assigned different criteria. Implementing this using 15 Israeli experts—landscape architects, regional planners, geographers—revealed inherent differences expert opinions field beyond professional divisions. The use Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering allowed identify clusters representing common decisions criterion weights. Aggregating revealed an important dichotomy pragmatist approach that emphasizes weight statutory ecological role natural conditions allocating landscape corridors.